Mansfield, Mass. - The Le Moyne College women's basketball team was selected fourth in the Southwest Division of the Northeast-10 Conference Coaches' Preseason Poll. The poll was voted on by the 14 head coaches in the league.
"Our team has been working hard the preseason and are excited about playing again," said first-year head coach Mary Grimes. "We are hoping for as much normalcy as possible so we can have a full season."
Adelphi University was selected first, receiving 77 points and six first-place votes. The University of New Haven followed with 76 points and four first-place votes. The next three spots were separated by just two points. Southern Connecticut State University was third with 56 points. The Dolphins were selected fourth with 55 points and two first-place votes. Pace University landed fifth with 54 points and two first-place votes. American International College was selected sixth with 46 points and The College of Saint Rose rounded out the poll with 21 points.
In the Northeast Division, Stonehill College was tabbed first with 89 points and 12 first-place votes. Bentley University received two first-place votes and 76 points to finish second. Saint Anselm College was selected third with 66 points, Southern New Hampshire University was fourth with 49 points and Assumption University was fifth with 40 points. Franklin Pierce University was selected sixth with 39 points and Saint Michael's College was seventh with 26 points.
The last time the Dolphins stepped on the court was March 5, 2020 in the NE10 Conference semifinals at Stonehill. After their fourth quarter rally fell short against Stonehill, the Dolphins were selected as the sixth seed in the NCAA East Regional. However, the tournament was cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The Dolphins finished with a 19-9 record and a 14-5 record in the Northeast-10 Conference.
The Dolphins return seven players from the 2019-2020 season and have five fresh faces, including three freshmen and two transfers. The Dolphins are backed by senior forwards Jenna Zimmerman (Adams, N.Y./South Jefferson) and
Emma Brinker (East Aurora, N.Y./East Aurora) and senior guard
Erin Fouracre (Loudenville, N.Y./Colonie Central). Redshirt junior
Saeeda Abdul-Aziz (Schenectady, N.Y./Mohonasen/Davidson) transferred from Division I Davidson this offseason and redshirt junior
Azariah Wade (Syracuse, N.Y./Bishop Grimes/Hartford) transferred from Division I Hartford prior to the 2020-21 academic year.
Familiar face Mary Grimes returns to the sideline as the Dolphins new head coach. Coach Grimes returns to the Heights after two separate stints as an assistant coach at Le Moyne and a two-year term as an assistant coach for Xavier University. Another familiar face returns to the bench for the Dolphins, as Joanna Dobrovosky '18 was named the Dolphins assistant coach. Coach Dobrovosky returns to the Heights after a successful playing career on the Heights and an assistant coaching stint at Spring Hill College.
The Dolphins tip off their season at East Stroudsburg on November 17. Conference play starts on November 20, as the Dolphins take on New Haven at home, in their home opener.
