South Dakota State’s Women Favored to Win Summit League Basketball Crown
If the Summit League women's basketball 'experts' are correct, South Dakota State can add 'three-peat' to an already impressive run of success in the conference.
The Jackrabbits are the 2013-14 women's basketball preseason favorite, grabbing 27-of-30 first-place votes and 319 points in the voting conducted by the league's head coaches, sports information directors, and media.
In their last six years as a member in the conference, head coach Aaron Johnston's team has four regular season titles, including the last two, and five straight conference tournament crowns.
Last season's tournament runner-up, South Dakota placed third with 224 points.
SDSU's Megan Waytashek and USD's Nicole Seekamp are on the pre-season all-conference first team.
Waytashek averaged 14 points a game and shot better than 41% from behind the 3-point arc last season.
Seekamp was the Tournament MVP last season, after averaging 15 points and 3 assists a game during the regular season.
South Dakota State's Steph Paluch and South Dakota's Polly Harrington are on the second team.
The regular season begins November 8th, with conference play tipping off January 9th..
The 2014 Summit League Tournament returns to the Sioux Falls Arena for the sixth straight year, March 8th-11th.
2013-14 Summit League Women's Basketball Preseason Poll | ||
Place | Team | Points (1st) |
1. | South Dakota State | 319 (27) |
2. | IUPUI | 276 (3) |
3. | South Dakota | 224 |
4. | Fort Wayne | 179 |
5. | Denver | 169 |
6. | Western Illinois | 146 |
7. | Omaha | 77 |
8. | North Dakota State | 74 |
First Team | |||
Name | School | Pos. | Year |
DeAirra Goss | IUPUI | G | Sr. |
Amanda Hyde | Fort Wayne | G/F | Sr. |
Ashley Luke | Western Illinois | F | So. |
Nicole Seekmap | South Dakota | G | Jr. |
Morgan Van Riper-Rose | Denver | G | Jr. |
Megan Waytashek | South Dakota State | G/F | Jr. |
Second Team | |||
Name | School | Pos. | Year |
Dee-Dee Bellamy | IUPUI | G | Sr. |
Polly Harrington | South Dakota | F | Sr. |
Ericka House | Omaha | G | Sr. |
Steph Paluch | South Dakota State | G | Sr. |
Haley Seibert | Fort Wayne | F | Jr. |
Preseason Player of the Year: Amanda Hyde, Fort Wayne |