FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

GNAC entering first season
of divisional play in 2016-17

WINTHROP, Mass. – Saint Joseph's College of Maine and Johnson & Wales University (RI) have been selected atop their respective divisions in the 2016-17 Great Northeast Athletic Conference (GNAC) Women's Basketball Preseason Poll, as voted upon by the league's head coaches.

In the North Division, Saint Joseph's received 10 of a possible 12 first-place votes and 70 points in the ledger, while JWU received eight first-place votes and 67 points to take the first spot in the South Division side of the poll.

Norwich University finished second to SJC in the North with 60 points and a pair of first-place votes, while GNAC power Emmanuel College collected four first-place votes and 64 points to finish just three points back of the Wildcats in the South Division.

Last February in the GNAC Tournament, the top-seeded Monks hosted Emmanuel in the conference title game after Emmanuel topped JWU in the semifinals, 71-61. SJC earned the conference's automatic qualifier following a 66-62 championship win, while JWU received an at-large berth to the NCAA Tournament.

SJC returns reigning GNAC Rookie of the Year Kelsi McNamara, who averaged 13.9 points, 3.0 rebounds and 4.0 assists while shooting 39.6% from three-point range a year ago.

For JWU, juniors Ashley Thompson and Raquel Pederzani are back in 2016-17. LeBlanc averaged 16.0 points and 10.0 rebounds a year ago, while Pederzani averaged 11.7 points and 4.4 assists. Senior Bobbie Whitehead also returns after averaging 11.3 points and 10.0 boards last winter.

Behind SJC and Norwich in the North Division were Rivier University with 40 points, Lasell College with 36 points, Anna Maria College with 25 points and Simmons College with 21 points.

In the South, Suffolk University was third with 43 points, followed by Albertus Magnus College with 42 points, Mount Ida College with 20 points and the University of Saint Joseph (Conn.) with 16 points.

Founded in 1995, the Great Northeast Athletic Conference (GNAC) is an NCAA Division III association made up of 12 member institutions and over 3,000 student-athletes across the New England region. Each year, the GNAC sponsors and administers 17 championships, while balancing academic integrity, athletic opportunities and community involvement. 

2016 GNAC Women's Basketball Preseason Poll
North Division
1. Saint Joseph's Maine (10) – 70
2. Norwich (2) – 60
3. Rivier – 40
4. Lasell – 36
5. Anna Maria - 25
6. Simmons - 21

South Division
1. Johnson & Wales (8) – 67
2. Emmanuel (4) – 64
3. Suffolk – 43
4. Albertus Magnus – 42
5. Mount Ida – 20
6. St. Joseph CT - 16

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