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For Immediate Release |
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November 14, 2007 |
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Rhode
Island College Men’s Basketball Picked to Finish First in Little
East Conference Preseason Poll
RIC
Women’s Hoop Tabbed Sixth |
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Providence, RI—The
Rhode Island College men’s basketball team was picked to finish
first for the third consecutive season following a vote by the
league’s eight head coaches in the annual Little East Conference
Men’s Basketball Preseason Coaches Poll. |
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Under
the guidance of Head Coach Bob Walsh, the men’s basketball
team earned five first place votes and a total of 46 points to edge
conference rival Keene State College for the top spot by just two
markers. Last season, Rhode Island College advanced to the NCAA
Elite Eight, where they fell to the eventual national champions:
Amherst College, and established a new school record with a 27-4
record. The Anchormen return six lettermen from the 2007 Little East
Conference Tournament Championship team, including two of their
three leading scorers in junior guards Bobby Bailey (Fall River,
MA) and Tirrell Hill (Bronx, NY). Walsh led his charges
to an upset of Division I Patriot League perennial powerhouse Holy
Cross, 61-60, in Worcester, Mass. on Nov. 1 in an exhibition tilt.
Rhode Island College opens its 2007-08 schedule at the Wesleyan
University Tip Off Tournament on Friday, Nov. 16 when the Anchormen
face Western New England College at 6 p.m. |
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Junior
Guard Bobby Bailey |
Junior Guard Tirrell Hill |
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In
addition, the Rhode Island College women’s basketball squad was
picked to finish sixth in the annual Little East Conference Women’s
Basketball Preseason Coaches Poll. |
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Head
Coach Spencer Manning’s team received 22 points to earn the
sixth ranking in the coaches’ preseason poll. Last season, Rhode
Island College qualified for its first postseason appearance in
eight years by earning the eighth seed in the Eastern College
Athletic Conference (ECAC) N.E. Basketball Championships. The
Anchorwomen (17-11) upset top-seeded Colby-Sawyer in the
quarterfinal round, but were edged in the semifinals with an
overtime loss at Wheaton College. Rhode Island College welcomes back
six letterwinners from the 2007 edition, including senior point
guard Sarah Coughlin (North Attleboro, MA). Coughlin will
guide the Anchorwomen attack for the fourth consecutive season,
setting up their top-offensive threats in junior forward Cassi
Malec (Johnston, RI) and junior guard Tyla Martin
(Cumberland, RI). Rhode Island College hits the hardwood on
Friday, Nov. 16, when the Anchorwomen battle Tufts at the Endicott
College Tournament at 5:30 p.m. |
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Senior Guard Sarah Coughlin |
Junior Forward Cassi Malec |
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Junior Guard Tyla Martin |
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-end- |
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