Defending conference champion Gannon and Shippensburg are the favorites to win titles in the Pennsylvania State Athetic Conference West and East divisions, according to preseason coaches polls.
Gannon went 13-1 in a season shortened by the covid pandemic, a year after the Golden Knights finished 25-6.
Gannon returns key players in junior Tori Obenrader and sophomore Samantha Pirosko, a formidable post pair, who combined to average 28.5 points a game.
Shippensburg features senior guards Ariel Jones and Destiny Jefferson.
Perennial power IUP is ranked No. 2 in the West. The Crimson Hawks, who will be led by redshirt senior guard
Justina Mascaro (Bethel Park), went 28-3 in 2019-20 and gave up a league-low 53.3 points.
Cal (Pa.) (21-9) reached the conference quarterfinals before falling to IUP. Junior guard Jayde Boyd (Oakland Catholic) leads the Lakers.
Don’t count out Seton Hill, one of the conference’s most fast-paced teams. The Griffins, who have relied on 3-point shooting, averaged 73.5 points two years ago. Rounding out the top 5 in the East are Shepherd, Kutztown, East
Stroudsburg and Lock Haven.
The regular season starts Nov. 12, and conference play opens Dec. 3.
PSAC preseason polls (first-place votes)
East
1. Shippensburg (5)
2. Shepherd (4)
3. Kutztown
4. East Stroudsburg
5. Lock Haven
6. Bloomsburg
7. West Chester
8. Millersville
9. Mansfield
West
1. Gannon (4)
2. IUP (4)
3. Cal (Pa.)
4. Mercyhurst (1)
5. Seton Hill
6. Edinboro
7. Pitt-Johnstown
8. Slippery Rock
9. Clarion
Players to watch
Abby Beeman, Jr.,/G, Shepherd
Jayde Boyd, Jr./G, Mercyhurst
Rylee Derr, Sr., G, Kutztown
Shauna Harrison, Jr./G-F, Cal (Pa.)
Ariel Jones, Sr., G, Shippensburg
Justina Mascaro, R-Sr./G, IUP
Tori Obenrader, Jr./F, Gannon
Samantha Pirosko, So./F, Gannon
Emma Saxton, GS/G, Bloomsburg
Cheyenne Trest, GS/G, Seton Hill
