Contact: Chassidy Holloway, Assistant Executive Director, holloway@midwestconference.org 
 
GRINNELL, Iowa — In a vote by league head coaches, Monmouth College has been selected to win their first Midwest Conference regular season crown. The Scots took the top spot in the 2019-2020 preseason poll with 77 points and six first-place votes, after finishing last season as the runner-up to league champion Ripon College.
 
Despite repeating as league champions last season and winning the tournament title, the Red Hawks come in at second place with three first-place votes and 69 points.
 
In a tie for third place with 64 points are the Green Knights of St. Norbert College and the Foresters of Lake Forest College. The Green Knights also earned the remaining first-place vote and will look to recapture the league crown after last winning six of the seven league crowns between the 2009-10 and 2015-16 seasons.
 
Cornell College comes in with 43 points to round out the top five. The Rams last won and tied for the league title in 2016-17 and 2017-18 respectively.
 
The 2019 season tips off on Friday, November 8 as Grinnell College, Illinois College, Lake Forest College, Monmouth College and St. Norbert College take on non-Conference opponents. Cornell College and Knox College will also join in on the opening weekend action with contests on Saturday, November 9.
 
Full preseason poll results can be found below followed by quick facts for all ten MWC teams. 
 

Team (First-Place Votes), Points
 
2019 MWC Women’s Basketball Preseason Poll

    1. Monmouth College (6), 77 points
    2. Ripon College (3), 69 points
    T3. St. Norbert College (1), 64 points
    T3.Lake Forest College, 64 points
    5.   Cornell College, 43 points
    6.   Knox College, 40 points
    7.   Grinnell College, 32 points
    8.   Illinois College, 29 points
    9.   Lawrence University, 19 points
    10. Beloit College, 13 points

 
Beloit College Buccaneers
Head Coach: Gloria Bradley (4^th Season)
2018 MWC Finish: 7^th
2019 Projected MWC Finish: 10^th
# Starters Returning: 3
Key Returnees: Kelly Loudon (JR)
 
Cornell College Rams
Head Coach: Brent Brase (15^th Season)
2018 MWC Finish: 6^th
2019 Projected MWC Finish: 5^th
# Starters Returning: 4
Key Returnees: Bella Gonzalez (SR), Maya Johnson (SR), Mo Kempiak (SR), Macy Robinson (SR), Rose Shimaoka (SR)
 
Grinnell College Pioneers
Head Coach: Dana Harrold (7^th Season)
2018 MWC Finish: 8^th
2019 Projected MWC Finish: 7^th
# Starters Returning: 3
Key Returnees: Sofia Ahooja (SO), Claire Collier (JR), Tyria Heath (JR), Kathryn Stender (JR), Sasha Thomas (SO), Kate Tomczik (SO)
 
Illinois College Lady Blues
Head Coach: Jennifer McCormick (4^th Season)
2018 MWC Finish: 9^th
2019 Projected MWC Finish: 8^th
# Starters Returning: 1
Key Returnees: Carly Cameron (SR), Grace Yaunches (SR), Megan Price (JR)
 
Knox College Prairie Fire
Head Coach: Emily Cline (12^th Season)
2018 MWC Finish: 5^th
2019 Projected MWC Finish: 6^th
# Starters Returning: 2
Key Returnees: Catessa Duran (SO), Kyra Huffman (SR), Jarrelyn McCall (SR) All-MWC
 
Lake Forest College Foresters
Head Coach: Tamlyn Tills (12^th Season)
2018 MWC Finish: T3^rd
2019 Projected MWC Finish: 4^th
# Starters Returning: 4
Key Returnees: Kelsey Burton (JR), Zaria Sydnor (SR)

Lawrence University Vikings
Head Coach: Riley Woldt (2^nd Season)
2018 MWC Finish: 10^th
2019 Projected MWC Finish: 9^th
# Starters Returning: 4
Key Returnees: Shonell Benjamin (SR), Kenya Earl (JR), Erin Hill (JR)
 
Monmouth College Scots
Head Coach: Kyle Wilson (5^th Season)
2018 MWC Finish: 2^nd
2019 Projected MWC Finish: 1^st
# Starters Returning: 5
Key Returnees: Becca Gallis (SR) All-MWC, Jordan Kintigh (SO), Yvonne Ornelas (SR), Shayne Smith (JR) All-MWC, Carley Turnbull (SR) All-MWC
 
Ripon College Red Hawks
Head Coach: Lauren Busalacchi (6^th Season)
2018 MWC Finish: 1^st
2019 Projected MWC Finish: 2^nd
# Starters Returning: 2
Key Returnees: Skyylar Brescia (SO), Alyassa Burgess (SR), Caitie Carpenter (SR), Megan Dille (JR), Jesi Nay (JR), Shannon Sorbo (JR)
 
St. Norbert College Green Knights
Head Coach: Amanda Leonard-Perry (1^st Season)
2018 MWC Finish: T3^rd  
2019 Projected MWC Finish: 3^rd
# Starters Returning: 3
Key Returnees: Oliva DeCleene (JR) 2018-19 MWC Newcomer of the Year, Sarah Neumann (SR), Macie Zurfluh (SR) All-MWC