UDC Tops ECC Women's Basketball Preseason Poll

UDC Tops ECC Women's Basketball Preseason Poll
LIU Post's Williams Tabbed as Preseason Player of the Year

Central Islip, N.Y. – University of the District of Columbia, winners of last year's ECC Women's Basketball Championship, have been selected as favorites to do so once again in a vote by the conference's coaches. Chelsea Williams (Copiague, N.Y./Copiague HS), a senior guard from LIU Post, was selected as the Preseason Player of the Year.

UDC finished last season with a 21-8 record on the way to winning the first ECC Championship in program history. They also made a trip to the NCAA Tournament for the second time in three seasons since joining the ECC. The 2014-15 edition of the Firebirds has eight returning players on the roster, including All-Conference First Team picks Denikka Brent (Chesapeake, Va.) and Telisha Turner (Wilmington, Del.).

LIU Post finished narrowly behind UDC in the poll with four first place votes and 111 points. The Pioneers had near unprecedented success in 2013-14, winning an ECC Regular Season Championship and advancing to the Sweet Sixteen of the NCAA Tournament for the first-time ever. Their win total of 24 was the second highest mark in program history, as well.

Queens College wraps up the top three with 89 points. The Knights, three years removed from a one win campaign, finished last season with 20 wins. NYIT, who comes in at fourth in the poll, received the final first place vote.

Williams receives the preseason honor after earning the ECC Player of the Year award last season. In 31 games, Williams ranked second in the ECC by pouring in 19.7 points per game and added 5.6 rebounds per game. She also finished in the top 10 in the ECC in three point field goals made (60), offensive rebounds (80), and steals (44). In addition, Williams put up historically good statistics by leading the ECC with 610 points and 228 free throws made. Her point total was the eighth highest single-season tally in ECC history while her free throw mark smashed the previous record of 210 set by Philadelphia University's Darlene Hildebrand during the 1994-95 season.

2014-2015 ECC Women’s Basketball Preseason Poll
Team                                            Pts.                         Last Year’s Record
1. District of Columbia (6)               116                          21-8 (15-5 ECC)
2. LIU Post (4)                               111                          24-7 (18-2 ECC)
3. Queens                                      89                           20-8 (15-5 ECC)
4. NYIT (1)                                     85                           18-10 (13-7 ECC)
5. Roberts Wesleyan                      72                            15-14 (10-10 ECC)
6. Molloy                                        70                            14-14 (11-9 ECC)
7. St. Thomas Aquinas                    61                           12-13 (8-12 ECC)
8. Dowling                                      38                           10-16 (9-11 ECC)
9. Bridgeport                                   31                            7-19 (5-15 ECC)
10. Daemen                                    30                            8-18 (5-15 ECC)
11. Mercy                                       23                            2-24 (1-19 ECC)

( ) - First Place Votes

Preseason Player of the Year – Chelsea Williams, LIU Post (5-7, Sr., G, Copiague, N.Y.)