ROYAL OAK, Mich. - The Saint Mary's basketball team was picked by league coaches to finish third in the Michigan Intercollegiate Athletic Association as announced in the annual preseason poll earlier today.
The Belles have four of last season's five starters back while the team's nine returners saw action in at least 12 contests in the 2010-11 season. That core helped the team to a school-record 18 wins a year ago as the Belles took third place in the league last season.
Nationally-ranked Calvin and Hope were picked first and second in the league poll, respectively. The Knights are ranked fifth in the USA TODAY ESPN Top 25 Preseason Poll. The Flying Dutch are ranked 15th in the same national poll.
The season will begin for the Belles on November 15 when they host #25 Wheaton at home beginning at 7:30 p.m. Saint Mary's opens up conference play on November 30 at Trine.
Women's Poll Results (First-place votes in parenthesis): 1. Calvin (8) 8 pts. 2. Hope (1) 16. 3. Saint Mary’s 21. 4. Albion 36. 5. Olivet 38. 6. Adrian 41. 7. Trine 50. 8. Alma 51. 9. Kalamazoo 63.
