---Jessie Slack

INDIANAPOLIS - The Northern Kentucky University women’s basketball team has been selected as the favorite in the Great Lakes Valley Conference East Division preseason poll, the league announced Tuesday.

NKU captured the NCAA Division II national championship last season and finished with a 28-8 record. The Norse welcome back three starters, including senior forward Cassie Brannen (13.6 points per game) and senior guard Jessie Slack (13.3 ppg).

NKU is the unanimous pick to claim the GLVC East Division title. The Norse had 36 total points and six first-place votes to top the divisional poll. Indianapolis finished second in the GLVC East Division poll with 31 total points and one first-place vote.

Bellarmine finished with 26 total points for third place in the poll. Lewis finished fourth in the voting with 18 total points and was followed by Wisconsin-Parkside, Kentucky Wesleyan and Saint Joseph’s.

Drury is the favorite in the GLVC West Division. The Panthers collected 23 total points and three first-place votes to top the GLVC West Division poll.

Drury edged Quincy in the voting. The Lady Hawks finished second with 20 total points and two first-place votes. Missouri S&T picked up the remaining first-place vote in the division polling and finished third with 19 total points.

Southern Indiana is fourth with 13 total points followed by Missouri-St. Louis and Rockhurst.

2008-09 GLVC WOMEN'S BASKETBALL PRESEASON POLL

West Division
Team (First-place votes) Total Points 2007-08 Records (GLVC)
1. Drury (3) 23 28-4 (16-3)
2. Quincy (2) 20 20-10 (14-5)
3. Missouri S&T (1) 19 24-7 (15-4)
4. Southern Indiana 13 10-17 (5-14)
5. Missouri-St. Louis 10 7-20 (5-14)
6. Rockhurst 5 8-19 (3-16)

East Division
Team (First-place votes) Total Points 2007-08 Records (GLVC)
1. Northern Kentucky (6) 36 28-8 (13-6)
2. Indianapolis (1) 31 22-8 (13-6)
3. Bellarmine 26 20-12 (12-7)
4. Lewis 18 13-13 (9-10)
5. UW-Parkside 17 17-11 (11-8)
6. Kentucky Wesleyan 13 14-13 (8-11)
7. Saint Joseph’s 6 1-25 (0-19)