Nov. 12, 2002

Stony Brook, N.Y. - The Stony Brook University women's basketball team was selected to finish fifth in the America East Conference Preseason Poll, the conference announced Tuesday. Voting was conducted by the conference's head coaches.

Head coach Trish Roberts led the Seawolves to a 16-14 overall record, 7-9 in America East play, in 2001-02. Stony Brook wrapped up the season with an exciting run in the conference tournament, advancing to the championship game in its first season as a member.

Junior Sherry Jordan, who returns as the Seawolves' leading scorer, was named to the Preseason All-America East Team. Jordan was named all-conference last year after averaging 17.1 points and 7.9 rebounds per game.

Also returning for the Seawolves are junior captains Danielle DeGiorgio (8.2 ppg, 4.7 rpg) and Theresa LoParrino (11.6 ppg). Stony Brook, which loses six letterwinners from last season, will also welcome four newcomers to this year's squad.

The University of Vermont, which won the America East regular season title and advanced to the quarterfinals of the WNIT in 2002, was picked to win the conference after serving as regular-season champions a year ago. The Catamounts, 23-9 overall last season and 14-2 in the America East, received seven of a possible eight first-place votes and 63 votes overall. Boston University (55 points) and defending America East Champion University of Hartford (29 points) also received first-place votes.

Jordan was joined on the preseason All-Conference Team by Vermont's Morgan Hall (12.2 ppg, 5.6 rpg) and Aaron Yantzi (14.0 ppg, 5.2 rpg), Boston University's Katie Terhune (18.6 ppg) and Maine's Heather Ernest (12.8 ppg, 7.2 rpg).