Bluejay Women's Basketball Picked to Win BIG EAST

New York, N.Y. - The combination of 13 of 14 players back from a team that made an inspired run to the BIG EAST Tournament Final as well as the return of the 2014 BIG EAST Player of the Year, Marissa Janning, gave the Creighton women's basketball team confidence entering the 2016-17 season. The BIG EAST women's head coaches have added something else, a target, as the Bluejays were picked to win the BIG EAST at the conference media day on Tuesday, Oct. 11.

"It's an honor to have the hard work this team has put in recognized by our peers," said head coach Jim Flanery. "This is a very strong conference and hopefully this allows our fan base to get energized about this season as well as to bring more fans into the fold."

Narrow margins separated teams throughout the poll as Marquette edged No. 4 Villanova which collected 59 points. Georgetown followed in fifth with 51 points, while reigning BIG EAST Tournament champion St. John's came in sixth with 38. Seton Hall (seventh, 31 points), Butler (eighth, 25 points), Xavier (ninth, 20 points) and Providence (10^th, 14 points) rounded out the poll.

In addition to the team accolades, seniors Marissa Janning, MC McGrory and sophomore Audrey Faber earned individual honors. The trio were named to the 11-woman All-BIG EAST Preseason Team.

DePaul senior guard Jessica January was voted the BIG EAST Women's Basketball Preseason Player of the Year by the league's head coaches, while Villanova's Kelly Jekot was tabbed BIG EAST Preseason Freshman of the Year.

BIG EAST head coaches, who were not permitted to vote for their team or their own players, also selected a Preseason All-BIG EAST Team which included four unanimous picks: Creighton senior guard Marissa Janning, Georgetown junior guard Dorothy Adomako, Marquette sophomore guard Allazia Blockton, and Georgetown sophomore guard Dionna White. Additional all-league honorees included Creighton's Audrey Faber and MC McGrory, DePaul's Brooke Schulte, Marquette's Natisha Hiedeman, Villanova's Adrianna Hahn and Alex Louin, and Xavier's Raeshaun Gaffney.

Preseason Coaches' Poll (first-place votes)

1	Creighton (5)	75
	DePaul (5)	75
3	Marquette	62
4	Villanova	59
5	Georgetown	51
6	St. John's	38
7	Seton Hall	31
8	Butler	25
9	Xavier	20
10	Providence	14

BIG EAST Preseason Player of the Year
Jessica January, DePaul

BIG EAST Preseason Freshman of the Year
Kelly Jekot, Villanova

Preseason All-BIG EAST Team^
Dorothy Adomako, Georgetown*
Allazia Blockton, Marquette*
Audrey Faber, Creighton
Raeshaun Gaffney, Xavier
Adrianna Hahn, Villanova
Natisha Hiedeman, Marquette
Marissa Janning, Creighton*
Alex Louin, Villanova
MC McGrory, Creighton
Brooke Schulte, DePaul
Dionna White, Georgetown*

*unanimous selection
^extra player added due to a tie in voting

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Players Mentioned

Audrey Faber

Marissa Janning

MC McGrory

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