ST. LOUIS – The Drake University women's basketball team is tabbed fourth in the annual preseason Missouri Valley Conference poll as voted on by the league's coaches, sports information directors and media.
Drake, which registered its sixth-straight 20-win campaign last season before the global COVID-19 pandemic cancelled the postseason, returns starters,
Kierra Collier and
Maddie Monahan. Collier and Monahan form one of the MVC's most experienced backcourts and are part of a group of nine returning letterwinners which welcome four newcomers this season.
Preseason favorite, Missouri State, has Bryce Calip and Jasmine Franklin on the all-MVC team. Bradley's Lasha Petree is picked the preseason player of the year and is joined on the team by teammate Gabi Haack. UNI's Karli Rucker rounds out the team.
2020-21 MVC Women's Basketball Preseason Poll Rankings (Points) (First Place Votes)
- Missouri State, 360 (33)
- Bradley, 328 (7)
- UNI, 288
- Drake, 282
- Illinois State, 223
- Southern Illinois, 201
- Valparaiso, 176
- Loyola, 133
- Indiana State, 129
- Evansville, 80
