Quinnipiac University Named Preseason Favorite in Women's Basketball; Iona College's Marina Lizarazu Named Unanimous Preseason Player of the Year
MAAC Sports
EDISON, NJ – Quinnipiac University has been selected as the Preseason favorite to win the 2017 MAAC Women’s Basketball Championship, according to a vote by the leagues 11 head coaches. The Bobcats received seven of the 11 first-place votes for a total of 117 points. Iona College’s senior guard Marina Lizarazu has been named the unanimous 2016-17 MAAC Women’s Basketball Preseason Player of the Year.
Quinnipiac University is coming off a 2015-16 campaign in which they finished first in the MAAC with a 17-3 mark in conference play and an overall record of 25-9. The Bobcats earned its second consecutive regular season title and competed in the MAAC Championship game against Iona. As MAAC regular season champions, Quinnipiac received an automatic bid into the Women's National Invitation Tournament (WNIT). The WNIT appearance marked the fourth in program history for the Bobcats as they went on to defeat the University of Maine, 90-44 in the first round of play. The win over Maine marked Quinnipiac’s first-ever national postseason tournament victory.
Reigning MAAC Champions, Iona College placed second in the Preseason poll, receiving the other four first-place votes. The Gaels are coming off their first MAAC Championship in program history after posting a 16-4 record in conference play and finished 23-12 overall last season. Iona earned an automatic bid to the NCAA Tournament after securing the MAAC Championship. The Gaels limited opponents to 57.1 points per game last season, which were the fewest points allowed per game in the MAAC. They also held opponents to 37.3 percent shooting from the field and 27.6 percent shooting from behind the arc, which were the lowest shooting percentages allowed per game in the MAAC last season, respectively.
Rounding out the top-five are Siena College who placed third after going (10-10 MAAC, 14-18 overall) last season, Fairfield University coming in fourth after a (11-9 MAAC, 16-15 overall) finish in 2015-16, and Marist College in fifth, who went (14-6 MAAC, 16-16 overall) a year ago.
Iona’s senior guard Marina Lizarazu, is a unanimous selection to the Preseason All-MAAC First Team. The 2016 MAAC Championship MVP, finished fifth in the conference in scoring with 12.5 points per game, second with 4.9 assists per game, fourth in assist to turnover ratio with a 1.6 mark and seventh with 1.7 steals per game last season. During the MAAC Tournament, Lizarazu averaged 17.3 points per game to lead the Gaels to their first MAAC title in program history.
Joining Lizarazu on the Preseason All-MAAC First Team are Manhattan College’s junior guard Amani Tatum, Niagara University’s red-shirt junior forward Victoria Rampado, Quinnipiac University’s sophomore guard/forward Aryn McClure, and Siena College’s junior guard Kollyns Scarbrough.
The reigning MAAC Defensive Player of the Year, Manhattan College’s Amani Tatum was selected to the Preseason All-MAAC First Team after ranking eighth nationally in steals and fifth in the country with 3.3 steals per game. Tatum led the MAAC in steals last season with 101, which also set a school record. Her 11.9 points per game were ninth-best in the conference and she ranked seventh in the MAAC with 3.2 assists per game.
Victoria Rampado of Niagara University earns a spot on the Preseason All-MAAC First Team for the second consecutive year. Rampado is returning from an injury that sidelined her for the majority of the 2015-16 season. The Niagara Falls, Ontario native will return to the court for the Purple Eagles this season under second year Head Coach Jada Pierce. Last season, Rampado averaged 13.3 points and 8.0 rebounds per game prior to injury.
Quinnipiac’s Aryn McClure joins the Preseason All-MAAC First Team after being named the 2015-16 MAAC Rookie of the Year. McClure led all freshmen a season ago with 6.8 rebounds per game. She was a four-time MAAC Rookie of the Week award winner and was named to the All-MAAC Third Team in her rookie campaign. McClure was also a member of the 2016 All-MAAC Tournament Team.
Rounding out the Preseason All-MAAC First Team is Siena College’s Kollyns Scarbrough. The Jamaica, NY native ranked second in the conference with 2.3 steals per game, fifth with a 79.7 free-throw percentage, and 13th with 11.4 points per game. The 5-10 guard enters her junior season for the Saints.
Members of the Preseason All-MAAC Second Team include Fairfield University’s red-shirt senior forward Casey Smith, Iona College’s sophomore guard Alexis Lewis, Quinnipiac University’s sophomore forward Paula Strautmane, Rider University’s senior guard Robin Perkins, and Saint Peter’s junior forward Sajanna Bethea.
The Preseason All-MAAC Third Team features Canisius College’s sophomore guard Maria Welch, Fairfield University’s senior forward Kelsey Carey, Marist College’s junior guard Allie Clement, Niagara University’s junior forward Kaylee Stroemple, and Siena College’s sophomore guard Jackie Benitez.
2016-17 Preseason Coaches’ Poll
|
1.
|
Quinnipiac (7)
|
117
|
|
2.
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Iona (4)
|
114
|
|
3.
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Siena
|
90
|
|
4.
|
Fairfield
|
82
|
|
5.
|
Marist
|
72
|
|
6.
|
Canisius
|
58
|
|
T7.
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Manhattan
|
53
|
|
T7.
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Monmouth
|
53
|
|
9.
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Niagara
|
42
|
|
10.
|
Rider
|
24
|
|
11.
|
Saint Peter’s
|
21
|
2016-17 Preseason All-MAAC Teams
First Team
Marina Lizarazu, Iona, Sr., G, 5-8, Madrid, Spain*
Amani Tatum, Manhattan, Jr., G, 5-7, Cambria Heights, NY
Victoria Rampado, Niagara, R-Jr., F, 6-2, Niagara Falls, Ontario
Aryn McClure, Quinnipiac, So., G/F, 5-11, Springfield Gardens, NY
Kollyns Scarbrough, Siena, Jr., G, 5-10, Jamaica, NY
Second Team
Casey Smith, Fairfield, R-Sr., F, 6-2, Danbury, CT
Alexis Lewis, Iona, So., G, 5-10, Pittston, PA
Paula Strautmane, Quinnipiac, So., F, 6-0, Mucenieki, Latvia
Robin Perkins, Rider, Sr., G, 5-10, Willingboro, NJ
Sajanna Bethea, Saint Peter’s, Jr., F, 5-11, Levittown, PA
Third Team
Maria Welch, Canisius, So., G, 5-11, Erie, PA
Kelsey Carey, Fairfield, Sr., F, 6-0, Staten Island, NY
Allie Clement, Marist, Jr., G, 5-8, Falmouth, ME
Kaylee Stroemple, Niagara, Jr., F, 5-11, Canton, OH
Jackie Benitez, Siena, So., G, 5-10, Tobyhanna, PA
Preseason Player of the Year
Marina Lizarazu, Iona*
*Denotes unanimous selection