Nov. 1, 2006

Stony Brook, N.Y. - The Stony Brook women's basketball team has been picked to finish second in America East according to a vote of the conference head coaches. In addition, both Mykeema Ford and Jessica Smith were voted to the Preseason All-Conference Team.

University of Hartford is the unanimous choice to repeat as America East Women's Basketball Champions as the Hawks received all eight possible first-place votes, tallying 64 points (coaches were not permitted to vote for their own team). The Seawolves came in second with 56 points and one first-place vote, Boston University was third with 49 points, Binghamton was picked fourth (37), New Hampshire fifth (36), UMBC sixth (33), Maine seventh (23), Vermont eighth (14) and Albany picked ninth (12).

Ford was one of only two unanimous selections to the Preseason All-Conference Team. Ford along with Danielle Hood of Hartford. Ford and Hood received all eight possible votes from the conference head coaches. (coaches were not permitted to vote for their own players).

Joining Ford, Smith and Hood on the preseason squad is Hartford's Erika Beverly and Binghamton's Laine Kurpniece.

2006-7 America East Women's Basketball Preseason Poll

1. Hartford 64 (8)
2. Stony Brook 56 (1)
3. Boston U. 49
4. Binghamton 37
5. New Hampshire 36
6. UMBC 33
7. Maine 23
8. Vermont 14
9. Albany 12