SPRINGFIELD, Mass. – The University of New England, last year's Commonwealth Coast Conference runner-up, has been selected as the preseason favorite to win the 2011-2012 CCC women's basketball championship, as was announced today by Commissioner Gregg M. Kaye. Voting for the preseason poll was conducted among the league's head women's basketball coaches.

Defending conference champion Salve Regina was picked to finish second, followed by Roger Williams, Endicott, Western New England, Curry, Nichols, Wentworth, Gordon, and Eastern Nazarene. The Nor'Easters collected seven of 10 first-place votes, while Salve Regina (two) and Roger Williams (one) also grabbed first-place votes.

The Leopards return eight letterwinners from last season's 10-15 squad, including sophomore Kendra Kerr (Marshfield, Mass.) and juniors Jordan Biggar (Manchester, Mass.) Ashley Conway (Danvers, Mass.). Kerr tied for the team lead in scoring, averaging 10.9 points per game to go along with 6.5 rebounds, 1.5 assists, and 1.4 steals per game. Biggar averaged 9.0 points, 4.4 rebounds, and 1.8 assists per game, while Conway, in addition to leading the team with 40 three-pointers made, averaged 8.4 points, 3.3 rebounds, 1.6 assists, and 2.2 steals per game.

Wentworth opens the season on Tuesday, November 15, trekking to the other side of the Charles River to square off against MIT. The Black & Gold will play 18 CCC games and seven non-conference games. In addition to MIT, Wentworth will play the likes of Emerson, Suffolk, Norwich, and nationally ranked Colby.

2011-12 CCC PRESEASON WOMEN'S BASKETBALL POLL
Teams received 10 points for every first place vote received, nine points for second place votes, eight points for third place votes, down to one point for a last point vote. First place votes are shown in parenthesis.

TEAM POINTS (1st Place Votes)
University of New England 97 (7)
Salve Regina 88 (2)
Roger Williams 82 (1)
Endicott 71
Western New England 59
Curry 48
Nichols 39
Wentworth 35
Gordon 17
Eastern Nazarene 14

CCC Release

(Portions of the release courtesy of the Commonwealth Coast Conference)