Brooklyn, NY - The results of the preseason coaches’ poll suggest that Robert Morris will give its head coach the ultimate retirement gift.
With Sal Buscaglia set to retire at season’s end, his Colonials pulled in seven first-place votes to finish atop the poll and earn the title of NEC Women’s Basketball preseason favorite for the third year in a row.

The remaining first-place votes belong to the two teams who shared the 2014-15 regular season crown -- Bryant and Central Connecticut.

Mary Burke’s Bulldogs, who posted more overall victories (22) than any NEC team last year, earned two top nods and took second place in the preseason rankings.

Meanwhile, Beryl Piper’s Blue Devils pulled in the lone remaining first-place vote and are pegged for a third-place finish one year after the program’s second-ever Postseason WNIT appearance.

Fairleigh Dickinson finished fourth in the poll, one spot ahead of Sacred Heart in fifth place. Wagner claimed the No. 6 spot in the preseason rankings with Mount St. Mary’s sliding in at No. 7.

Saint Francis U, which has made 16 NEC Championship Game appearances in the last 22 years, finished eighth.

The NEC’s Brooklyn-based contingent rounded out the poll with defending champion St. Francis Brooklyn taking ninth followed by LIU Brooklyn in tenth.

The NEC unveiled the results of the poll, along with the names of five Preseason All-Conference selections, live on its digital network during the fourth annual NEC Social Media Day at Barclays Center.

Continuing a trend that dates back more than a decade, at least three different teams received at least one first-place vote.

In eight of the past 10 seasons, the coaches’ poll has failed to correctly predict the recipient of the NEC’s automatic bid to the NCAA Tournament. Robert Morris is responsible for one of the two outliers. The Colonials made good on their preseason No. 1 ranking during the 2013-14 campaign.

The 2015-16 conference schedule will follow a double round robin format as each team will contest 18 league games. The top-eight finishers in the final standings will advance to the 2016 NEC Tournament, which will take place at the campus sites of higher seeded teams. The NEC Championship Game will unfold on Sunday, March 13 and will be available to a national television audience via ESPNU.

Robert Morris returns four starters, including preseason all-NEC pick Anna Niki Stamolamprou, from the team that hosted the 2015 NEC Championship Game.



NEC Preseason Coaches' Poll History         
          
Year        Preseason Favorite                       NEC Tournament Champion
            (actual regular season finish)          (preseason selection)
 
2014-15    Robert Morris (3rd)                      St. Francis Brooklyn (5th)
2013-14    Robert Morris (1st)                      Robert Morris (1st)
2012-13    Quinnipiac (1st)                         Quinnipiac (1st)
2011-12    Saint Francis (PA) (T-4th)               Sacred Heart (T-4th)
2010-11    Long Island (T-4th)                      Saint Francis (PA) (4th)
2009-10    Sacred Heart (3rd)                       Saint Francis (PA) (2nd)
2008-09    Robert Morris (6th)                      Sacred Heart (3rd)
2007-08    Long Island (4th)                        Robert Morris (2nd)
2006-07    Sacred Heart (T-1st)                     Robert Morris (3rd)
2005-06    Robert Morris (T-2nd)                    Sacred Heart (2nd)
2004-05    St. Francis (PA) (1st)                   St. Francis (PA) (1st)
2003-04    St. Francis (PA) (1st)                   St. Francis (PA) (1st)
2002-03    St. Francis (PA) (1st)                   St. Francis (PA) (1st)
2001-02    Long Island (T-2nd)                      St. Francis (PA) (8th)
2000-01    Mount St. Mary’s (1st)                   Long Island (6th)
1999-00    Mount St. Mary’s (2nd)                   St. Francis (PA) (2nd)
1998-99    St. Francis (PA) (2nd)                   St. Francis (PA) (1st)
1997-98    St. Francis (PA) (1st)                   St. Francis (PA) (1st)
1996-97    Mount St. Mary’s (T-4th)                 St. Francis (PA) (T-5th)
1995-96    St. Francis (PA) (2nd)                   St. Francis (PA) (1st)
1994-95    Mount St. Mary’s (1st)                   Mount St. Mary’s (1st)
1993-94    Mount St. Mary’s (1st)                   Mount St. Mary’s (1st)


BRYANT
2016 Predicted NEC Finish: 2nd
2014-15 Overall Record: 22-9
2014-15 NEC Record/Finish: 14-4/t-1st
Bryant brings back four starters from a team that earned a share of the regular season conference crown and posted a NEC-best 22 wins last year. All four women, including reigning NEC Player of the Year Breanna Rucker (16.3 ppg, 11.3 rpg), averaged double figures in scoring for the conference’s top-ranked offense. The Bulldogs, who also led the circuit in rebounding margin (+6.4/gm), will look to continue their success on the glass with two of the NEC’s top-four returning rebounders – Rucker and Morgan Olander (8.0 rpg). Mary Burke’s team will face two Big East members (Seton Hall, Providence) and an ACC team (Boston College) during non-conference play before opening the league schedule against fellow 2015 regular season co-champion Central Connecticut on January 2.
 
