AMCC Basketball Preseason Poll

2009-10 WOMEN'S BASKETBALL
PRESEASON COACHES' POLL

PITT-GREENSBURG EXPECTED TO DEFEND
AMCC WOMEN'S TITLE

Pitt-Greensburg is the overwhelming choice to repeat as league champions in the Allegheny Mountain Collegiate Conference preseason poll. The two-time champion Bobcats received 9 of 11 first place votes, after finishing the 2009 campaign at 24-3 overall, 17-1 AMCC. Penn St. Altoona, which holds two AMCC titles, was ranked second, while Penn St. Behrend was picked to come in third.

Preseason Player of the Year honors go to senior forward Kelsey Wilcox (left) of Pitt-Greensburg. The 2009 AMCC Player of the Year averaged 15.7 ppg and 11.8 rpg to lead the Bobcats to the conference title. She blocked 35 shots and ranked second on the team in steals with 44.

This season the conference welcomes D'Youville College to its ranks; the Spartans previously competed in the North Eastern Athletic Conference (NEAC). The AMCC kicks off conference play on Tuesday, November 24, and the championship will be Saturday, February 27, hosted by the number #1 seed. The winner will receive the AMCC's automatic bid to the NCAA tournament.

AMCC WOMEN'S BASKETBALL POLL
Preseason Rankings*

1. Pitt-Greensburg (1)
2. Penn St. Altoona (2)
3. Penn St. Behrend (4)
4. Medaille (4)
5. La Roche (6)
6. Frostburg St. (2)
7. Pitt-Bradford (7)
8. D'Youville (N/A)
9. Mount Aloysius (8)
10. Franciscan (9)
11. Hilbert (10)

