• MVC Preseason Poll (PDF)

ST. LOUIS, Mo.--The Creighton University Bluejays have been picked as the team to beat this year in the Missouri Valley Conference’s preseason poll of head coach, media members, and sports information directors.

The Bluejays garnered 34 first-place votes to outdistance reigning regular-season champion Illinois State for the league’s top spot in the preseason.  Evansville, the reigning State Farm MVC Tournament champions, was tabbed to finish eighth overall.

“Preseason polls and accolades are nice, but what really matters is where you are at at the end of the year,” said UE head coach Misty Murphy.  “We may have a very young team this year, but they are talented and very hungry.  They are working hard in practice every day and competing extremely well, and when you do those things in practice day-in and day-out, good things will happen.”

Evansville returns just six players from its MVC Tournament championship squad of a year ago, led by senior guard Amy Gallagher (10.2 ppg, 4.3 rpg).  UE will combine those six returning players with seven newcomers, including six true freshmen, to form the 2009-10 version of the Purple Aces.  Evansville will play its first and only exhibition game of the year on Saturday, November 7 at 4:00 p.m. when nearby Division II rival Oakland City visits Roberts Stadium.  UE women’s basketball season tickets are currently available by contacting the UE Athletic Ticket Office by phone at (812 488-ACES.