ST. LOUIS – The Drake University women's basketball team has been tabbed as the favorite in the Missouri Valley Conference's annual preseason poll, and for the second-straight year senior Lizzy Wendell (Blue Springs, Mo.) has been picked the MVC Preseason Player of the Year, the league office announced Tuesday morning prior to the start of the league's annual basketball media day held at the St. Louis City Center Hotel.
 
For the third-consecutive season, Wendell is on the preseason All-MVC First Team. She is joined this year by senior point guard Caitlin Ingle (Runnells, Iowa). Rounding out the first team is Rishonda Napier of Southern Illinois, Rangie Bessard of Wichita State and Madison Weekly of UNI.
 
Drake head coach Jennie Baranczyk enters her fifth season with nine returning players plus three freshmen. The Bulldogs are coming off a 23-10 season a year ago as the team recorded its second-straight 20-plus win season, a feat that hadn't been done since the 2000-01 and 2001-02 seasons. Drake qualified for postseason play for the second-consecutive season, advancing to the second round of the WNIT. The 23 wins are the most for the program since the 2007-08 season.
 
Drake fans will have the opportunity to check out the 2016-17 team when it hosts Winona State Nov. 1 in an exhibition contest with tipoff scheduled for 7 p.m. at the Knapp Center. The Bulldogs open the regular season Nov. 11 at North Dakota.
 
2016-17 MVC Women's Basketball Preseason Poll Rankings (Points) (First Place Votes)

1. Drake, 392 (34)
2. UNI, 317 (4)
3. Missouri State, 313 (2)
4. Southern Illinois, 306
5. Wichita State, 248
6. Indiana State, 199
7. Bradley, 141
8. Illinois State, 123
9. Evansville, 109
10. Loyola, 52