AMC Women's Basketball Preseason Coaches' Poll and Season Preview

ST. LOUIS, Mo. – Freed-Hardeman Lady Lions enters the 2017-18 season as the preseason favorites to win the American Midwest Conference (AMC) regular-season.

The Lady Lions received 10 first-place votes, en route to 131 total points. The final two first-place votes went to Columbia who is third with 111 points.

The NAIA Division I Women's Basketball Preseason Top 25 Coaches' Poll will be released on Tuesday, Oct. 24^th.

No. 1 – Freed-Hardeman University Lions – 131 points (10 first-place votes)

• The Lady Lions finished the season with a record on 35-1 overall and 24-0 in the AMC.
• Won the AMC regular-season and AMC conference tournament championship.
• Earned the No. 1-overall seed in the NAIA Division I Women's Basketball National Championship.
• Fell, 73-70, to No. 3-seed Campbellsville (Ky.) in the quarterfinals.
• Key returners:
  • Kim Mallory: Averaged 16.7 points per game and 9.0 rebounds per game – second on the team in both categories. Named to the First-Team All-AMC and First-Team All-American teams. Won the AMC Defensive Player of the Year.
  • Tiffany Pate: Averaged 5.6 points per game and a team-high 10.6 rebounds per game. Third-Team All-Conference selection.
• Key players lost:
  • Taleeah Cross: two-time AMC Player of the Year. First-Team All-AMC and First-Team All-American last season. Averaged a team-high 16.9 points per game.
• The Lady Lions season starts on Oct. 31 when they host Blue Mountain (Miss.).
• The first AMC game for Freed-Hardeman starts on Nov. 16 when they travel to St. Louis, Mo. to take on Harris-Stowe State (Mo.).

No. 2 – Lyon College Scots – 119 total points

• Finished last season with a 28-6 overall record and a 21-3 record in the AMC.
• Earned the No. 3-seed in the NAIA Division I Women's Basketball National Championship.
• Lost, 65-53, to No. 2-seed Westmont (Calif.) in the second round.
• Key returners:
  • Liz Henderson: Averaged 9.0 points per game, 3.0 rebounds per game and 2.7 assists per game, while shooting 39.3-percent from the 3-point arc. She was named to the Honorable Mention All-AMC team.
  • Madison Riley: Averaged 8.8 rebounds per game, 4.1 rebounds per game, 2.5 assists per game. Named to the Second-Team All-AMC team.
  • Ali Tucker: Averaged 7.6 points per game and shot 46.8-percent from the field a year ago. She was named to the Honorable Mention All-AMC team.
• Key players lost:
  • Kiara Moore: NAIA All-American Third-Team selection. Named AMC Newcomer of the Year. First-Team All-AMC team. Averaged 13.3 points per game, 4.4 rebounds per game, 2.8 assists per game and 40.7-percent shooting from the field. Led the team in scoring.
• The Scots season starts on Nov. 13 when they take on College of the Ozarks (Mo.) in Point Lookout, Mo.
• The first AMC game for Lyon is on Nov. 16 when the host Hannibal-LaGrange.

No. 3 – Columbia College Cougars – 111 points (two first-place votes)

• Finished the season with a record of 26-7 overall and 19-5 conference record.
• Earned a three-seed in the NAIA Division I Women's Basketball National Championship.
• Lost to 6-seeded Montana Western, 63-53, in the first round.
• Key returners:
  • Ashlee Marlatt: Averaged 12.2 points per game and made 74 3-point field goals. Named to the First-Team All-AMC team, NAIA Honorable Mention team and was a WBCA Honorable Mention selection.
  • Morgan Brandt: Named to the Second-Team All-AMC team, NAIA Honorable Mention All-American, after averaging 12.5 points per game and 8.4 rebounds per game.
  • Raegan Wieser: Third-Team All-AMC as a freshman. Averaged 11.2 points per game and 4.8 rebounds per game.
• Key players lost:
  • Martha Imoniana: Started 13 games for the Cougars, averaging 4.1 points per game.
• The Cougars season tips off on Nov. 3 when they host Mount Mercy (Iowa) in the first game of the Cougars vs. Cancer Tip-Off Classic Presented by Cost Cutters.
• The first conference game for Columbia is on Nov. 16 when they travel to take on St. Louis Pharmacy.

