VCU named A-10 preseason favorite

WASHINGTON, DC - FEBRUARY 20: Head coach Beth O'Boyle of the Virginia Commonwealth Rams reacts to call during a women's college basketball game against the George Washington Colonials at the Smith Center on February 20, 2016 in Washington, DC. The Rams won 79-68. (Photo by Mitchell Layton/Getty Images)
WASHINGTON, DC - FEBRUARY 20: Head coach Beth O'Boyle of the Virginia Commonwealth Rams reacts to call during a women's college basketball game against the George Washington Colonials at the Smith Center on February 20, 2016 in Washington, DC. The Rams won 79-68. (Photo by Mitchell Layton/Getty Images)

Rams look to repeat last year’s success

VCU received 11 first-place votes to be selected as the 2019-20 Atlantic 10 Conference Women’s Basketball preseason favorite.

The Rams return the 2019 Coach of the Year Beth O’Boyle and 2019 All-Conference selections Tera Reed, Taya Robinson, and Danielle Hammond. In addition, the team returns all five starters as well as most of last seasons’ roster.

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Last season the Rams shared the regular-season title with Fordham, but were the runner-up in the conference tournament.

Dayton was picked second in the preseason poll and received one first-place vote. Fordham was a close third and the team also received one first-place vote.

Dayton is led by senior Jayla Scaife who was a 2019 All-Conference First Team and All-Championship selection. The Flyers look to continue their success and advance to the postseason for the 12th consecutive year. They will also host the 2020 conference tournament.

Despite finishing second last season and winning the conference tournament Fordham was picked third in the preseason poll. The Rams lost Mary Goulding last season but return Bre Cavanaugh.

Saint Louis received the final first-place vote and finished fourth in the poll. The Billikens look to achieve this success with one of the youngest teams in the conference with ten underclassmen. Including transfers, Saint Louis will have seven new faces in the locker room this season.

The rest of the list can be found below (Last year’s finish in parentheses)
5. Davidson (5th)
6. George Mason (7th)
7. George Washington (9th)
8. Massachusetts
9. Duquesne (3rd)
10. Saint Joseph’s (8th)
11. Richmond (11th)
12. Rhode Island (14th)
13. St. Bonaventure (12th)
14. La Salle (13th)

With the season fast approaching these rankings won’t become applicable until January and there is certainly a lot of basketball left to be played between now and March when the rankings are finalized. It should be yet another exciting season in the A-10.

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