After winning its second women’s basketball conference championship last year, Saint Vincent is the favorite to repeat.
The Bearcats begin the season No. 1 in the Presidents’ Athletic Conference Preseason Coaches Poll.
Saint Vincent, coached by Jimmy Petruska, now in his 12th season, finished 10-0 (7-0 PAC) in a shortened 2020 season.
The team returns sophomore guard Ella Marconi (12 points, 8.6 rebounds per game), senior guard-forward Taylor Geer (10.1 ppg) and junior forward Madison Weber (8.9 ppg).
Washington & Jefferson checks in at No. 2 after a runner-up finish a year ago, while Grove City, Bethany and Westminster round out the top five.
The regular season opens next week and PAC play starts Nov. 27.
The PAC Tournament in late February will feature eight teams, with the winner advancing to the NCAA Division III Tournament.
PAC Women’s Basketball Preseason Coaches Poll
(First-place votes in parenthesis)
1. Saint Vincent (8)
2. Washington & Jefferson (2)
3. Grove City
4. Bethany
5. Westminster
6. Chatham
7. Geneva
8. Waynesburg
9. Thiel
10. Franciscan
Players to watch
Kat Goetz, So./F. Grove City
Ella Marconi, So./C, Saint Vincent
Destiny Johnson, Sr./F Thiel
Makenzee Mason, So./G, Bethany
Natalie Murrio, Jr./G, Westminster
