Head Coach Mike Drahos's Pitt-Johnstown women's basketball team has been picked to finish ninth in the PSAC Western Division when this your preseason rankings were released on Thursday... (2016-17 PSAC Women's Basketball Preseason Media Packet) ... (Full PSAC Release)
 
The Lady Cats, coming off of an 8-20 overall record and a 5-17 mark in the PSAC a year ago, return three starters and a total of seven letter-winners.  Returning starters include senior forward Jamie Tabon, junior center, Olivia McCabe, and sophomore point guard Laurel O'Barto.  Pitt-Johnstown has also added seven freshman to this year's roster.
 
Shippensburg and California have been selected to win the Eastern and Western Divisions, respectively, for the 2017-18 Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference Women's Basketball season.  The favorites were announced by the league office Thursday along with the preseason coaches' poll. 
 
WESTERN DIVISION
Following its sixth PSAC title, California is the favorite to win the West and will return four starters. Senior Miki Glenn will pace the Vulcan offense after averaging 19.3 points and 4.5 rebounds per game. Glenn is a two-time first-team all-conference selection.
 
IUP is tabbed second after producing a 20-9 record last season. The Crimson Hawks led the league in three-point percentage (37.9) and was third in field-goal percentage (42.4). Junior Megan Smith averaged 12.7 points and 6.4 rebounds.
 
Coach Stan Swank and his Fighting Scots placed third in the poll after a 20-10 campaign. Senior Katie Fischer earned second-team all-conference recognition in her first season at Edinboro and went for 16.0 points and 3.2 rebounds per game.
 
Mercyhurst sits fourth and returns all five starters, including the senior duo of Natalie Piaggesi and Angela Heintz. Heintz earned a spot on the all-conference first-team with 13.3 points per game while Piaggesi grabbed a spot on the second team after she averaged 14.8 points and 6.6 rebounds.
 
Senior Lexi Carpenter and Slippery Rock round out the top five despite losing four starters. Carpenter earned All-PSAC honors after averaging 17.5 points and 4.4 rebounds as a junior.
 
Gannon, Seton Hill, Clarion and Pitt-Johnstown round out the West.
 
PSAC Women's Basketball East Preseason Poll (First Place Votes)

1. Shippensburg (8)
2. East Stroudsburg
3. Millersville (1)
4. West Chester
5. Kutztown
6. Lock Haven
7. Bloomsburg
8. Mansfield
9. Cheyney

 
PSAC Women's Basketball East Preseason All-Conference Team
F          Morgan Griffith             Sr.        Shippensburg
F/C       Allison Howard            Sr.        East Stroudsburg
F          Stephanie Knauer        Sr.        Shippensburg
G         Celeste Robinson         Sr.        Millersville
G         Logan Snyder              Sr.        Shippensburg
F          Kelsey Watson           Sr.        Kutztown
 
PSAC Women's Basketball West Preseason Poll

1. California (8)
2. IUP (1)
3. Edinboro
4. Mercyhurst
5. Slippery Rock
6. Gannon
7. Seton Hill
8. Clairon
9. PITT-JOHNSTOWN

 
PSAC Women's Basketball West Preseason All-Conference Team
F          Seairra Barrett              Jr.        California
G         Lexi Carpenter             Sr.        Slippery Rock
G         Katie Fischer                Sr.        Edinboro
G         Miki Glenn                  Sr.        California
G         Angela Heintz              Sr.        Mercyhurst
F          Natalie Piaggesi           Sr.        Mercyhurst