* Number in parentheses is order of regular season finish in 2009

Preseason Player of the Year
KELSEY WILCOX, PITT-GREENSBURG

D'YOUVILLE COLLEGE Head Coach Marissa Gallo (1st year) 2008-09: 14-11 overall
Junior F Holly Beats (Marilla, NY/Iroquois)...Averaged 12.0 rpg and 12.0 ppg, scoring 323 points last season...dished 51 assists as a forward...70% shooter from the free throw line. Senior G Melissa Kanalley (Tonawanda, NY/Cardinal O’Hara)... Team's leading scorer in 2009, contributing 14 ppg for a season total of 396...77% accuracy from the charity stripe...also recorded 77 assists and 58 steals.
FRANCISCAN UNIVERSITY Head Coach Kelly Herrmann (8th year) 2008-09: 2-16 AMCC, 4-18 overall
Senior G Cara Mitchell (Annandale, VA/Paul VI)...Finished last season ranked 18^th in the AMCC in scoring (9.9 ppg)...also top ten in three point field goal percentage (30%), three point field goals made (1.67 per game), and 7^th in free throw percentage (74%). Junior G Marian Weber (Bergholz, OH/Edison)...Very strong presence under the boards...2009 stats included 7.5 rpg (7^th best in the AMCC)...ranked #9 in offensive rebounds (3.12) and 12^th in defensive rebound (4.41).
FROSTBURG STATE UNIVERSITY Head Coach Jody Pepple (9th year) 2008-09: 13-5 AMCC, 16-10 overall
Senior F Brittany James (Baltimore, MD/Milford Mill Academy)...First team All-AMCC selection last season...posted 12 double-doubles on the season while starting all 26 games...led the AMCC in offensive rebounds (4.62) and was second in the conference in total rebounds (9.8) and defensive rebounds (5.23)...ranked third in steals (3.12)...finished seventh in the league in scoring with 13.5ppg and field-goal percentage (47.7). Senior F Caryn Wright (Baltimore, MD/Western Tech)...Second team All-AMCC in 2009...finished the season with 13 double-doubles in 26 starts at the center position...led the Bobcats and finished second in the league in defensive rebounding (5.62) and was third in the AMCC in total rebounds (9.2), sixth in offensive rebounds (3.58)...ranked in top ten in field-goal percentage (47.3%), free throw percentage (71.1%) and scoring (12.7 ppg).
HILBERT COLLEGE Head Coach Matt Phifer (1st year) 2008-09: 0-18 AMCC, 0-25 overall
Sophomore G Mary Zinni (Batavia, NY/Batavia)...Led the Hawks with 8.6 ppg to go with 3.9 rpg...also contributed 28 steals. Sophomore F Julie Bossard (Arkport, NYCanisteo-Greenwood)...Standout blocker with 55 last season...record 6.8 ppg and a team-best 7.2 rpg.
LA ROCHE COLLEGE Head Coach Eddie Benton Jr. (6th year) 2008-09: 10-8 AMCC, 15-11 overall
Junior G Jaquaylla Kessler (Wilkinsburg, PA/Wilkinsburg)...Second Team all-conference selection in 2009...led the team to the AMCC championship game with a team best 14.9 ppg and 7.0 rpg. Sophomore G Chloe Stewart (Farrell, PA/Farrell)...Strong freshman year performance yielded 10.2 ppg, 3.07 apg and 2.5 spg.
MEDAILLE COLLEGE Head Coach Pete Lonergan (7th Year) 2008-09: 11-7 AMCC, 16-11 overall
Junior F Mandy Sahhar (Orchard Park, NY/Orchard Park)...Second Team All-AMCC last season...led the Mavericks in scoring (13.8 ppg) and rebounding (8.7 rpg)...recorded team-high 25 blocked shots. Junior G Kacie Mills (Kenmore, NY/Kenmore East)...Team leader in assists with 107 (4.0 apg)...kicked in 8.6 ppg.
MOUNT ALOYSIUS COLLEGE Head Coach Brian Gennett (4th year) 2008-09: 5-13 AMCC, 7-18 overall
Sophomore F Kaylee Keagy (Altoona, PA/Bishop Guilfoyle)...AMCC Newcomer of the Year in 2009...averaged 14 ppg and 7.0 rpg...also contributed 40 assists, 13 blocks and 27 steals.
PENN STATE ALTOONA Head Coach Donna Kling (5th year) 2008-09: 13-5 AMCC, 16-10 overall
Senior G/F Alicia Glasser (Marion Center, PA/Marion Center)...Second Team All-Conference in 2009...ECAC Player of the Week selection...averaged 13.9 ppg and 3.32 apg...ranked first in AMCC for free throw percentage (85%) and fourth in steals (2.96 spg). Junior F Tamara Thomas (Altoona, PA/Altoona Area)... All-Conference Honorable Mention last season...contributed 11.9 ppg and 6.2 rpg...ranked third in the AMCC in FG % (52.7).
PENN STATE BEHREND Head Coach Roz Fornari (17th year) 2008-09: 11-7 AMCC, 13-12 overall
Junior G Amy Oldach (Erie, PA/Villa Academy)...Averaged 10.4 ppg and 3.4 apg...third best free throw shooter in the league at 78.6%.
PITT-BRADFORD Head Coach Allan King, Jr. (3rd year) 2008-09: 8-10 AMCC, 11-14 overall
Junior G Whitney Cline (Bradford, PA/Bradford)...Started all 25 games lasat season...averaged 9.6 ppg and 5.6 rpg...led the AMCC in FG percentage (63%). Sophomore G Danielle Zeamer (Manheim, PA/Lancaster Mennonite)...Contributed 8.0 ppg on 51% shooting from the field in her first season...also dished 57 assists.
PITT-GREENSBURG Head Coach Carol Gelet (11th year) 2008-09: 17-1 AMCC, 24-3 overall
Senior F Kelsey Wilcox (Dubois, PA/Dubois)...AMCC Player of the Year and first team all-conference in 2009...averaged 15.7 ppg and 11.8 rpg to lead the Bobcats to the conference title...blocked 35 shots and ranked second on the team in steals with 44...shot 48% from the field and 31% from three-point range...three time AMCC Player of the Week. Senior G Amanda Sheaffer (Pittsburgh, PA/Keyston Oaks)...All-Conference Honorable Mention last season...recorded 9.6 ppg and 6.0 rpg...led the team in steals (72) and second in assists (57).