No. 4 – Lindenwood University-Belleville Lynx – 103 points

• Finished 22-10 overall and 18-6 in AMC play.
• Earned a No. 7-seed in the NAIA Division I Women's Basketball National Championship.
• Lost to second-seeded Vanguard (Calif.) 66-59, in the first round.
• Key returners:
  • Brianna Mueller: Led the team in scoring, with 15.5 points per game. She was named to the First-Team All-Conference Team, NAIA Honorable Mention team and was named AMC Freshman of the Year.
  • Alison Webb: Named to the Second-Team All-Conference team, NAIA Honorable Mention All-American team. She averaged 13.8 points per game, which was second on the team. She also averaged a team-high 9.6 rebounds per game.
  • Torre Kohrmann: Led the team in assists (112) and averaged 9.9 points per game.
• Key players lost:
  • Candace Niemerg: Averaged 9.2 points per game a year ago.
• The Lynx season starts on Nov. 1 when they play Drury University in Springfield, Mo.
• Lindenwood-Belleville hosts Williams Baptist on Nov. 16 for the team's first AMC game.

No. 5 – William Woods University Owls – 94 points

• Finished with a record on 22-12 overall and 16-8 in the AMC.
• Earned an 8-seed in the NAIA Division I Women's Basketball National Championship.
• Won two games in the tournament, losing to No. 2-seed Vanguard (Calif.), 71-34 in the quarterfinals.
• Key returners:
  • Jasmine Brown: led the team averaging 14.8 points per game. Named to the NAIA Honorable Mention All-American team and First-Team All-AMC team.
  • Peyton Greenlee: Averaged 10.5 points per game and was named to the Honorable Mention All-AMC team.
• Key players lost:
  • April Gebke: Third-Team All-AMC. Averaged 9.2 points per game and 4.1 rebounds per game.
  • Kelsey Scherder: Averaged 8.9 points per game.
• The Owls season starts on Oct. 31 when they take on Missouri Valley in Marshall, Mo.
• William Woods first AMC game is on No. 16 when they take on Stephens (Mo.) in Fulton, Mo.

No. 6 – Harris-Stowe State University Hornets – 79 points

• Finished the season with a 19-12 overall record and 15-9 in the AMC.
• Earned the No. 6-seed in the AMC Conference Tournament.
• Fell, 67-52, in the quarterfinals of the conference tournament.
• Key returners:
  • Dynesha Powell: Averaged 6.5 points per game.
  • Alantis Sutton: Averaged 9.6 points per game
• Key players lost:
  • Angela Randell: Averaged 13.4 points per game, 3.6 assists per game and 2.1 steals per game. Named to the Third-Team All-AMC team.
  • Brionna Taylor: Averaged 13.8 points per game, 7.1 rebounds per game and named to the NAIA All-American Honorable Mention and Second-Team All-AMC team.
• The Hornets first game is on Oct. 28 when they host Georgetown (Ky.).
• The first AMC game for Harris-Stowe State is on Nov. 16 when they play host to Freed-Hardeman.

No. 7 – Missouri Baptist University Spartans – 69 points

• Finished the season with a record of 11-18 overall and 10-14 in the AMC.
• Earned the 7-seed in the conference tournament.
• Fell, 91-45, to Lyon in the first-round of the tournament.
• Key returners:
  • Shaylen Robinson: Led the Spartans in scoring, averaging 12.6 points per game. Named to the Third-Team All-AMC team.
  • Amanda Scott: Second on the team, averaging 9.2 points per game. Led the team in rebounding, at 5.7 rebounds per game.
  • Briya Wilborn: Third on the team in scoring, averaging 7.5 points per game last season. Shot a team-high 84.2-percent from the foul line.
• Key players lost:
  • Kennedy Smith: Averaged 4.9 points per game and 3.6 rebounds per game.
  • Riley Reddin: Averaged 4.5 points per game and was a 75.0-percent foul shooter.
• The Spartans first game is on Nov. 3, when they face Grand View (Iowa) in the Grand View Classic in Des Moines, Iowa.
• The first AMC contest for Missouri Baptist is on Nov. 16 when they travel to Parkville, Mo. to face Park.

No. 8 – Williams Baptist College Eagles – 60 points

• Finished last year with an overall record of 11-20 overall and 8-16 in the AMC.
• Earned the 8-seed in the AMC conference tournament.
• Lost to 1-seeded Freed-Hardeman, 73-52, in the first round of the conference tournament.
• Key returners:
  • Tashanescii Walker: Third on the team, averaging 8.1 points per game.
• Key players lost:
  • Alytruis Perry: Led the team in scoring, averaging 13.0 points per game and was named to the Second-Team All-Conference team.
  • Andrea Moffitt: Second on the team in scoring averaging 11.9 points a game. She led the team in rebounds, averaging 8.4 rebounds per game.
• The season gets underway on Nov. 2 when they take on Blue Mountain (Miss.) in New Albany, Miss.
• The first AMC contest for the Eagles is on Nov. 13 when they travel to Conway, Ark. to take on Central Baptist.

