ST. LOUIS – UNI women’s basketball has been voted as the favorite in the 2023-24 Missouri Valley Conference (MVC) preseason poll as announced by the league ahead of the it’s annual women’s basketball tip-off event on Tuesday morning. The poll, along with the conference’s two preseason teams, were voted on by the league’s coaches, sports information directors and media members.
The Panthers earned 33 of the 48 first-place votes with a total of 517 points, edging out defending MVC Tournament champion Drake who garnered 12 first-place votes with 482 points. Last season’s regular-season champion Illinois State was picked third (433 points / two first-place votes), while Belmont was tabbed to finish in fourth (401 points / one first-place vote).
Along with the preseason poll, the conference released their preseason all-conference squads and player of the year. UNI’s Grace Boffeli was named the MVC Preseason Player of the Year, joining teammate Maya McDermott on the league’s Preseason First Team All-Conference.
Boffeli, a native of Eldridge, Iowa, is coming off a stellar season which saw her lead the Panthers in scoring (531), rebounds (303) and field goal percentage (55.3%). Setting single-game career-highs in points (26), field goals made (10), three-point field goals made (2), free throws made (10), blocks (3) and minutes (39), Boffeli also led the MVC with 15 double-doubles. The junior forward also earned First Team All-MVC, MVC All-Tournament Team and MVC Scholar-Athlete First Team recognition last season, as well as additional academic honors with the MVC Commissioner’s Academic Excellence Award and Honor Roll and College Sports Communications (CSC) Academic All-District recognition.
McDermott, a Johnstown, Iowa native, finished last season averaging 14.7 points, 2.5 rebounds, and 3.5 assists a game as the MVC’s Most Improved Player. Shooting 45.8% from the field, 37.7% from three-point range and 90.9% from the free throw line, McDermott notched single-game career-highs in points (23 vs. Saint Louis), field goals made (8 vs. Tulane), three-point shots made (5 vs. Colorado State), made free throws (11 at Southern Illinois) and rebounds (7 at Illinois State). An MVC Second Team honoree last year, McDermott was named MVC Player of the Week once (Jan. 26, 2023), and earned MVC Honor Roll distinction, as well as CSC Academic All-District honors.
UNI will host La Crosse on Oct. 30 at 6 p.m. CT in a preseason exhibition, before opening the 2023-24 regular season on Nov. 8 with a home matchup with Green Bay at 6 p.m. CT.
2023-24 MVC PRESEASON POLL (Points) [First-Place Votes)
UNI (517) [33]
Drake (482) [12]
Illinois State (433) [2]
Belmont (401) [1]
Missouri State (382)
UIC (311)
Murray State (308)
Southern Illinois (295)
Indiana State (200)
Valparaiso (162)
Evansville (137)
Bradley (116)
Preseason Player of the Year: Grace Boffeli, UNI
MVC Preseason First Team
Grace Boffeli, UNI
Grace Berg, Drake
Katie Dinnebier, Drake
Maya McDermott, UNI
DeAnna Wilson, Illinois State
Katelyn Young, Murray State
MVC Preseason Second Team
Tuti Jones, Belmont
Jado Masogayo, Missouri State
Jaida McCloud, UIC
Anna Miller, Drake
Kennedy Taylor, Missouri State