RIPON, Wis. – Competing in the Midwest Conference for the first time since 1997 the Cornell College Rams took home the 2012-13 Women’s Basketball Championship and followed that up with a trip to the NCAA Tournament by winning the MWC Tournament. The Rams are expected to have the same opportunity after the regular season as they were picked to repeat as MWC Championship in the 2013-14 Women’s Basketball Preseason Coaches’ Poll.

Cornell earned the maximum of 100 points and claimed 10 first place votes to be the overwhelming favorite this season. 2011-12 MWC Tournament Champion Monmouth earned the other first place vote and was picked to finish second with 87 points followed closely by St. Norbert, who won three of the last four regular season championships, with 82 points. Carroll is projected to be the final team in the four team conference tournament with 72 points, just beating out Lake Forest in fifth place with 69 points. Ripon finished with 45 points and a sixth place finish while Illinois Col. and Beloit were separated by just one vote with the Lady Blues gained 39 votes for a seventh place projected finish. Knox and Grinnell were tied for ninth place with 31 points apiece while Lawrence rounded out the 11 team field with 11 points.

Only seven MWC All-Conference players return this season led by three 2012-13 All-MWC First Team award winners in Cornell forward Rikki Mulloy, Carroll guard Emily DeNoyer, and Beloit guard Lauren McNanna. Almost the entire Second Team is back which includes Ripon guard Jill Van Eperen, Monmouth forward Marla Willard, Cornell center Taylor Dicus, and St. Norbert forward Tasha Giese.

The conference also welcomes new coaches to four new programs. Dana Harrold takes over the Grinnell program after serving as an assistant at the University of Dubuque since 2006. Lora Westling is in her first season with Illinois Col. after assisting at Truman State University last season. Ashley Wellman comes to Lawrence from Alma College where she was an assistant since 2008 while Ripon welcomes Lauren Johnson to lead the Red Hawks after she served as an assistant at Coe College during the 2011-12 season.

Place	Team (First Place Votes)	Points
1	Cornell (10)	100
2	Monmouth (1)	87
3	St. Norbert	82
4	Carroll	72
5	Lake Forest	69
6	Ripon	45
7	Illinois Col.	39
8	Beloit	38
t9	Knox	31
t9	Grinnell	31
11	Lawrence	11

This season the preview is going to be in video format. During the preview we break down each team and have a one-on-one interview with each coach to talk about the upcoming season. To view the video starting from a specific team please click one of the links found below the video.

To have the video start at a specific teams preview please click on the school link:

[Beloit College]
[Carroll University]
[Cornell College]
[Grinnell College]
[Illinois College]
[Knox College]
[Lake Forest College]
[Lawrence University]
[Monmouth College]
[Ripon College]
[St. Norbert College]


Beloit Buccaneers
Head Coach:  Jennifer McCormick (3rd season) 9-37 overall at Beloit
Letterwinners Returning/Lost:  5/4
Starters Returning/Lost:  3/2
Returning All-MWC:  Lauren McNanna (G, 1st Team)

Carroll Pioneers
Head Coach:  Kris Jacobsen (15th Season), 232-132 overall at Carroll
Letterwinners Returning/Lost:   12/6
Starters Returning/Lost:  3/2
Returning All-MWC:  Emily DeNoyer (G, 1st Team)

Cornell Rams
Head Coach: Brent Brase (9th Season) 80-120 overall at Cornell
Letterwinners Returning/Lost: 8/6
Starters Returning/Lost: 3/2
Returning All-MWC:  Rikki Mulloy (G, 1st Team), Taylor Dicus (C, 2nd Team)

Grinnell Pioneers
Head Coach: Dana Harrold (1st Season) 0-0 overall at Grinnell
Letterwinners Returning/Lost: 7/7
Starters Returning/Lost: Returning 3/Lost 2
Returning All-MWC: None

Illinois Col. Lady Blues
Head Coach:  Lora Westling (1st season) 0-0 overall at Illinois Col.
Letterwinners Returning/Lost: 13/3
Starters Returning/Lost: 4/1
Returning All-MWC:  None

Knox Prairie Fire
Head Coach: Emily Cline (6th season) 35-80 overall at Knox
Letterwinners Returning/Lost: 9/4
Starters Returning/Lost: 3/2
Returning All-MWC: None

Lake Forest Foresters
Head Coach: Tamlyn Tills (6th season) 64-53 overall at Lake Forest
Letterwinners Returning/Lost: 12/4
Starters Returning/Lost: 2/3
Returning All-MWC: None

Lawrence Vikings
Head Coach: Ashley Wellman (1st season) 0-0 overall at Lawrence
Letterwinners Returning/Lost: 9/1
Starters Returning/Lost: 4/1
Returning All-MWC: None

Monmouth Fighting Scots
Head Coach: Melissa Bittner (9th Season) overall at Monmouth
Letterwinners Returning/Lost: 14/3
Starters Returning/Lost: 3/2
Returning All-MWC:  Marla Willard (F, 2nd Team)

Ripon Red Hawks
Head Coach: Lauren Johnson (1st season) 0-0 overall at Ripon
Letterwinners Returning/Lost: 9/4
Starters Returning/Lost: 3/2
Returning All-MWC:  Jill Van Eperen (G/F, 2nd Team)

St. Norbert Green Knights
Head Coach: Connie Tilley (37th year) 589-272 overall at Ripon
Letterwinners Returning/Lost: 14/7
Starters Returning/Lost: 3/2
Returning All-MWC: Tasha Giese (F, 2nd Team)