The Concord University women’s basketball team has been predicted to finish ninth in Mountain East Conference Preseason Coaches’ Poll, the conference announced Monday afternoon.
West Liberty garnered eight of 12 first places as they were picked to win the league with 118 points. Charleston (111) received three first-place votes while Glenville State (97), Fairmont State (93, one first-place vote), Wheeling Jesuit (70) and West Virginia State (68) rounded the top half of the poll. Notre Dame (61), Shepherd (48), the Mountain Lions (43), Urbana (40), UVa.-Wise (27) and West Virginia Wesleyan (15) occupied spots seven through 12.
Concord finished last season 10-17, and will return seven players from last year’s squad. Headlining CU’s returners is senior forward Rachel Artrip, who averaged 11.4 points per game last season to go along with 38 made three-pointers. Senior forward Jacqueline Kestner will be another key returner for the Mountain Lions. A season ago, the Blountville, Tennessee native averaged 9.5 points per game and 6.3 rebounds per contest.
Senior guard Melea Smith shot 40 percent from three-point range last season while appearing 26 games for Concord in a key reserve role.
Other returns for the Mountain Lions are sophomore guard Alexis Lowery, sophomore guard Olivia Morgan, redshirt freshman Meghan Nicholson and sophomore center Alley Odell.
Head coach Kenny Osborne will welcome in eight new faces to this year’s squad along with first-year assistant coach Tesla Akers.
Freshman guard Danielle Catron, freshman forward Shacora Cooper, redshirt freshman guard Anne Golinsky, freshman guard Marta Moix, junior center Kylie Molisee, freshman guard Lindsey Overbey and freshman guard Pornnutcha Sawatong will don the Maroon and Gray for the first time in their careers when the Concord opens its season at the CIAA-MEC Challenge November 14 versus Shaw University in Fairmont, West Virginia.