The Youngstown State women's basketball team has been picked to finish fourth in the Horizon League in 2015-16, according to a preseason poll of the league's coaches, women's basketball sports information directors and select media.
The Penguins finished fourth in the conference last season while posting a 21-10 overall record and earning an at-large berth to the Women's NIT. Green Bay was chosen as the preseason favorite with 25 first-place votes and 302 total points, and Wright State was picked to place second with 250 points and four first-place votes. UIC was tabbed for third with 210 points and one first-place vote, and YSU's 181 points placed it fourth in the poll.
Oakland was tabbed for fifth with 162 points, which was a point better than Cleveland State. Detroit (157), league newcomer Northern Kentucky (134), Milwaukee (70) and Valparaiso (70) were picked to finish in the bottom four.
Despite being picked to finish fourth, Youngstown State did not have a student-athlete selected to the preseason all-league teams. Green Bay had three players chosen among the top 10 in the league, and UIC and Oakland both had two.
UIC senior Ruvanna Campbell was tabbed the Preseason Player of the Year, and she was joined on the preseason first team by Kim Demmings (Wright State), Mehryn Kraker (Green Bay), Rosanna Reynolds (Detroit) and Tesha Buck (Green Bay). The second team included Dani Franklin (Valparaiso), Olivia Nash (Oakland), Terri Bender (UIC), Ashley Luke (Green Bay) and Elena Popkey (Oakland).
Youngstown State will host an exhibition game at Beeghly Center at 2 p.m. on Sunday against Marietta. The season begins on Nov. 13 at home against Canisius.
