BETHLEHEM, Pa. – After winning the Patriot League North Division and reaching its first conference tournament final in 10 years this past winter, the Boston University women's basketball team was selected to finish second in the preseason poll, the league office announced Thursday morning.

Defending PL champion Lehigh collected 152 points and 12 first-place votes to place ahead of the Terriers, who received 141 points and three first-place votes. Bucknell garnered 132 points and four first-place votes for third place with American collecting the other first-place vote alongside 120 total points. Holy Cross (93), Navy (84), Army West Point (72), Lafayette (51), Loyola Maryland (28) and Colgate (27) rounded out the list. Voting for the Patriot League women's basketball preseason poll was conducted by League head coaches and sports information directors. Neither group was permitted to vote for their own team.

Led by first-year head coach Melissa Graves, the Terriers return four starters from last season's squad that went 12-3 overall and hosted all three postseason games at Case Gym. Top returners include 2021 All-PL Second Team honoree Sydney Johnson (11.9 ppg, 3.7 apg, 1.8 spg) and Third Team member Maren Durant (9.5 ppg, 7.7 rpg). Johnson ended her sophomore campaign ranked sixth in the PL in assists and steals, while Durant took sixth in rebounding average in her second season alongside a conference-high .667 field goal shooting percentage and the PL's second-best block average (1.7 bpg). 

This year's team also features a pair of former Rookies of the Year in 2020 award winner Maggie Pina (9.3 ppg, 1.7 spg) and 2021 MAAC recipient Caitlin Weimar, who tallied 8.6 ppg and 7.6 rpg at Marist this past winter. The sharpshooter Pina has been averaging 2.2 made 3-pointers the last two years and ranked eighth in steals in 2021 at 1.7 spg. Senior Riley Childs has nearly averaged a double-double her entire career at 7.2 ppg and 7.6 rpg. Senior Emily Esposito made four starts this past winter and averaged 7.6 ppg after sitting out the 2019-20 season due to NCAA transfer rules.

BU will open the new season when it hosts UMass Lowell on Tuesday, Nov. 9, at 6 p.m. Conference play will start at Bucknell on Wednesday, Dec. 29, with the regular season ending at Holy Cross on Wednesday, March 2.

2021-22 Patriot League Women's Basketball Preseason Poll
1. Lehigh – 152 (12 first-place votes)
2. Boston University – 141 (3)
3. Bucknell – 132 (4)
4. American – 120 (1)
5. Holy Cross – 93
6. Navy – 84
7. Army – 72
8. Lafayette – 51
9. Loyola Maryland – 28
10. Colgate – 27