ST. LOUIS - The Drake University women's basketball team has been picked second in the Missouri Valley Conference's annual preseason poll, and junior forward Lizzy Wendell (Blue Springs, Mo.) has been tabbed the MVC Preseason Player of the Year, the conference office announced Tuesday morning prior to the start of the league's basketball media day at the Marriott St. Louis Grand.

Drake head coach Jennie Baranczyk enters her fourth season with seven returning players plus four freshmen for the 2015-16 season. The Bulldogs finished as the MVC runner-ups last season with a 20-11 overall record.

Wendell is coming off a historic sophomore campaign in which she led the conference in scoring at 21.8 points per game, reached 1,000 career points and was selected to the All-MVC First Team for the second straight year. Wendell also ranked in the MVC's top-10 in assists (2.7 apg, 9th), steals (2.0 spg, 6th), field goal percentage (.463, 9th), free throw percentage (.755, 9th) and three-point field goals (72, 3rd).

Drake fans will have the opportunity to check out the 2015-16 team when it hosts its exhibition contests against Grand View and Simpson College on Nov. 3 and 8, respectively. Drake opens the regular season with Iowa State on Nov. 15 at 2:05 p.m. in the Knapp Center.

To buy tickets for this season call 515-271-DOGS (3647) or click here.

2015-16 MVC Women's Basketball Preseason Poll Rankings (Points)

1.         Missouri State, 373 (22)

2.         Drake, 347 (15)

3.         UNI (1), 320

4.         Southern Illinois (1), 297

5.         Wichita State (1), 214

6.         Evansville, 182

7.         Indiana State, 151

8.         Loyola, 142

9.         Bradley, 126

10.   Illinois State, 48

2015-16 All-MVC Preseason Team

Lizzy Wendell, Drake (POY)

Sara Dickey, Evansville

Taylor Manuel, Loyola

Dyanna Pierre, Southern Illinois

Kenzie Williams, Missouri State