Cal women favorite in PSAC West

Having its third head coach in as many seasons doesn't change the expectations for the California University women's basketball program. The Vulcans, coming off a 29-5 season that included a trip to the NCAA Division II Elite Eight, are favored to win the PSAC West Division title, according to league's preseason coaches poll that was released Thursday.

California returns it's two leading scorers from last season, Brooque Williams (21.9 ppg) and Kayla Smith (16.0). They will be playing for new head coach Mark Swasey, who is no stranger to success. Swasey guided Franklin Pierce (N.H.) to 29 wins and the Division II championship game last season. Franklin Pierce defeated the Vulcans in the national quarterfinals.

Gannon was picked to finish second in the West followed by Indiana, Edinboro, Mercyhurst, Clarion, Slippery Rock and Lock Haven. California received five of eight first-pace votes. The East Division favorite is West Chester, which edged Millersville and Kutztown.

The Indiana men are the favorite in the West. The Crimson Hawks received five of eight first-place votes. Indiana has three preseason all-conference picks returning from a 22-8 team and is bolstered by the addition of 6-8 Akida McLain, a transfer who played in 40 games for Boston College.

California, hoping to bounce back from a 13-13 season, was picked to finish second followed by Gannon, Slippery Rock, Mercyhurst, Edinboro, Clarion and Lock Haven. Kutztown edged West Chester and Mansfield for the top spot in the East.

The preseason polls:

PSAC West Division Men
1. Indiana (5)
2. California (1)
3. Gannon (1)
4. Slippery Rock
5. Mercyhurst (1)
6. Edinboro
7. Clarion
8. Lock Haven

PSAC West Division Women
1. California (5)
2. Gannon (2)
3. Indiana
4. Edinboro (1)
5. Mercyhurst
6. Clarion
7. Slippery Rock
8. Lock Haven

Remember, it's only an exhibition...

Most NCAA Division II schools tip-off their basketball seasons with a series of exhibition games against Division I opponents. These games do not count on the official records for either team.

In recent years, the California men have played exhibitions against Maryland, Dayton and Southern Illinois, among others. Next month, the Vulcans will play Miami (Ohio) and Purdue. The California women will play James Madison.

This most interesting/challenging exhibition game for PSAC teams this year involves the IUP women, who will play defending national champion Connecticut on Nov. 10. Connecticut went 39-0 last year.

"It is certainly a tremendous honor for our program to have the chance to play the UConn Huskies," IUP coach Jeff Dow said. "Over the past 15 years, they have been as dominant as any program in the country. It will be a special opportunity for our players to compete against a program the magnitude and national stature of the University of Connecticut.''

The Huskies are led by the reigning national player of the year in Maya Moore.