Griffins look to shake up 2015-16 Coaches Preseason Poll

St. Louis, Mo. - The St. Louis Intercollegiate Athletic Conference announced the Women's Basketball Coaches Preseason Poll and Fontbonne has been tabbed to finish seventh during the regular season. Westminster College was picked as the preseason favorite with five first-place votes with Spalding a close second followed by Iowa Wesleyan and Greenville to round out the top four spots.

The Griffins return 12 players this season including all five starters in head coach Maureen Sias' second season at the helm. Sias and Third-Team All-Conference leading assister Emmie Haring led the Griffins to an 11-14 overall record and 7-11 conference record while also leading the SLIAC in steals. Chelsy Gibson and Olivia Hollander return to anchor the Griffins down low while Erika Kuhn and Nicole Joerger are Fontbonne's top shooting guards looking to take the Griffins back to the SLIAC Tournament for the first time since 2011-12.

The Griffins have a wealth of incoming talent in Kaitlynn Walker, Paige Black, Jessica Jordan and Jelissa Puckett. Walker was named Suburban East Defensive Player of the Year as a junior and First-Team All-Conf. as a senior in the National Division. She was named Offensive Player of the Year after leading Ladue to a National Division Conference Championship in 2015 and was also on the All-Academic Team. Black was a three-year captain for Affton High School who earned 1,175 career points, two MVP titles and two All-District awards.

Jelissa Puckett also garnished First-Team All-Conference honors in the National Division and was a champ for the Ladue Rams as well. Jessica Jordan earned Player of the Year and First-Team All-Conference honors from Hazelwood Central, leading the Hawks to a District Champs title. 

To read the SLIAC's full release click here.

Coaches Preseason Poll