Youngstown -- Youngstown State junior forward Brandi Brown has been selected as the Horizon League Preseason Player of the Year in the conferences 2011-12 preseason poll that was released Wednesday.
Brown, a second-team all-conference pick last season as the league's top scorer, edged Green Bay senior Julie Wojta by one point for the preseason player-of-the-year nod. Brown finished with 260 points, and Wojta and Wright State's Molly Fox were the only other two players to finish with at least 140 points. All five First-Team All-Horizon League members last season were seniors.
Brown (Pomona, Calif.) scored 597 points in 30 games last year for a league-leading 19.9 points per game. She ranked fourth in rebounding with 9.2 per game and tied for the league lead with 13 double-doubles. Additionally, her .472 field-goal percentage ranked seventh. Brown was even better in league play, averaging 22.6 points and 9.6 rebounds while shooting 51.4 percent from the field.
On the national level, Brown ranked 15th in scoring and 49th in rebounding. She was one of only 10 players in the country to rank in the top 50 in both categories.
Brown, Wojta and Fox were joined by Cleveland State's Shalonda Winton and UIC's Jasmine Bailey on the first team. Second-team members were Angela Rodriguez (Milwaukee), Yar Shayok (Detroit) Shamiea Green (UIC), Monica Albano (Loyola) and Betsy Adams (Valparaiso).
Fresh off its Sweet 16 run last season, Green Bay was chosen as the preseason favorite in the team poll. The Phoenix received 29 out of 30 first-place votes for 299 points, and Cleveland State was a distant second with 238 points. Wright State, Butler, UIC and Milwaukee all finished within 35 points for the third through sixth spots. Detroit was picked to finish seventh by a sizeable margin, and Loyola, Valparaiso and Youngstown State rounded out the bottom three. The Penguins defeated Valpo in both meetings last season and came within a bucket of forcing overtime at Loyola in the opening round of the Horizon League Tournament.
Head coaches, sports information directors and select media members voted in the poll.
The last Penguin to earn conference player-of-the-year honors was Brianne Kenneally in 1999-2000 while YSU was competing in the Mid-Continent Conference. YSU's last first-team all-league performer was Jen Perugini in 2004-05.
Youngstown State begins the 2011-12 season at West Virginia on Nov. 11 at 6:30 p.m.
2011-12 Preseason Poll
(First Place Votes)
Green Bay (29) - 299
Cleveland State - 238
Wright State - 212
Butler - 197
UIC - 186
Milwaukee - 177
Detroit (1) - 141
Loyola - 88
Valparaiso - 64
Youngstown State - 48
Player of the Year: Brandi Brown, Youngstown State
All-League Team
First Team
Brandi Brown, F, Youngstown State
Julie Wojta, G/F, Green Bay
Molly Fox, F, Wright State
Shalonda Winton, F, Cleveland State
Jasmine Bailey, G/F, UIC
Second Team
Angela Rodriguez, G, Milwaukee
Yar Shayok, F, Detroit
Shamiea Green, G, UIC
Monica Albano, G, Loyola
Betsy Adams, G, Valparaiso
