PSAC announces preseason women’s basketball coaches’ poll; Haven opens season Nov. 10
LOCK HAVEN, PA – The Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) released the 2023-24 Women’s Basketball Preseason Coaches’ poll on Thursday, and the Lock Haven women’s basketball team was picked sixth of nine teams in the PSAC Eastern Division.
Lock Haven was voted a preseason favorite to reach the postseason, as the top-six schools in each division land a berth to the PSAC Championship Tournament.
West Chester received eight of the nine first-place votes and was picked as the favorite by the coaches in the PSAC Eastern Division. Kutztown earned one first-place vote to land second, while Millersville rounded out the top-three. Bloomsburg was picked fourth, East Stroudsburg was slotted fifth and Lock Haven followed at six. Millersville, Mansfield and Shepherd round out the remaining positions in the East.
In the Western Division, California (Pa.) (five) and Gannon (two) were positioned at first and second with IUP (one) coming in at third. Pitt-Johnstown also earned one first-place vote, but was slated fifth.
The Bald Eagles are coming off an 11-17 overall record and 9-13 mark in the PSAC East, which earned them the sixth seed in the 2022-23 conference tournament. The Haven fell in the first round to the No. 3 seed Kutztown University, 68-60.
Lock Haven’s defense ranked fourth in the PSAC as they held opposing offenses to under 60 points per game and 39 percent shooting for the field.
Under 16th-year head coach Jennifer Smith, the Bald Eagles open the 2023-24 season Friday (Nov. 10) when they travel to Greensburg, Pa. to compete in the Atlantic Regional Challenge at Seton Hill. The Bald Eagles take on Fairmont State on Friday at 3 p.m. before playing Concord at 4 p.m. on Saturday.
The upcoming 2023-24 women’s basketball season marks the 13th for the Bald Eagles assistant coach Zack Smith.
The Bald Eagles open their home schedule against non-conference opponent Frostburg State at 5:30 p.m. on Wednesday, Nov. 15.
Lock Haven opens PSAC action with East-West crossover battles against Pitt-Johnstown and IUP on Friday-Saturday, Dec. 1-2.
In all, 13 of Lock Haven’s 28 contests will come at home. Over the last two seasons, The Haven found a bulk of its success at home finishing 8-5 inside Thomas Fieldhouse.
The Haven continues conference crossover action to close out December with road contests at Seton Hill (Dec. 18), California (Pa.) (Dec. 19), before hosting Slippery Rock on Dec. 30. Lock Haven wraps up its battles in the West by visiting Clarion on Wednesday, Jan. 3.
The Bald Eagles open Eastern Division play on Saturday, Jan. 6 at 1 p.m. when they host West Chester University inside Thomas Fieldhouse. To view the entire 2023-24 schedule, click here.
Eastern Division (Number of first-place votes)
1. West Chester (8)
2. Kutztown (1)
3. Shippensburg
4. Bloomsburg
5. East Stroudsburg
6. Lock Haven
7. Millersville
8. Mansfield
9. Shepherd
Western Division (Number of first-place votes)
1. California (5)
2. Gannon (2)
3. IUP (1)
4. Edinboro
5. Pitt-Johnstown (1)
6. Seton Hill
7. Mercyhurst
8. Slippery Rock
9. Clarion
