The Duquesne Women’s Basketball Team has been picked fifth in the Atlantic 10 Women’s Basketball Preseason Poll, receiving a first-place vote in the process as decided by the conference’s 15 coaches and released Thursday morning.
This is Duquesne’s best placement in the preseason poll since the 2020-21 edition when it tied with two other teams for fourth place and once again received a first-place vote.
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Junior guard Megan McConnell received multiple nods from the coaches as she was named to the Preseason All-Conference First and Defensive Teams.
McConnell started all 31 games a season ago and averaged 11.2 points and 9.8 rebounds per game to go with 70 steals. Standing at five-foot-seven McConnell was able to pull own 257 rebounds a season ago while her defensive nature made opponents be aware of where she was on the court at all times.
The Pittsburgh native is also the first Dukes player to make the Atlantic 10 Preseason All-Conference First Team since Libby Bazelak prior to the 2020-21 season.
McConnell was further recognized Wednesday by being named to the 2024 Becky Hammon Mid-Major Player of the Year watchlist, one of 25 student-athletes to make that list.
Though McConnell received recognition, multiple other Dukes who were potentially up for consideration were not honored. These include Tess Myers (11.7 ppg/90 3’s), Amaya Hamilton (10.6 ppg/90 assts), Ayanna Townsend (10.4 ppg/46.9% FG) and Precious Johnson (10.3 ppg/49.6% FG).
When past Duquesne teams were in his opinion slighted, Duquesne coach Dan Burt made sure to use it as motivation and this instance does not figure to be any different.
Returning nearly 98% of all relevant stats, this Duquesne team has high expectations attached to its name as last season was a return towards the 20-win, postseason-play standard.
The Dukes begin their season Nov. 6 at Princeton.
Atlantic 10 Women’s Basketball Preseason Poll
1. Rhode Island (12) 218
2. Saint Joseph’s 203
3. Saint Louis (2) 186
4. Richmond 176
5. Duquesne (1) 172
6. George Washington 150
7. Davidson 124
8. George Mason 111
9. Dayton 100
10. VCU 96
11. Massachusetts 70
12. La Salle 66
13. Fordham 54
14. St. Bonaventure 39
15. Loyola Chicago 35
Preseason All-Conference First Team
Elle Sutphin Davidson
Megan McConnell Duquesne
Maye Toure Rhode Island
Addie Budnik Richmond
Talya Brugler Saint Joseph’s
Kyla McMakin Saint Louis
Preseason All-Conference Second Team
Nya Robertson George Washington
Teisha Hyman Rhode Island
Maggie Doogan Richmond
Laura Ziegler Saint Joseph’s
Sarah Te-Biasu VCU
Julia Martinez Saint Louis
Preseason All-Conference Third Team
Suzi-Rose Deegan Davidson
Mariah Perez Dayton
Nalani Kaysia George Mason
Mayowa Taiwo George Washington
Tenin Magassa Rhode Island
Mackenzie Smith Saint Joseph’s
Preseason All-Defensive Team
Megan McConnell Duquesne
Mayowa Taiwo George Washington
Anaelle Dutat Rhode Island
Kennedy Calhoun Saint Louis
Julia Martinez Saint Louis
For what it is worth, here is PSN reporter Zachary Weiss’s projected preseason poll. Again, this result did not count in the final ballot.
1. Rhode Island
2. Saint Joseph’s
3. Saint Louis
4. Duquesne
5. George Washington
6. Richmond
7. Davidson
8. George Mason
9. Dayton
10. VCU
11. Loyola Chicago
12. Massachusetts
13. Fordham
14. La Salle
15. St. Bonaventure