CENTRAL CONNECTICUT
2016 Predicted NEC Finish: 3rd
2014-15 Overall Record: 19-13
2014-15 NEC Record/Finish: 14-4/t-1st
After turning the preseason poll upside down last year, Central Connecticut aims to maintain its standing near the top of the NEC. Veteran head coach Beryl Piper welcomes back key pieces from last year’s WNIT team, which built a reputation for its fierce defense. Post Player TeJahne Malone returns following a breakout junior campaign during which she led the NEC in field goal percentage (.513) and spearheaded a balanced scoring attack at 10.8 points per game. Sophomore Camden Musgrave, who averaged 9.2 points per game as a rookie, gives the Blue Devils a deep threat. She sank 54 three-pointers in 32 games.
 
FAIRLEIGH DICKINSON
2016 Predicted NEC Finish: 4th
2014-15 Overall Record: 10-20
2014-15 NEC Record/Finish: 7-11/6th
The outside expectations for Fairleigh Dickinson are as high as they’ve been in two decades, and, rightfully so, considering the FDU features a battle-tested double-double machine in senior center Erika Livermore. The reigning NEC Defensive Player of the Year is a complete player who excelled during her first season back from knee surgery, leading the circuit in blocks (2.3 bpg) and ranking amongst the top-three in scoring (18.5 ppg), rebounding (10.0) rpg and field goal percentage (.483).  The Knights’ talent runs deeper than their all-NEC post player. Senior guard Kelsey Cruz (18.1 ppg) was the league’s fourth-leading scorer last year and won the 2013-14 NCAA statistical championship for free throw percentage.
 
 
LIU BROOKLYN
2016 Predicted NEC Finish: 10th
2014-15 Overall Record: 9-21
2014-15 NEC Record/Finish: 6-12/t-7th
After contributing to Seton Hall’s recent renaissance, Stephanie Oliver looks to put her stamp on LIU Brooklyn during her maiden voyage as a Division I head coach. The former Marist star takes over a team that led the NEC in steals (11.0 spg) and forced a league-high 20.7 turnovers per game last year. Guard Shanovia Dove (8.0 ppg), the team’s top returning scorer, brings experience to the backcourt while senior Jolanna Ford (7.0 ppg, 5.2 rpg) gives the Blackbirds a battle-tested post presence.
 
MOUNT ST. MARY’S
2016 Predicted NEC Finish: 7th
2014-15 Overall Record: 8-22
2014-15 NEC Record/Finish: 6-12/t-7th
Bryant Whitten brings “positive expectations” into his ninth season at Mount St. Mary’s. The Mount lost only two letter winners from last year’s squad that qualified for the NEC Tournament for a record 24th time, but they happened to be the team’s top-two scorers. Three returnees averaged at least 6.2 points per game last season, including senior center Sarafina Arthur-Williams (7.7 ppg, 6.9 rpg). Sophomore Jessica Harris, a 5-foot-11 swing player, looks to build upon a rookie campaign during which she made 27 appearances and averaged 6.8 points and 3.9 rebounds per contest.
 
ROBERT MORRIS
2016 Predicted NEC Finish: 1st
2014-15 Overall Record: 17-15
2014-15 NEC Record/Finish: 13-5/3rd
Sal Buscaglia’s Colonials, who made back-to-back NEC Championship Game appearances, carry the moniker of preseason favorite for the third consecutive year. Robert Morris returns the top-four scorers from the team that finished one win shy of a second consecutive NEC Tournament title. Preseason all-league guard Anna Niki Stamolamprou averaged a team-high 15.2 points per game while sinking a conference-leading 81 three-pointers. Stamolamprou (.420) ranked second overall amongst NEC leader in three-point field goal percentage with RMU teammate Megan Smith (.429) occupying first. The Canadian-born Smith was a force both inside and out as a freshman, averaging 9.7 points and 4.7 boards per contest. Nearly everyone who Buscaglia puts on the floor can step back and hit the long ball. The battle-tested Ashley Ravelli (41 3FGM), who returns for her senior season after a successful transition to point guard last year, and veteran Rebecca Navarro (43 3FGM) were also key contributors to RMU’s NEC-high 248 three-point field goals.
 
