Women's Basketball Picked Fourth in 2017-18 BIG EAST Preseason Poll

New York, N.Y. -- After claiming a share of the BIG EAST crown at 16-2 last season, the Creighton women's basketball team was picked to finish fourth in the 2017-18 Coaches Poll with 58 votes.

The Bluejays went 24-8 overall and matched DePaul at 16-2 in conference play. Just two starters return from that Bluejay squad, including All-BIG EAST First Team pick Audrey Faber who led Creighton in scoring with a 12.8 clip in 2016-17.

The defending BIG EAST Tournament champion Marquette was a unanimous choice to claim the 2017-18 title as the Golden Eagles return four starters and 10 letterwinners from that squad. Marquette earned all 81 available points to sit atop the poll, which was conducted by the league's head coaches who were not permitted to vote for their own team.

BIG EAST Tournament runner-up and co-regular-season champion DePaul earned the remaining first-place vote and came in second with 73 points. Coming off a trip to the WNIT Semifinals, Villanova placed third with 61 points. Georgetown rounded out the top five with 43 points, followed by Seton Hall (40 points), St. John's (37), Butler (29), Providence (18) and Xavier (10).

In addition the All-BIG EAST Preseason team was announced, highlighted by Bluejay junior Audrey Faber claiming one of the preseason accolades. Faber led the Bluejays with a 12.8 scoring average over 32 starts as Creighton earned a share of the BIG EAST regular-season title and an at-large berth into the NCAA Tournament for the first time since 2013.

BIG EAST Preseason Coaches' Poll
1.      Marquette (9)     81
2.      DePaul (1)          73
3.      Villanova             61
4.      Creighton            58
5.      Georgetown       43
6.      Seton Hall            40
7.      St. John's             37
8.      Butler                   29
9.      Providence          18
10.   Xavier                   10

BIG EAST Preseason Player of the Year
Allazia Blockton, Marquette, Jr., G*

BIG EAST Preseason Freshman of the Year
Dee Bekelja, DePaul, Fr., G

Preseason All-BIG EAST Team^
Tanita Allen, DePaul, Jr., G
Amarah Coleman, DePaul, Sr., G
Erika Davenport, Marquette, Jr., F*
Audrey Faber, Creighton, Jr., F
Adrianna Hahn, Villanova, Jr., G*
Natisha Hiedeman, Marquette, Jr., G
JaQuan Jackson, Seton Hall, R-Sr., G
Jovana Nogic, Providence, Jr., G
Tori Schickel, Butler, Jr., F*
Akina Wellere, St. John's, Jr., G/F
Dionna White, Georgetown, Jr., G*
*unanimous selection
^extra player added due to a tie in voting

Women's Basketball Picked Fourth in 2017-18 BIG EAST Preseason Poll

Players Mentioned

Audrey Faber

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