The St. Lawrence University women's basketball team has been selected as the Liberty League preseason favorite in a vote of the league's nine women's basketball coaches. The Saints, who return all five starters and the top five scorers from last season's 19-6 team, received 61 points and five first-place votes. Defending tournament champion Vassar was picked as second with 55 points and two first-place votes.

"The Liberty League seems to be getting stronger every year, and you have to show up every night to play against any other team," said third year head coach Dan Roiger. "It's nice to be picked as one of the top teams in the League, but the fact that four teams gathered first place votes tells you how balanced it is and how tough it will be to take the title. We believe as a team that we have a shot at winning the League if we can improve every day and every game, but the fact remains it doesn't matter who is picked first, it only matters who finishes first. We are very aware of that and will be working hard to achieve our goals."

The Scarlet and Brown did not lose any seniors to graduation last year, and returns its top five scorers, including 2010-11 All-Conference picks Kelly Legg, Erica Spera and Katie Edgerton. Legg, a sophomore forward, led the team with 16.1 points per game and was a First-Team selection as a first-year. Spera, a junior forward, averaged 9.1 points per game and earned Honorable Mention status. Edgerton, a senior guard, averaged 12.5 points per game and was named to the Second-Team.

Vassar was picked in a close second in the coaches' poll and are led by 2010-11 Liberty League Coach of the Year Candice Brown. The Brewers had a breakout season as they qualified for the Liberty League tournament for the first time in program history last season. The team knocked off St. Lawrence and William Smith en route to the Liberty League title and NCAA tournament bid.

Vassar returns four of last season's top five scorers, including senior guard Brittany Parks and sophomore guard Cydni Matsuoka. Parks, who was named the 2010-11 Liberty League Player of the Year, averaged 20.3 points per game. Matsuoka also received conference honors, as she was named Rookie of the Year and a first-team selection. She scored 486 points in her first season, averaging 17.4 per game.

William Smith, which was picked third, shared a piece of the regular season title with St. Lawrence last season with a record of 10-4. The Herons, who advanced to the championship game of the Liberty League tournament before falling to Vassar in the final, returns leading scorer and All-Liberty League first-team selection, senior Kristen Kush (18.9 ppg).

Skidmore, picked fourth, returns its top six scorers from last year's team that went 8-6 in Liberty League play. Senior guard Megan Gaugler (13.0 ppg), an All-Liberty League second-team selection, leads an offense that made a league-leading 182 three-pointers last season.

Rank Team (Pts. (First Place Votes)

1. St. Lawrence - 61 (5)

2. Vassar - 55 (2)

3. William Smith - 48 (1)

4. Skidmore - 44 (1)

5. Union - 37

6. RPI - 32

7. RIT - 22

8. Clarkson - 17

9. Bard - 8