WALNUT CREEK, Calif. --- On Tuesday, the California Collgiate Athletic Association (CCAA) 2013-14 preseason women's basketball poll was released, and Cal State East Bay received their highest ranking since joining the conference in 2009.
The Pioneers were picked to finish fifth in a poll of the head coaches for all 12 institutions. Chico State was predicted to repeat as conference champions. 

The Wildcats received 112 vote points and seven first-place votes. Cal Poly Pomona was picked second with 101 points and four first-place votes. The Broncos were followed by Cal State L.A. in third (90 points) and UC San Diego in fourth (86 points). The Pioneers recveived 80 points, two more than Cal State San Bernadino in sixth (78 points) and three more than Cal State Dominguez Hills in seventh (77 points). The Toros received the lone remaining first-place vote. 

East Bay posted a 16-11 record in 2012-13, the team's third season under head coach Suzy Barcomb. They went 14-8 in CCAA play, including a nine-game winning streak late in the season. The Pioneers finished tied for fourth place, earning them their second consecutive berth in the postseason tournament.

The Pioneers lost a pair of talented seniors from last year's squad in Lauren Lucchesi and Marlene MacMillan, who led the team in rebounding. Nonetheless, the team has high expectations for the 2013-14 season thanks to a deep roster of returners and a few key additions. Second team All-CCAA selection Brianna Terrance returns for her senior year as East Bay's leading scorer (9.4 ppg, 46.5 percent from the field). She's joined by seniors Sarah Finlay and Rachel Finnegan, as well as juniors Micah Walker and Meagan Chicoke and sophomore Tori Breshers, who is coming off a strong freshman campaign. The Pioneers have added four true freshmen and four transfers, led by 6'2" center Danielle Peacon and point guard Stephanie Lopez, as they aim for a third straight playoff trip.

East Bay will kick off its season at the CCA Tip-off Classic, taking place at the Anaheim Convention Center, against some of the top squads in the nation. The Pioneers open against No. 9 Concordia (Minn.) on Nov. 8 and No. 5 Emporia State on Nov. 9.

Click here to read the complete CCAA release.


2013-14 WOMEN'S BASKETBALL PRESEASON POLL

School (first place votes)	Points
1. Chico State (7)	112
2. Cal Poly Pomona (4)	101
3. Cal State L.A.	90
4. UC San Diego	86
5. Cal State East Bay	80
6. Cal State Dominguez Hills	78
7. Cal State San Bernardino (1)	77
8. Humboldt State	48
t-9. Cal State Monterey Bay	38
t-9. San Francisco State	38
11. Sonoma State	33
12. Cal State Stanislaus	15