Johnson, Durant Honored As Women’s Basketball Picked First In PL Preseason Poll
October 13, 2022 | Women's Basketball
BETHLEHEM, Pa. – Approaching its 10th season as a Patriot League member in 2022-23, the Boston University women's basketball team was named the favorite to win the league in the Preseason Poll, the league announced on Thursday morning.
In addition, seniors Sydney Johnson and Maren Durant received major awards, as Johnson was selected as the Preseason Player of the Year and earned a spot on the Preseason All-League Team. Durant was tabbed the league's Preseason Defensive Player of the Year.
BU has been selected as the preseason No. 1 team in the Patriot League poll for the first time in program history. This marks the first time the Terriers were picked as the team to beat since the 2010-11 campaign, when BU was in the America East conference.
The Terriers received 16 out of 20 first-place votes, totaling 160 points. Lehigh, last season's preseason favorite, was second with 136 points and two first-place votes. Holy Cross, the 2021-22 regular season champion, was third with the other two first-place votes and 127 points.
Johnson becomes the program's first Patriot League Preseason Player of the Year. She is the first Terrier to garner a Preseason All-League Team spot since former teammate Katie Nelson in 2020.
BU's leading scorer from a season ago, Johnson is the lone returning 2022 First Team All-Patriot League honoree. In her junior year, she scored 15.7 points per game, the most by a Terrier since BU joined the Patriot League for the 2013-14 season. She led the team with 96 assists and 50 steals, and made a career-high 32 three-pointers. Her .419 field goal percentage ranked second among guards in the Patriot League and fourth overall.
Durant is the inaugural recipient of the Patriot League's Preseason Defensive Player of the Year. A Third Team All-Patriot League and All-Defensive Team honoree last year, Durant led the Terriers with a career-high nine rebounds per game and 52 blocks. She enters the year top-five in the BU annals with 125 career blocks, and is also the program's current all-time field goal percentage leader.
Under second-year Head Coach Melissa Graves, BU opens its 48th varsity season on Monday (Nov. 7) against Northeastern. Opening tip from Case Gym is set for 4:30 p.m.
PATRIOT LEAGUE PRESEASON AWARDS
2022-23 Women's Basketball Preseason Player of the Year: Sydney Johnson, Boston University, Sr., G
2022-23 Women's Basketball Preseason Defensive Player of the Year: Maren Durant, Boston University, Sr., F
2022-23 Women's Basketball Preseason All-Patriot League Team
Sydney Johnson, Boston University, Sr., G
Cecelia Collins, Bucknell, So., G
Frannie Hottinger, Lehigh, Sr., G/F
Mackenzie Kramer, Lehigh, Jr., G
Lex Therien, Loyola Maryland, So., F
2022-23 Women's Basketball Preseason Poll
Boston University – 160 (16 first-place votes)
Lehigh – 136 (2)
Holy Cross – 127 (2)
Bucknell – 115
Army West Point – 93
Lafayette – 78
Colgate – 64
American – 58
Loyola Maryland – 39
Navy – 30
In addition, seniors Sydney Johnson and Maren Durant received major awards, as Johnson was selected as the Preseason Player of the Year and earned a spot on the Preseason All-League Team. Durant was tabbed the league's Preseason Defensive Player of the Year.
BU has been selected as the preseason No. 1 team in the Patriot League poll for the first time in program history. This marks the first time the Terriers were picked as the team to beat since the 2010-11 campaign, when BU was in the America East conference.
The Terriers received 16 out of 20 first-place votes, totaling 160 points. Lehigh, last season's preseason favorite, was second with 136 points and two first-place votes. Holy Cross, the 2021-22 regular season champion, was third with the other two first-place votes and 127 points.
Johnson becomes the program's first Patriot League Preseason Player of the Year. She is the first Terrier to garner a Preseason All-League Team spot since former teammate Katie Nelson in 2020.
BU's leading scorer from a season ago, Johnson is the lone returning 2022 First Team All-Patriot League honoree. In her junior year, she scored 15.7 points per game, the most by a Terrier since BU joined the Patriot League for the 2013-14 season. She led the team with 96 assists and 50 steals, and made a career-high 32 three-pointers. Her .419 field goal percentage ranked second among guards in the Patriot League and fourth overall.
Durant is the inaugural recipient of the Patriot League's Preseason Defensive Player of the Year. A Third Team All-Patriot League and All-Defensive Team honoree last year, Durant led the Terriers with a career-high nine rebounds per game and 52 blocks. She enters the year top-five in the BU annals with 125 career blocks, and is also the program's current all-time field goal percentage leader.
Under second-year Head Coach Melissa Graves, BU opens its 48th varsity season on Monday (Nov. 7) against Northeastern. Opening tip from Case Gym is set for 4:30 p.m.
PATRIOT LEAGUE PRESEASON AWARDS
2022-23 Women's Basketball Preseason Player of the Year: Sydney Johnson, Boston University, Sr., G
2022-23 Women's Basketball Preseason Defensive Player of the Year: Maren Durant, Boston University, Sr., F
2022-23 Women's Basketball Preseason All-Patriot League Team
Sydney Johnson, Boston University, Sr., G
Cecelia Collins, Bucknell, So., G
Frannie Hottinger, Lehigh, Sr., G/F
Mackenzie Kramer, Lehigh, Jr., G
Lex Therien, Loyola Maryland, So., F
2022-23 Women's Basketball Preseason Poll
Boston University – 160 (16 first-place votes)
Lehigh – 136 (2)
Holy Cross – 127 (2)
Bucknell – 115
Army West Point – 93
Lafayette – 78
Colgate – 64
American – 58
Loyola Maryland – 39
Navy – 30
Players Mentioned
F
/ Women's Basketball
G
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