SACRED HEART
2016 Predicted NEC Finish: 5th
2014-15 Overall Record: 16-13
2014-15 NEC Record/Finish:  11-7/4th
Sacred Heart lost two key contributors to graduation, but head coach Jessica Mannetti has confidence in the nine players who return for her third season at the helm. The coaches’ poll project Mannetti’s Pioneers will once again finish in the top half of the league standings and the ability of small forward Hannah Kimmel is likely a reason why. The resilient Kimmel has battled back from two ACL tears to earn all-NEC first team status, ranking sixth amongst the league’s scoring leaders (16.0 ppg) and third amongst the top rebounders (8.6 rpg). Adaysha Williams, who saw her production rise (11.6 ppgm 4.8 rpg, 3.4 apg) as a sophomore, brings two years of playing experience to the point guard position. SHU starts the season with three games against regional foes before a trip to the San Juan Shootout.
 
SAINT FRANCIS U
2016 Predicted NEC Finish: 8th
2014-15 Overall Record: 6-23
2014-15 NEC Record/Finish: 5-13/t-9th
The new look Red Flash will look to return to the program’s old ways. Head coach Joe Haigh welcomes back only two players – senior Aisha Brock (13.4 ppg, 3.2 apg) and sophomore Maya Wynn (7.0 ppg, 2.6 rpg) – who started at least 10 games last season.  The Red Flash, who have played at an uptempo pace under Haigh, welcome five freshmen and two eligible transfers into the rotation. Brielle Ward (Hampton) and Katie Reese (Manhattan) bring immediate Division I experience into the fold as Saint Francis pursues an unprecedented 17th NEC Championship Game appearance.
 
ST. FRANCIS BROOKLYN
2016 Predicted NEC Finish: 9th
2014-15 Overall Record: 15-19
2014-15 NEC Record/Finish: 9-9/5th
The Terriers’ preseason poll standing is likely a product of the fact that the team graduated four starters from its 2015 championship run. Despite the young make-up of the roster, head coach John Thurston, who has instilled a defensive-minded, scrappy attitude during his first few seasons in charge, has not changed his expectations. Thurston noted that St. Francis Brooklyn’s goals “are basically the same every year -- to work to get better every day.” Senior Leah Fechko (9.9 ppg, 7.6 rpg), a two-time all-NEC defensive team selection, brings leadership to the table as the team’s most-accomplished returnee. Alex Delaney (3.8 ppg, 1.5 rpg) and Cassidy Derda (2.1 ppg, 28 GP), who showed flashes of great potential as freshmen, will see the opportunity for increased roles in the front court.
 
 
WAGNER
2016 Predicted NEC Finish: 6th
2014-15 Overall Record: 7-22
2014-15 NEC Record/Finish: 5-13/t-9th
The return of all five starters, highlighted by a dynamic scoring duo, has pundits excited about the possibilities that may await Wagner. Junior Jasmine Nwajei and senior Jordyn Peck give head coach Lisa Cermignano two 1,000-point scorers at her disposal. Nwajei, the lone sophomore in program history to reach the 1,000-point plateau, narrowly missed capturing the NCAA Division I scoring title last season. Her 24.8 points per game average was second in the nation and her 3.3 steals per game topped the NEC. The lightning-quick Nwajei also possesses tremendous floor vision as evidenced by her 3.9 assists per game (5th in NEC).


About The Northeast Conference
Now in its 35th year, the Northeast Conference is an NCAA Division I collegiate athletic association consisting of 10 institutions of higher learning located throughout six states. Media coverage of the NEC extends to four of the largest markets in the United States - New York (#1), Pittsburgh (#23), Baltimore (#27), and Hartford/New Haven (#30).  Founded in 1981 as the basketball-only ECAC Metro Conference, the NEC has grown to sponsor 22 championship sports for men and women and now enjoys automatic access to 14 different NCAA Championships. NEC member institutions include Bryant, Central Connecticut, Fairleigh Dickinson, LIU Brooklyn, Mount St. Mary’s, Robert Morris, Sacred Heart, St. Francis Brooklyn, Saint Francis U and Wagner. For more information on the NEC, visit the league’s official website (www.northeastconference.org) and digital network (www.necfrontrow.com), or follow the league on Twitter, Facebook, YouTube, Instagram and Google+, all @NECsports.