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ISU
Tabbed Second in MVC Women's Preseason Poll
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[November 02, 2007]
NORMAL -- The Illinois State
women's basketball team was picked to finish second in the 2007-08
Missouri Valley Conference women's basketball preseason poll. The
Redbirds received 342 votes, just six votes behind
preseason-favorite Drake (348), and also had 12 first-place votes.
Junior guard Kristi Cirone was named to the preseason all-conference
team as well.
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 Illinois State's 12 first-place votes were the second-most behind
Drake, which had 24. Evansville, Southern Illinois and Creighton
each received one first-place vote. Indiana State (289) was behind
the Redbirds in the preseason poll in third place, followed by
Evansville (288) and Southern Illinois (233) to round out the top
five. Creighton (223), Missouri State (136), Northern Iowa (113),
Wichita State (95) and Bradley (78) took up the last five spots in
the poll, which was voted on by Valley coaches, sports information
directors and media members.Cirone, the reigning Jackie Stiles
MVC Player of the Year and the only junior on the squad, was joined
on the preseason team by Missouri State guard Tahnee Balerio,
Evansville guard Rebekah Parker, Drake forward Brandy Dahir and
Indiana State center Laura Rudolphi.
[to top of second column]
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Cirone was a first-team all-conference and all-defensive team
selection last season after ranking in the top five in the Valley in
scoring, assists and steals. She was only the third player in the
history of the conference to win freshman and player of the year
accolades in consecutive seasons and just the second player in a
decade to be named the top player in the conference from a team that
didn't win the regular-season title.
ISU finished second in the Valley regular season last year after
being picked fifth in the preseason poll. The Redbirds advanced to
the semifinals of the State Farm MVC Tournament and the second round
of the WNIT. They return 11 letter winners and four starters from
last year's squad that finished the season with a 22-11 record.
The Redbirds host Northwest Missouri State in an exhibition game
on Saturday at 2:05 p.m. They tip off the regular season at Eastern
Illinois on Nov. 11 at 3 p.m.
[Text from file received from Jimmy Knodel,
assistant media relations director,
Illinois
State University]
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