Bucknell University Athletics
DeBoer Named Preseason PL Player of the Year; Bison Picked to Finish First
10/26/2016 10:53:00 AM | Women's Basketball
LEWISBURG, Pa. – Senior Claire DeBoer was named the Patriot League Preseason Player of the Year, and the Bucknell women's basketball team was picked as the overwhelming favorite to win the conference in the Patriot League Preseason Poll released by the league office on Wednesday. The Bison received 16 of a possible 18 first-place votes.
DeBoer, a First Team All-Patriot League selection a season ago, enters her senior year with 1,151 career points. She has proven to be one of the most versatile players in the conference and the proof was in the numbers last season. She ranked third in the league in scoring (15.7), fourth in field goal percentage (.761), fourth in minutes (35.1), seventh in assists (2.6), seventh in free throw percentage (.761), seventh in steals (1.7), and eighth in rebounds (6.9).
“I'm really happy for Claire to receive this honor from the league coaches,” said Bucknell head coach Aaron Roussell. “She is one of the hardest workers I've ever been around, and as a coach it's great to see someone like her get this type of recognition.”
DeBoer has been named to the Preseason All-Patriot League Team in consecutive seasons. She is the first Bucknell player to earn Preseason Player of the Year honors since Hope Foster in 2007. That was also the only other year in program history that the Bison were picked first in the poll.
Joining DeBoer on the preseason all-league team were American's Lauren Crisler, Holy Cross's Infiniti Thomas-Waheed, Lehigh's Quinci Mann, and Loyola's Bri Betz-White. DeBoer is the only returning player from the All-Patriot League First Team last year.
Bucknell finished first in the poll with 156 points, followed by Lehigh with 120. Defending champion Army West Point was third with 119, followed by Holy Cross in fourth with 111 and American in fifth with 109. Navy (103), Loyola (69), Lafayette (50), Colgate (34), and Boston University (29) rounded out the poll.
The other four first-place votes went to Lehigh, Holy Cross, American, and Navy. The poll was comprised of votes by the league's head coaches and sports information directors, who were not permitted to vote for their own team.
“With regard to being picked first I think it's more of a nod to what we've done in years past than it is an accomplishment for this year's team,” Roussell said. “It's exciting for some of our recent grads to see where we are picked and feel good about how they've helped elevate the program. But it really doesn't mean anything for the season ahead. Unfortunately, it's not auto racing, we didn't just grab pole position or gain any advantage with this vote. There are a lot of good teams, players and coaches in this league; it's going to be a tight and exciting league race.”
Army West Point and Bucknell shared the league's regular season title with 17-1 records against conference opponents last season. The Black Knights went on to win the Patriot League Tournament and were the No. 13 seed in the NCAA Tournament, while the Bison qualified for the WNIT. The Bison won their first round game at Akron, 74-70. It was the first win in the WNIT in Patriot League history.
Bucknell opens the season on the road against Binghamton on Friday, Nov. 11. The Bison's home opener is against NJIT on Thursday, Nov. 17.
Women's Basketball Preseason Player of the Year
Claire DeBoer, Bucknell
Women's Basketball Preseason All-League
Lauren Crisler, American
Claire DeBoer, Bucknell
Infiniti Thomas-Waheed, Holy Cross
Quinci Mann, Lehigh
Bri Betz-White, Loyola Maryland
Women's Basketball Preseason Poll
Bucknell, 156 points (16 first-place votes)
Lehigh, 120 points (1)
Army West Point, 119 points
Holy Cross, 111 points (1)
American, 109 points (1)
Navy, 103 points (1)
Loyola Maryland, 69 points
Lafayette, 50 points
Colgate, 34 points
Boston University, 29 points
