Monks Projected To Three-Peat In 2024-25 WBB Preseason Coaches Poll
WINTHROP, Mass. – Saint Joseph’s (Maine) looks to three-peat this season as they come in as the preseason favorite, collecting 220 points (12 first-place votes) in this year’s voting which was completed by the league’s 15 women’s basketball head coaches last week.
The Monks went undefeated in conference play last year at 14-0 (21-8 overall), earning the top seed and picking up wins in the quarterfinals over Rivier and besting Emmanuel in the semifinals before claiming a 85-72 victory in the title game over the University of Saint Joseph (Conn.).
Last year’s runner-up University of Saint Joseph (Conn.) looks to claim their first GNAC title since 1998 as the Blue Jays are picked to finish second with 201 points (one first-place vote). Rounding out the top three is Albertus Magnus, who received 191 points and a first-place vote.
Looking to win their 19th conference championship in the league’s history is Emmanuel, who was selected to finish fourth with 189 points and one first-place vote. Rounding out the top five is Lasell, who earned 157 points.
Rivier and Johnson & Wales tied at the sixth spot with 138 points each while Regis took the no. 8 spot with 127 points.
New England College comes in at No. 9 with 101 points while Colby-Sawyer (83), Elms (71), and Norwich (66) fill in the 10-12 spots.
Finalizing the top three spots in this year’s preseason poll in order were Mitchell (56), Anna Maria (43), and Dean (19).
Tip off for the 2024-25 women’s basketball season is on Friday, Nov. 8 as teams open with non-conference action. Conference play gets underway on Saturday, Dec. 7. Teams will complete a 14-game single round robin conference season with the top-10 teams at the end of the regular season earning berths into the 2025 GNAC Women’s Basketball Championship Tournament. The postseason starts with a Play-In Round featuring the bottom four tournament seeds on Monday, Feb. 24 with those winners advancing to the GNAC Quarterfinals on Tuesday, Feb. 25. Following the quarterfinals, the remaining four teams will play in the GNAC Semifinals on Thursday, Feb. 27 with the tournament culminating in the GNAC Championship game on Saturday, March 1. The winner of the championship game will be named 2024-25 GNAC Women’s Basketball Champion and earn the league’s automatic qualifier into the 2025 NCAA Division III Women’s Basketball Championship.
2024-25 Women's Basketball Preseason Poll Results
| 1. | Saint Joseph's (Maine) | 220 (12 first-place votes) |
| 2. | University of Saint Joseph (Conn.) | 201 (1) |
| 3. | Albertus Magnus | 191 (1) |
| 4. | Emmanuel | 189 (1) |
| 5. | Lasell | 157 |
| T-6. | Johnson & Wales | 138 |
| T-6. | Rivier | 138 |
| 8. | Regis | 127 |
| 9. | New England College | 101 |
| 10. | Colby-Sawyer | 83 |
| 11. | Elms | 71 |
| 12. | Norwich | 66 |
| 13. | Mitchell | 56 |
| 14. | Anna Maria | 43 |
| 15. | Dean | 19 |
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The Great Northeast Athletic Conference (GNAC) is an NCAA Division III association made up of 16 member institutions and over 4000 student-athletes across the New England region. Founded in 1995, the GNAC annually sponsors and administers 22 championships, while balancing academic integrity, athletic opportunity and community involvement in an effort to enhance the student-athlete experience.
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