PITMAN--Kean University has been selected as the favorite to win the 2009-10 New Jersey Athletic Conference Women’s Basketball Championship in a preseason poll of the league’s ten head coaches. The Cougars will be seeking their 13th conference crown since 1982-83.

 
Kean was selected by the coaches to win the NJAC South Division and received a league-high six overall champion votes in the poll. The Cougars finished the 2008-09 season with a 22-8 overall record while placing second in the NJAC South Division with an 11-2 conference mark. Kean advanced to the second round of the 2008-09 NCAA Tournament after receiving an at-large berth. Under the leadership of head coach Michele Sharp, Kean has produced a 183-119 record during her 11 seasons in Union, improving her career coaching mark to 311-285. The Cougars will return a pair of NJAC all-conference selections from their 2008-09 NCAA squad including senior guard Cardiss Jackman and senior forward Danielle Brown. In addition, Kean will welcome the return of senior guard Melissa Beyruti, a three-time all-conference selection who missed most of the 2008-09 season due to injury.

William Paterson University was selected by the coaches to win the North Division and received one overall champion vote. Under the leadership of 17th-year head coach Erin Monahan, the Pioneers have produced a 298-134 overall record, including a mark of 19-8 in 2008-09. Monahan’s squad returns all five starters, including four all-conference players from a team which finished second in the North Division, including junior forward April Smith, senior guard Julie Haledjian, senior guard Erin Cook, and the 2008-09 NJAC Rookie of the Year in sophomore guard BriAnna Lucas.

  
The College of New Jersey, which posted a 28-5 overall record in 2008-09 after winning the NJAC Championship and finishing third nationally in the NCAA Tournament, was selected to place second in the South Division and received one first place vote. The national third place showing by the Lions in the NCAA Tournament marked the best finish of any women’s basketball team in the history of the New Jersey Athletic Conference. TCNJ won the NJAC South Division with an 11-2 conference record before capturing its fourth conference title with wins over William Paterson and Kean in the NJAC Tournament. The Lions then garnered NCAA Tournament victories over DeSales, Tufts, Rochester, and Scranton, before falling to eventual NCAA Division III National Champion George Fox in the Final Four. Under the leadership of 17th-year head coach Dawn Henderson, the Lions have produced an overall mark of 316-119, improving Henderson’s career coaching record to 362-169. TCNJ will return one all-conference player from its Final Four squad in junior forward Kelsey Kutch.

Montclair State University, which finished 18-8 overall in 2008-09 en route to last season’s North Division Championship with an 11-2 conference mark, was selected to finish second in the North Division and received two first-place votes. Under 2008-09 NJAC Coach of the Year Karin Harvey, the Red Hawks have posted a record of 37-19, improving Harvey’s career coaching mark to 50-33. MSU returns a pair of all-conference players from its North Division Championship squad, including senior guard Jackie Berry, and the 2008-09 NJAC Defensive Player of the Year in junior forward Kisandra Ayanbeku. 

Rowan University, led by 10th-year head coach Gabby Lisella, was selected to place third in the South Division. The Profs have produced a 121-106 overall record during her tenure in Glassboro, including a mark of 14-10 in 2008-09.

Ramapo College, which finished 10-15 in its first season under head coach Mike Eineker, was selected to place third in the North Division. Eineker’s rookie season in Mawah improved his career coaching record to 95-92. The Roadrunners return one all-conference player from their 2008-09 squad in junior guard Stephanie Cannizzaro.

 
The coaches’ dark horse selection, Richard Stockton College, was selected to place fourth in the South Division. The Ospreys are led by 18th-year head coach Joe Fussner. Fussner has produced an overall mark of 260-187 during his tenure at Stockton, including a record of 8-17 in 2008-09. The Ospreys return one all-conference player in sophomore center LaTonya Oliver.

 
Rutgers-Newark, under the leadership of ninth-year head Kevin Morris, was selected to place fourth in the North Division. The Scarlet Raiders posted an 11-15 overall record in 2008-09 and earned a NJAC Tournament berth with a third place finish in the North Division. The Raiders return one all-conference player from their 2008-09 squad in sophomore guard Jared Tactuk.

 
Rutgers University-Camden was selected to place fifth in the South Division. Led by third-year head coach Kate Bowes, the Scarlet Raptors return one all-conference player from a 2008-09 squad which finished 2-22 overall, in junior forward Karima Blackwell.

The 28th season of NJAC women’s basketball will tip-off on Sunday, November 15 with four league teams in non-conference action. Conference play will begin 17 days later with eight NJAC teams in action on Wednesday, December 2. The top three regular season finishers in each division will advance to the 2009-10 NJAC Women’s Basketball Championship Tournament.

First round tournament games on Saturday, February 20 will feature the second-place finisher in the North Division hosting the third place finisher in the South Division, and the second place finisher in the South Division hosting the third place finisher in the North Division.

Those first round winners will advance to face the first place finishers in the North and South Divisions respectively in the tournament semifinals on Tuesday, February 23. The two semifinal winners will advance to the 2009-10 NJAC Championship Game on Friday, February 26, to be contested at the site of the highest remaining seed.

 
The NJAC Tournament Champion receives the conference’s automatic qualification to the NCAA
Division III National Championship Tournament.