The Sports Inquirer

Rosemont, Ill. – Maryland was selected as the preseason conference favorite in the Terrapins’ inaugural Big Ten women’s basketball season by the coaches and media, the conference office announced on Thursday. Minnesota’s Rachel Banham garnered Big Ten Preseason Player of the Year accolades.

Iowa’s Samantha Logic, Minnesota’s Banham and Nebraska’s Rachel Theriot earned nods as Preseason All-Big Ten honorees from both the coaches and the media. Michigan State’s Aerial Powers and Northwestern’s Nia Coffey were voted to the coaches’ preseason squad, while Maryland’s Lexie Brown, Minnesota’s Amanda Zahui B. and Ohio State’s Ameryst Alston were voted to the media’s list.

During the 2013-14 campaign, Banham was an All-America honorable mention honoree for the WBCA and Associated Press, and earned unanimous first-team All-Big Ten accolades from coach and media voters. She led the conference in scoring with 23.3 points per Big Ten game last season.

Maryland enters its inaugural Big Ten season returning nine letterwinners and two starters from last year’s squad that won 28 games and advanced to the NCAA Final Four. Brown earned NCAA Tournament All-Region honors and was recognized on the Lieberman Award Watch List in 2014.

Michigan State was picked to finish second by both the coaches and media this season. The Spartans finished the 2013-14 campaign with 23 wins and advanced to the NCAA Tournament for the sixth consecutive season. Michigan State returns three starters from last year’s team that shared the Big Ten title with a 13-3 conference record.

Iowa was picked to finish third this season by the coaches’ panel. The Hawkeyes return 10 letterwinners from a team that went 27-9 and made its seventh consecutive NCAA Tournament appearance last season.

Nebraska was chosen third by the media voting panel. The Huskers, who won the Big Ten Tournament and advanced to the second round of the NCAA Tournament, will return four starters to this year’s squad.

The 2014 Preseason All-Big Ten Teams and preseason polls can be found below.

2014-15 Preseason All-Big Ten Teams and Preseason Polls

2014-15 COACHES BIG TEN PRESEASON RANKINGS

1.       Maryland

2.       Michigan State

3.       Iowa

2014-15 COACHES PRESEASON ALL-BIG TEN TEAM

Samantha Logic, Sr., G, IOWA

Aerial Powers, So., G, MSU

Rachel Banham, Sr., G, MINN

Rachel Theriot, Jr., G, NEB

Nia Coffey, So., F, NU

2014-15 COACHES PRESEASON BIG TEN PLAYER OF THE YEAR

Rachel Banham, Sr., G, MINN

2014-15 MEDIA BIG TEN PRESEASON RANKINGS

1.       Maryland

2.       Michigan State

3.       Nebraska

2014-15 MEDIA PRESEASON ALL-BIG TEN TEAM*

Samantha Logic, Sr., G, IOWA

Lexie Brown, So., G, MD

Rachel Banham, Sr., G, MINN

Amanda Zahui B., So., C, MINN

Rachel Theriot, Jr., G, NEB

Ameryst Alston, Jr., G, OSU

*Six players recognized due to a tie
2014-15 MEDIA PRESEASON BIG TEN PLAYER OF THE YEAR

Rachel Banham, Sr., G, MINN