LOCK HAVEN, Pa. (Oct. 29) – The California (PA) women's basketball team was selected to finish fourth in the preseason Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) West poll released by the league office on Thursday afternoon.
The Vulcans were picked fourth in the poll for the second-straight year. Cal finished fifth in the PSAC West standings last winter following a 13-18 overall record behind a 9-11 mark in league action.
IUP was the preseason favorite with seven first-place votes after advancing to the NCAA National Championship for the first time in program history. The Crimson Hawks finished the year with a 31-4 record while winning the PSAC Championship and NCAA Atlantic Regional Championship by a combined five points. Gannon was slotted second behind the remaining two first-place votes after playing in the PSAC Championship for the fifth time in the last six seasons. Edinboro ranked third in the poll after making a second-straight appearance in the NCAA Tournament, followed by Cal and Lock Haven at fourth and fifth, respectively. Clarion, Pitt-Johnstown, Slippery Rock and Seton Hill rounded out the poll. Roster turnover is prevalent throughout the division, as only five of the 14 players named All-PSAC West return for the upcoming campaign.
In the PSAC East, East Stroudsburg was chosen the preseason favorite behind three first-place votes. Kutztown also earned three first-place votes and was picked second, while Millersville received the remaining two first-place votes. The Marauders finished sixth in the division last year and feature a new head coach in alumnus Jen Smith, who earned 70 wins the past three years as head coach at Lock Haven.
Lock Haven returns to the PSAC West for the first time since the 2012-13 season. The realignment follows the addition of Lackawanna, which is transitioning to NCAA Division II membership.
Under 16th-year head coach
Jess Strom, Cal starts the campaign on Nov. 9 when it hosts Charleston (WV) at the Convocation Center. The Golden Eagles were tabbed second in the preseason Mountain East Conference (MEC) poll last week.
