Oct. 29, 2008

CENTER VALLEY, Pa. -- The Patriot League office announced Wednesday the results of its Women's Basketball Pre-Season Poll and the Pre-Season All-League Team. The results reflect the voting of the league's head coaches and women's basketball sports information contacts.

Navy received 35 points in the voting to place seventh in the pre-season ballot, the same position the Mids finished the 2007-08 season in. Holy Cross totaled half of the available 16 first-place votes and accrued 90 overall points to be tabbed as the pre-season favorite in the league. Lehigh received six first-place nods and 83 total points to finish second, with American garnering the remaining two first-place votes and 75 points in all to finish third in the balloting.

Army received 60 points to finish in fourth place in the poll, followed by Bucknell (53 points) in fifth place, Lafayette (38) in sixth, the Midshipmen in seventh and Colgate (14) in eighth.

Navy sophomore center Cassie Consedine (Bartlesville, Okla.) was one of five student-athletes to be named to the pre-season all-league team. In addition to being selected as the 2008 Patriot League Rookie of the Year, Consedine also garnered second-team all-league honors last year when she ranked among the league leaders in scoring (second place), rebounding (first) and blocked shots (second).

Joining Consedine on the all-league team were Army's Alex McGuire (2008 first-team all-league), Briana McFadden (2008 Patriot League Player of the Year) and Bethany O'Dell (2008 second-team all-league) from Holy Cross and Lehigh's Alex Ross (2008 second-team all-league).

Navy, under the direction of first-year head coach Stefanie Pemper, returns all five starters and eight of its nine letter winners from a year ago. The Mids open up the 2008-09 season Nov. 14 when Navy plays host to Ohio in Alumni Hall. Season tickets and tickets for individual games are available by either calling 1-800-US4-NAVY or logging on to www.navysports.com and clicking on "TICKETS."

2008-09 Patriot League Pre-Season Poll
1. Holy Cross (90 pts. / 8 first place votes)
2. Lehigh (83 / 6)
3. American (75 / 2)
4. Army (60)
5. Bucknell (53)
6. Lafayette (38)
7. Navy (35)
8. Colgate (14)

2008-09 Pre-Season All-League Team
Alex McGuire, Army (Sr., G)
Briana McFadden, Holy Cross (Jr., G)
Bethany O'Dell, Holy Cross (Jr., G)
Alex Ross, Lehigh (Jr., G)
Cassie Consedine, Navy (So., C)