Davidson is expected to finish in the middle of the pack of the Atlantic 10’s women’s basketball campaign.

The Wildcats, Duquesne and Fordham tied for fourth in the preseason poll with 140 points. Davidson, which went 16-15 overall and 8-8 in league play last year, are paced by three preseason all-conference players:  Suzi-Rose Deegan, Katie Turner and Sarah Donovan.

Duquesne, (20-9, 9-7) which also garnered a first-place vote, placed Libby Bazelak and Lala Sole on preseason all-conference teams. Kendell Heremaia and Anna DeWolfe each received preseason honors for Fordham, which went 21-11 and 11-5 in the A-10.

Virginia Commonwealth is the preseason favorite to win the championship. The Rams, who finished second last season, earned the top spot in the preseason poll of head coaches at a virtual media day, a first for the A-10.

VCU, which finished 20-12 overall last year, 13-3 in the A-10, returns three starters, paced by preseason all-conference picks Tera Reed and Taya Robinson.

Defending champion Dayton, which was picked second, totaled 176 points, including two first-place votes. The Flyers (25-8, 15-1), led by A-10 coach of the year Shauna Green, return preseason all-conference picks Erin Whelan, Araion Bradshaw and Kyla Whitehead to a squad that won the league’s postseason tournament and a berth in the NCAA tournament before the COVID-19 pandemic ended the season.

Saint Louis (19-13, 9-7) was picked third with 171 points and a first-place vote. Ciaja Harbison and Rachel Kent earned all-conference and Harbison and Brooke Flowers were named All-Defensive team.

The season tips off on Nov. 25 and the tournament is scheduled for VCU’s Siegel Center March 3-7.

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