District of Columbia Women's Basketball Picked 3rd in ECC Pre-Season Coaches' Poll

*Courtesy of ECC Media Relations

CENTRAL ISLIP, NY – After capturing their first East Coast Conference Women's Basketball Championship in nine years, the Dowling College Golden Lions have been selected by the conference's coaches as the favorite to do so once again in 2012-13.  The league's coaches also honored Bridgeport's Tanisha Carter as the Preseason Player of the Year.

Dowling received six out of 10 first place votes to finish with 94 total points to top the poll. The Golden Lions return seven players from last year's squad that finished 22-7 including All-Conference First Teamer, Connie Simmons, and the reigning ECC Rookie of the Year, Christine Verrelle. Dowling also adds five talented newcomers to the roster, including transfer Danielle Wilson, who was a Division I Honorable Mention All-American at Baylor University.

LIU Post and University of the District of Columbia, received one first-place vote each to earn the No.2 and No. 3 spots in the poll.  Both institutions are coming off NCAA Tournament appearances a season ago.  Bridgeport is next at No. 4 with 64 points and one first place vote. NYIT, who comes in at No. 6 in the poll, earned the final first place vote

Carter is coming off a standout first season in a Purple Knights uniform. The 6-0 senior from East Hartford, Connecticut was an All-Conference First Team selection after finishing second in the conference in scoring (17.1 ppg) and third in rebounding (8.4 rpg). Carter also finished among the top-five on the ECC leader board in field goals made (170), free throws made (103), and free throw percentage (.831).

2012-13 ECC Women's Basketball Preseason Poll

( ) - first place votes

Preseason Player of the Year: Tanisha Carter, Bridgeport (Sr., F/C, 6-0)