Youngstown State's women's basketball players Mary Dunn and Chelsea Olson both earned preseason Horizon League accolades, and the Penguins were picked to finish fourth in the standings as the conference office announced its preseason teams and coaches poll on Thursday
Dunn was named to the Horizon League First Team at the end of 2018-19, and she was tabbed to be among the top five players in the conference again as a senior in 2019-10. Olson was a Horizon League Second Team pick as a sophomore last season, and she was named to the preseason second team for the second straight campaign. This is the first time in Dunn's career that she has earned preseason accolades.
As a team, Youngstown State was picked to finish fourth in the standings for the second straight season. Defending champion Wright State and Green Bay tied for the top spot in the preseason poll, receiving 91 points and four first-place votes apiece. IUPUI received the other two first-place votes and was picked to finish third with 85 points.
The Penguins were firmly slotted fourth in the poll with 14 points separating YSU from both IUPUI and fifth-place Milwaukee. YSU received 71 points in the poll, while Milwaukee received 57. Northern Kentucky was tabbed sixth with 51 points, and Cleveland State (37), Oakland (31), Detroit Mercy (19) and UIC (17) rounded out the bottom four in the preseason poll.
"I'm excited and proud of Mary and Chelsea for earning these all-league honors," YSU head coach John Barnes said. "They have worked hard and have earned the right to be deemed preseason-all conference. The team should be motivated by this selection and fight to prove that we can give ourselves a chance to win the conference championship again this year."
Dunn was a First-Team All-Horizon League honoree and the conference's Sixth Player of the Year in 2018-19 as she set new career highs in points, rebounds, free throws, 3-pointers, assists, blocks and steals. She averaged a team-best 14.3 points per game and shot a squad-leading 61.8 percent from the field in conference play. That was the best field-goal percentage during conference play ever by a Penguin. Among Horizon League players, the Washington, Pa., native ranked third in field-goal percentage, sixth in blocks, seventh in scoring, 11th in defensive rebounding and 16th in rebounding.
Olson was one of the most well-rounded players in the conference in 2018-19 as she led the Horizon League in assists and ranked among the league's top eight in free throw percentage, rebounding, 3-point field-goal percentage, blocks, 3-pointers per game, assist-to-turnover ratio, defensive rebounds and minutes. She was the only underclassman in Division I to average at least 10 points, seven rebounds and 4.5 assists, and she was one of five players to reach those averages regardless of class. Olson, a Westby, Wis., native, was also the first player in YSU history to lead the team in assists and blocks in the same season.
Youngstown State will begin the 2019-20 season on Tuesday, Nov. 5, as it hosts Canisius. Season tickets for the campaign are currently on sale for $75 apiece. To purchase tickets or to get more information, call the YSU Athletics Ticket Office at (330) 941-1978.
2019-20 #HLWBB Preseason Poll
Pl. Team – Pts. (First-place votes)
T1. Green Bay – 91 (4)
T1. Wright State – 91 (4)
3. IUPUI – 85 (2)
4. Youngstown State – 71
5. Milwaukee – 57
6. Northern Kentucky – 51
7. Cleveland State – 37
8. Oakland – 31
9. Detroit Mercy – 19
10. UIC – 17
Preseason Player of the Year
Macee Williams, IUPUI
Preseason First Team (alphabetical order by school)
Frankie Wurtz, Green Bay
Macee Williams, IUPUI
Megan Walstad, Milwaukee
Michal Miller, Wright State
Mary Dunn, Youngstown State
Preseason Second Team (alphabetical order by school)
Savanna Crockett, Cleveland State
Mariah Miller, Cleveland State
Molly Glick, Northern Kentucky
Angel Baker, Wright State
Chelsea Olson, Youngstown State