No. 9 – Park University Pirates – 57 points

• Finished the 2016-17 season with a record of 6-21 overall and 6-18 in the AMC.
• Failed to qualify for the AMC conference tournament.
• Key returners:
  • Jenae Rowe: Second on the team in scoring, averaging 7.9 points per game and was fourth on the team averaging 4.6 rebounds a game.
  • Selena Dunn: Averaged 5.7 points per game and 6.1 rebounds per game, which was second on the team.
• Key players lost:
  • Lexus Bradley: Led the team in scoring, averaging 12.8 points per game. Honorable Mention All-AMC last season.
  • Brook Vaughan: Third on the team in scoring (7.4 points per game).
• The Pirates first game of the season is on Nov. 7 when they take on Ottawa (Kan.) on the road.
• The first AMC game is on Nov. 16 when they host Missouri Baptist.

No. 10 – Central Baptist College Mustangs – 41 points

• Finished the season with a record of 7-22 overall and 6-18 in the conference.
• Failed to qualify for the AMC conference tournament
• Key returners:
  • Karlie Senko: Led the team in scoring, averaging 10.3 points per game.
  • Emily Ridgell: Fourth on the team in scoring, averaging 6.7 points per game. Led the team in free throw percentage (75.5-percent).
• Key players lost:
  • Aaliyah Block: Led the team in rebounds (6.6 rebounds per game) and was named to the Honorable Mention All-AMC team.
• The Mustangs season starts on Nov. 2 when they host Randall University.
• Central Baptist's conference slate tips off on Nov. 13 vs. Williams Baptist in Conway, Ark.

No. 11 – Stephens College Stars – 33 points

• Finished last season with a 9-21 overall record and 7-16 conference record.
• Failed to qualify for the AMC conference tournament.
• Key returners:
  • Sierra Pryor: Fourth on the team in scoring (6.2 points per game). Finished second on the team with 34 3-point field goals.
  • Briana Clark: Second on the team in scoring (9.5 points per game), shot 53.7-percent from the field and was second in total field goals with 110.
• Key players lost:
  • Kendahl Adams: Led the team in scoring (12.8 points per game) and was an AMC All-Conference Honorable Mention player.
• The Stars season starts on Nov. 1 as they host Evangel (Mo.).
• The conference season starts for Stephens on Nov. 16, when they travel to Fulton, Mo. to face William Woods.

No. 12 – Hannibal-LaGrange University Trojans – 28 points

• Finished the season with a record of 4-25 overall and 4-20 in the AMC.
• Failed to qualify for the AMC conference tournament.
• Key returners:  
  • Kenna Greenway: Second on the team, averaging 12.4 points per game. She made 87 3-point field goals and shot 73.5-percent from the charity stripe. The 87 made 3-pointers led the team.
• Key players lost:
  • Sarah Cline: Led the team in scoring, averaging 13.6 points per game. She was named to the Honorable Mention All-AMC team.
• The Trojans season opener is on Nov. 2 when they host Missouri Valley.
• The first conference game for Hannibal-LaGrange is on Nov. 16 when they travel to Batesville, Ark. to face Lyon.

No. 13 – St. Louis College of Pharmacy Eutectics – 11 points

• Finished last season with a 3-24 record and 1-22 in conference play.
• Failed to qualify for the AMC conference tournament
• Key returners:
  • Morgan Rose: Led the team in scoring, averaging 11.3 points per game. She also shot a team-high 73.5-percent from the foul line and was second on the team, averaging 5.3 rebounds per game.
  • Morgan Dermody: Third on the team in scoring, averaging 7.9 points per game and led the team in rebounds, averaging 6.5 rebounds per game.
• Key players lost:
  • Paige Forshee: Averaged 5.8 points per game and was third on the team in made 3-point field goals made.
• St. Louis Pharmacy's season gets underway on Nov. 2 when they face Central Christian College at home.
• The Eutectics AMC schedule starts on Nov. 16, when they take on Columbia on the road.

2017-18 AMC Women's Basketball Conference Tournament:

• Top-eight teams qualify for the postseason tournament.
• Tournament dates:
  • March 1 – quarterfinals
  • March 3 – semifinals
  • March 6 - finals
• The highest seeded team in each game will host throughout the conference tournament.
• The AMC receives two automatic berths to the NAIA Division I Women's Basketball National Championship – regular-season champion and the highest conference tournament finisher that is not the first automatic qualifier.