BOSTON - The Vermont women's basketball team has been selected fourth in the 2021-22 America East Preseason Coach's Poll. UVM sophomore and reigning America East Rookie of the Year Anna Olson has been named to the Preseason All-Conference Team. The league made the announcement on Wednesday. Voting was conducted by the conference's head women's basketball coaches, who were not allowed to vote for their own team.
 
RELATED LINKS
America East Release
CatamounTV: Coach Kresge Virtual Media Day
America East: One-on-One Interview with Olson
Women's Basketball:  2021-22 Schedule | Season Tickets | Single Game Tickets
 
Stony Brook, the defending tournament champion, was picked to finish first, placing just four points ahead of second place Maine. The Black Bears were selected as league favorites in each of the last three seasons. Vermont and UMass Lowell were selected to round-out the coveted top-four positions. This year will be the third full season on the women's side where the entire America East tournament will take place on campus sites with the higher-seeded school hosting each game throughout the championship.
 
After earning Rookie of the Year, All Conference Third-Team and All-Rookie Team honors Olson was selected to the Preseason All-Conference Team. She led the Catamounts last season with 13.3 points-per game and 6.8 rebounds-per game. She also averaged two assists a game. She helped lead Vermont to its best America East start through six games since the 2009-10 campaign.
 
On January 4, 2021 Olson became just the third player in America East history dating back to 1984-85 to win America East Player and Rookie of the Week in the same week. Olson was also the ninth Catamount to earn three or more Rookie of the Week honors in a season – Joanne McKay (3x, 1984-85), Libby Smith (3x, 1998-99), Niki Taylor (3x, 2011-12), Emma Utterback (3x, 2019-20), Dawn Cressman (4x, 1999-00), Hanna Crymble (4x, 2016-17), Morgan Hall (5x, 1999-00) and Courtnay Pilypaitis (7x, 2006-07).
 
Vermont opens the 2021-22 campaign on Friday, November 6 as they face Saint Michael's in a cross-town exhibition. Tipoff is set for 6 p.m. The Catamounts regular season home opener is Tuesday, November 9 as they face Merrimack at 6 p.m.
 
Fans can purchase tickets to all Vermont women's basketball home games by visiting UVMathletics.com/Tickets, or by calling the UVM Athletic Ticket Office at (802) 656-4410.
 
2021-22 America East Women's Basketball Preseason Poll
No.         School                         Pts.                                 
1.            Stony Brook                78 (6)            
2.            Maine                          74 (3)
3.            UMass Lowell             63 (1)                       
4.            Vermont                      54  
5.            UAlbany                      51             
6.            Binghamton                40                             
7.            New Hampshire          38                
8.            NJIT                            25  
9.            UMBC                        16
10.          Hartford                      11
  
2021-22 America East Women's Basketball Preseason All-Conference Team
Denai Bowman, Jr., Guard, Binghamton
Anna Olson, So., Forward, Vermont
India Pagan, Gr., Forward, Stony Brook
Anne Simon, Jr., Guard, Maine
Denise Solis, Jr., Forward, UMass Lowell
Annie Warren, Sr., Guard, Stony Brook
 
Rise to the Top is the presenting sponsor of the 2021-22 Vermont women's basketball season