GREENVILLE, Pa. (pacathletics.org)--Saint Vincent College claimed the top spot in this year’s Presidents’ Athletic Conference (PAC) Women’s Basketball Preseason Coaches' Poll, which was voted on by the league's 10 head coaches.

The PAC announced the results of its preseason coaches' poll and its annual players to watch list Tuesday afternoon.

Saint Vincent and 12th-year head coach Jimmy Petruska secured eight of the 10 first-place votes and 89 points to land the top spot in this year's poll. The No. 1 seed in last year's PAC Championship Tournament, Saint Vincent claimed its second PAC title (2018-19) with a 65-61 victory over No. 2 Washington & Jefferson College in the league's championship game on March 20. 

W&J, led by 18th-year head coach Jina DeRubbo, claimed the final two first-place votes and 80 points to finish second in the poll. W&J owns five PAC titles, with its most recent coming in 2006. 

Grove City College was picked third (67) and was followed by Bethany College in fourth (63) and Westminster College in fifth (61). Chatham University was sixth (59), Geneva College was seventh (42), Waynesburg University was eighth (33), Thiel College was ninth (26) and Franciscan University was 10th (20). 

The eight-team PAC Championship Tournament will get underway on Monday, Feb. 21 with its quarterfinal round. The semifinals are scheduled for Wednesday, Feb. 23 while this year's title game is slated for Saturday, Feb. 26.

This year's championship tournament winner will receive the league’s automatic qualifying bid to the NCAA Division III Championship. Team selections for the Division III Championship are scheduled to be announced Monday, Feb. 28, with first and second round matchups scheduled for Friday-Saturday, March 4-5. 

2021-22 PAC Women's Basketball Preseason Coaches' Poll
School (first-place votes)	Points	2020-21 Record (PAC)
1. Saint Vincent College (8)	89	10-0 (7-0)
2. Washington & Jefferson College (2)	80	8-1 (6-0)
3. Grove City College	67	8-2 (7-1)
4. Bethany College	63	5-6 (4-5)
5. Westminster College	61	6-5 (5-4)
6. Chatham University	59	4-5 (5-4)
7. Geneva College	42	4-6 (4-5)
8. Waynesburg University	33	3-8 (2-7)
9. Thiel College	26	1-8 (1-7)
10. Franciscan University	20	1-9 (1-8)

2021-22 PAC Women's Basketball Players to Watch

Bethany
Name	Yr.	Pos.	Ht.	Hometown | High School
Lindsey Garrison	Fr.	G	5-7	Triadelphia, W.Va. | Wheeling Park
Makenzee Mason	So.	G	5-7	Lithopolis, Ohio | Bloom-Carroll
Kelsie Meintel	Sr.	F	6-0	Moundsville, W.Va. | Cameron
Courtney Walker	Sr.	F	5-9	Moundsville, W.Va. | Cameron
Ashleigh Wheeler	Fr.	F	5-5	Quaker City, Ohio | Shenandoah

 

Chatham
Name	Yr.	Pos.	Ht.	Hometown | High School
Riley D'Angelo	Jr.	G	5-6	Tyrone, Pa. | Bellwood-Antis
Maddy Grennes	Gr.	F	6-0	Westfield, Ind. | Westfield
Sierra McClain	Jr.	G	5-3	Hollidaysburg, Pa. | Hollidaysburg
Julianna Skowron	Gr.	F	6-1	Sewickley, Pa. | Oakland Catholic
Brit Smith	Gr.	F	5-11	Severna Park, Md. | Seton Keough

 

Franciscan
Name	Yr.	Pos.	Ht.	Hometown | High School
Madison Doan	Fr.	C	6-1	Escondido, Calif. | Saint Joseph Academy
Sophie LaRose	So.	F	5-8	Goshen, N.H. | Mount Royal Academy
Jazzlyn Melnyk	Fr.	G	5-8	Weirton, W.Va. | Madonna

 

Geneva
Name	Yr.	Pos.	Ht.	Hometown | High School
Emily Bucheit	So.	G	5-9	Kane, Pa. | Kane
Anna Hampshire	So.	F	5-9	Lincoln University, Pa. | Oxford
Abby King	So.	G	5-9	New Geneva, Pa. | Albert Gallatin
Isabella Roth	Jr.	G	5-8	Ellwood City, Pa. | Ellwood City
Cynthia Stewart	So.	G	5-6	Silver Springs, Md. | Paint Branch

 

Grove City
Name	Yr.	Pos.	Ht.	Hometown | High School
Kat Goetz	So.	F	5-11	Pittsburgh, Pa. | Avonworth
Allison Podkul	Sr.	F	5-8	Greensburg, Pa. | Hempfield

   

Saint Vincent
Name	Yr.	Pos.	Ht.	Hometown | High School
Emily Cavacini	So.	G	5-3	Pittsburgh, Pa. | Shaler
Taylor Geer	Sr.	G/F	5-10	Emlenton, Pa. | Keystone
Ella Marconi	So.	C	6-0	Twinsburg, Ohio | Gilmour Academy
Madison Weber	Jr.	F	5-11	Grampian, Pa. | Curwensville
Alana Winkler	So.	G/F	5-9	Wexford, Pa. | Vincentian Academy

 

Thiel
Name	Yr.	Pos.	Ht.	Hometown | High School
Rachel Breckenridge	Sr.	G	5-7	Burton, Ohio | Berkshire
Destiny Johnson	Sr.	F	5-9	Baltimore, Md. | Western
Colleen Trainer	Sr.	G	5-8	Latrobe, Pa. | Mount Pleasant

     

W&J
Name	Yr.	Pos.	Ht.	Hometown | High School
Sarah Berardelli	So.	C	6-1	Ambridge, Pa. | North Catholic
Vee Koeck	Jr.	G/F	6-0	Sidman, Pa. | Forest Hills
Kam Lach	Sr.	G	5-4	Bethel Park, Pa. | Bethel Park
Aleena McDaniel	Sr.	G	5-8	Morgantown, W.Va. | Morgantown
Piper Morningstar	Sr.	G	6-0	Pittsburgh, Pa. | North Allegheny

     

Waynesburg
Name	Yr.	Pos.	Ht.	Hometown | High School
Brooke Fuller	Sr.	C	6-0	Allison Park, Pa. | Hampton

 

Westminster
Name	Yr.	Pos.	Ht.	Hometown | High School
Lindsay Bell	Jr.	F	6-0	Youngstown, Ohio | Ursuline
Breannda Davis	So.	G	5-8	Streetsboro, Ohio | Streetsboro
Natalie Murrio	Jr.	G	5-7	Pittsburgh, Pa. | Brentwood
Magen Polczynski	Sr.	G	5-5	Irwin, Pa. | Norwin
Mariah Vincent	So.	G	5-7	Franklin Pike, Pa. | Kennedy Catholic

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