Oct. 27, 2009
MVC Preseason Release 
ST. LOUIS, Mo. - For the third-consecutive season, the Illinois State women's basketball team was projected to finish in the top-three in the Missouri Valley Conference Preseason Poll. The Redbirds were tabbed second in the 2009-10 preseason poll, voted on by the league's head coaches, sports information directors and media. Senior guard Maggie Krick was named to the Preseason All-Valley team for the second-consecutive year.
Illinois State received 340 votes, falling just behind preseason favorite Creighton (393). The Bluejays (34) and Redbirds (6) were the only two teams to garner first-place votes. Drake (296) was picked third, followed by Northern Iowa (253) and Indiana State (250). Bradley (214), Missouri State (188), Evansville (108), Wichita State (97) and Southern Illinois (61) rounded out the poll.
"The Valley is a very strong league and it seems to get tougher from top to bottom every year," Illinois State head coach Robin Pingeton said. "It's an honor to be picked second in a league that has so many teams capable of winning it. It shows how much this program has grown and accomplished over the last few years, and it is extremely gratifying to earn that respect."
Illinois State, the two-time defending Valley regular-season champion, was picked to finish second for the fifth time (1986-87, 1988-89, 1989-90, 2007-08) and received the fourth-most first-place votes in school history. The Redbirds were a unanimous choice to win the conference last year and were projected second with 12 first-place votes in 2007-08. In three of the previous four seasons the Redbirds were picked second, they ended up winning the conference regular season title.
ISU was projected to finish in the top-five in the conference for the fifth time in Pingeton's seven-year tenure. The Redbirds have finished in the top-two in the conference the last three seasons, winning at least 13 games each year.
Krick is ISU's leading returner in scoring, three-point field goals, assists, steals and minutes. She was a Preseason All-Valley pick before last season and was named to the All-Valley Second Team after averaging 12.6 points per game.
Krick was joined on the preseason all-conference team by Megan Neuvirth (Creighton), Jordann Plummer (Drake), Kelsey Luna (Indiana State) and Casey Garrison (Missouri State). Neuvirth was named the Valley Preseason Player of the Year; the first year the award has been given on the women's side. All five players on the preseason team were All-Valley selections last year.
2009-10 MVC Preseason Poll
1. Creighton - 393 (34)
2. Illinois State - 340 (6)
3. Drake - 296
4. Northern Iowa - 253
5. Indiana State - 250
6. Bradley - 214
7. Missouri State - 188
8. Evansville - 108
9. Wichita State - 97
10. Southern Illinois - 61
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