Oct. 18, 2007

2007-08 Summit League Women's Basketball Preseason Poll
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Elmhurst, IL - IPFW has been picked to finish in eighth place in the Summit League this season. IPFW senior guard Johnna Lewis-Carlisle was named to the Preseason All-Conference First Team.

For the second consecutive season, Oral Roberts has been selected as the preseason favorite to capture the 2007-08 women's basketball championship, according to polling of league coaches, sports information directors and selected media members. The Golden Eagles' Jenny Hardin has been tabbed as the Preseason Player of the Year after being named to the all-conference second team a year ago and posting career highs in points and rebounds.

ORU received 399 points and 10 first-place votes, with Oakland (382) and South Dakota State (359) not far behind. The Golden Grizzlies, the 2006-07 regular season champions, notched four first-place votes, while the Jackrabbits tallied 14. North Dakota State picked up the remaining two first-place votes and 266 points, followed by IUPUI (250) and Western Illinois (219). The poll was rounded out by UMKC (211), IPFW (152), Southern Utah (151) and Centenary (58).

The Golden Eagles finished 8-6 in conference play and posted a 22-11 overall record last season. Head coach Jerry Finkbeiner returns four starters from his tournament championship squad, including Hardin.

Hardin, a second-team all-conference selection, finished the season with 15.7 points and 5.3 rebounds per game. Those numbers were second on the ORU team behind former standout Elisha Turek.

Joining Hardin on The Summit League Preseason All-Conference first team are North Dakota State's Lisa Bue, IUPUI's Jernisha Cann, UMKC's Alysa Klein, IPFW's Johnna Lewis-Carlisle and Oakland's Jessica Pike. Cann is the defending Defensive Player of the Year.

The preseason all-conference second team is comprised of Centenary's Cierra Bush, Western Illinois' Stephanie Lovingood, UMKC's Chazny Morris, South Dakota State's Jennifer Warkenthien and Southern Utah's Anne Westwood. Morris was named the conference Newcomer of the Year last season.

Eight teams (Centenary, IPFW, IUPUI, UMKC, Oakland, Oral Roberts, Southern Utah, Western Illinois) will participate in the 2008 Summit League Women's Basketball Championship, which will be held March 8-11 at the John Q. Hammons Arena at the UMAC in Tulsa, Okla. Newcomers North Dakota State and South Dakota State are in their final year of reclassifying to Division I status and per NCAA rules and regulations are ineligible for postseason play.

The Summit League Men's and Women's Basketball Media Teleconference is slated for 10 a.m. (CST) Wednesday, Oct. 31.

2007-08 Women's Basketball Preseason Poll
Team Points
1. Oral Roberts 399 (10)
2. Oakland 382 (4)
3. South Dakota State 359 (14)
4. North Dakota State 266 (2)
5. IUPUI 250
6. Western Illinois 219
7. UMKC 211
8. IPFW 152
9. Southern Utah 151
10. Centenary 58

(first place votes in parentheses)

FIRST TEAM
Name, School
Lisa Bue, North Dakota State
Jernisha Cann, IUPUI
Jenny Hardin, Oral Roberts
Alysa Klein, UMKC
Johnna Lewis-Carlisle, IPFW
Jessica Pike, Oakland

SECOND TEAM
Name, School
Cierra Bush, Centenary
Stephanie Lovingood, Western Illinois
Chazny Morris, UMKC
Jennifer Warkenthien, South Dakota State
Anne Westwood, Southern Utah

PRESEASON PLAYER OF THE YEAR: Jenny Hardin, Oral Roberts