Women's Basketball Picked Seventh in League's Preseason Poll
Oct 14, 2015 | Women's Basketball
OMAHA, Neb. – The Omaha women's basketball team was picked to finish seventh in the 2015-16 Summit Preseason Poll, and junior forward Mikaela Shaw was named first-team preseason All-Summit, the league office announced Wednesday. The poll was conducted by a vote of the league's head coaches, communications personnel and media.
South Dakota State claimed the top spot in the poll with 508 points (17 first-place votes). South Dakota was picked second with 502 points (15 first-place votes). IUPUI placed third with 379 points, followed by Oral Roberts in fourth with 317 points and one first-place vote. Western Illinois rounded out the top five by receiving 276 points. North Dakota State received 250 points to come in sixth, followed by Omaha (199), Denver (183), and Fort Wayne (86) to round out the poll.
“The league is going to be competitive from top to bottom,” commented Head Coach Brittany Lange. “Our young roster is eager to compete night in and night out against the league's veterans.”
Shaw was among six players named to the Preseason All-Summit First Team. As a sophomore in 2014-15, she earned Second Team All-Summit League honors after averaging 15.4 points per game and 8.7 rebounds per game. Additionally, Shaw shot 46.7 percent from the field and 74.4 percent from the free throw line.
“You cannot be happier for a person to earn this deserved recognition as you are for Mikaela,” said Lange. “She is our leader, our hardest worker, extremely well-rounded, and a joy to coach. We are fortunate to have her leading our young team and at the center of Omaha basketball for the next two years!”
The 2015-16 season will be Omaha's first with full NCAA Division I and Summit League postseason eligibility. The Mavericks open with a pair of exhibition games at Baxter Arena, before hosting Central Florida for the season opener on Saturday, Nov. 14.
“This is a new era for us and we have been looking forward to this year for quite some time,” added Lange. “We are now eligible to compete in post season for the first year, playing in our new arena, and essentially having a new roster that fits more of the style we want to play centered around a small, but great group of leaders returning such as Mikaela Shaw.”
Fans can purchase season tickets online via omavs.com/tix, ticketmaster.com, by phone at 402-554-2001 or in person at the Athletic Ticket Office at Sapp Fieldhouse.
2015-16 SUMMIT LEAGUE WOMEN'S BASKETBALL PRESEASON POLL
South Dakota State (17 first place votes) 508
South Dakota (15 first place votes) 502
IUPUI 379
Oral Roberts (1 first place vote) 317
Western Illinois 276
North Dakota State 250
Omaha 199
Denver 183
Fort Wayne 86
2015-16 SUMMIT LEAGUE PRESEASON ALL-LEAGUE TEAMS
First Team
Paige Bradley, Denver
Macy Miller, South Dakota State
Nicole Seekamp, South Dakota
Mikaela Shaw, Omaha
Akilah Sims, IUPUI
Kerri Young, South Dakota State
Second Team
Tia Hemiller, South Dakota
Holly Johnson, North Dakota State
Michelle Maher, Western Illinois
Margaret McCloud, South Dakota
Ellie Thompson, South Dakota State
Preseason Player of the Year: Nicole Seekamp, South Dakota
