Women's Basketball Picked Fourth in Atlantic 10 Preseason Poll

League Release
 
Newport News, Va. – The Atlantic 10 announced Monday morning the results of its annual women's basketball preseason poll, as voted on by the league's head coaches. Fordham, champions in 2014 and 2019, have been predicted to finish the year in a tie for fourth, alongside Davidson and Duquesne, with a total of 140 points. Senior Kendell Heremaia was selected to the preseason All-Conference Second Team, while sophomore Anna DeWolfe garnered Third Team honors.
 
"I'm not one to really get into preseason polls." Head coach Stephanie Gaitley said, "We are picked in the top half of the conference, which means we have gained the respect of the league's coaches. Now we have to go out and prove ourselves!"
 
Despite winning two trophies in the past decade, the Rams have never been placed higher than third on the annual poll. This year, last year's runner-up, VCU, was overwhelmingly chosen as the preseason favorites, tallying 10 first-place votes and a total of 185 points. Defending champion, Dayton, were picked second with 176 votes, including two first-place votes, and Saint Louis rounded out the top-three with 171 points and one first-place vote. Following the fourth-place trio to round out the poll were Massachusetts (7^th – 118 points), Richmond (8^th – 81 points), George Washington (9^th – 78 points), La Salle (10^th – 70 points), Rhode Island (11^th – 65 points), St. Bonaventure (12^th – 42 points), Saint Joseph's (13^th – 41 points), and George Mason (14^th – 23 points).
 
The Rams are coming off a fourth straight 20-win season, seventh total under Gaitley, and would have made a fifth WNIT appearance in the last decade had the COVID-19 pandemic shut down college athletics nationally. The Bre Cavanaugh era ended at Fordham with the redshirt junior garnering WBCA All-American honorable mention and Atlantic 10 Player of the Year honors, just the second and first time, respectively, the program has earned each award. However, Fordham returns 12 players, including four starters, and has added a five-player freshman class.
 
Heremaia has been selected to ascend from last year's placement on the All-Conference Third Team after leading the team in several categories last year. Third in scoring with 11.8 points per game, the Whangarei, New Zealand native also paced the squad with 7.8 rebounds per game, 87 assists, 46 steals, and a 35.0% clip from behind the three-point arc, while also shooting 38.6% overall and contributing the second-most blocks, 19, across 31.2 minutes per contest. Heremaia sits just outside the top-10 in career three pointers and three-point shooting efficiency.
 
"Kene is an outstanding talent with so much upside still remaining. She is stronger and more confident this year. We expect Kene to take another step forward this season. Her best is still ahead!"
 
DeWolfe has made an instant impact at Fordham since arriving in the Bronx. Like Heremaia, the Cumberland, Maine native started all 32 contests, including a memorable debut against #16 Notre Dame in last year's season opener in front of a program record sold out Rose Hill Gym, nearly triple-doubling with 10 points, nine rebounds, and nine assists. She is the team's returning leading scorer, at 12.6 points per game last year, while averaging a whopping 36.0 minutes per contest, good for a total of 1,153 minutes, which led all freshmen nationally and was 13^th-most in the country. Selected to the All-Rookie squad last Spring, the 5'8 guard led the starters by shooting 42.4% from the field, including a tremendous 48.8% clip inside the arc. One of three team captains this year, along with senior Katie McLoughlin and junior Kaitlyn Downey, she was also second on the team with 74 assists (to just 70 turnovers) and chipped in with 31 steals and 3.7 rebounds per contest.
 
"Anna has come back to school focused and locked into improving every day. She has gained the respect of her coaches and teammates by being named a captain. She's been outstanding this Fall and we look forward to a great year from her."
 
Fordham allowed just 54.9 points per game a season ago, 13^th-best in the country, and the third-highest mark in program history, while setting school records for free-throw percentage (79.7%) and fewest turnovers (371), sitting comfortably in the top-15 for both categories nationally, including second in the former. A staple of the Gaitley era, the Rams have never finished outside the top-50 in all of Division I in points allowed per game, while filling the all-time top-10s at Fordham in three-pointers made, assist/turnover ratio, and turnovers, just to name a few.
 
Stay tuned for updates in regards to the 2020-21 season at FordhamSports.com and follow Women's Basketball on social media - @FordhamWBB on Twitter and Instagram.