The Horizon League released its women's basketball preseason poll and All-League teams on Wednesday. Sophomore Dani Franklin (Cedar Rapids, Iowa/George Washington) was named Preseason Second Team All-League following Freshman of the Year and Sixth Player of the Year honors in 2014-15. She averaged 13.0 points per game in just 22.4 minutes per game last season while firing off a 47.3 field-goal percentage, the HL's second-highest figure. Franklin is the only underclassman on either Preseason All-League team.
The survey of head coaches, sports information directors, and limited media members also tabbed the Crusaders to finish in 10th place.
Valpo collected 70 points in the poll, just one behind Milwaukee, which checked in at ninth place. Green Bay received the most first-place votes (25) to go with 302 polling points. The Phoenix were last year's regular season champions of the Horizon League. Wright State was tabbed to finish second with 250 points and four first-place votes. Kim Demmings, one of the most dominant talents in mid-major basketball, returns for the 2015-16 campaign after missing all of last season with an injury. Antania Hayes, an All-American last season at Kennedy-King College in Chicago and the fourth-ranked player in all of junior college, enters the fray for the Raiders as well.
UIC was selected third with 210 points and a first-place vote. Youngstown State finished in fourth place with 181 points. Oakland (162 points) just edged out Cleveland State (161 points), despite the Vikings receiving a first-place vote. Detroit finished four points behind Cleveland State for seventh place while newcomer Northern Kentucky was picked eighth.
The Crusaders kick off regular season play on Friday, November 13th when they travel to Indianapolis to face Butler. Tip-off from Hinkle Fieldhouse is slated for 7 pm ET/6 pm CT.