WASHINGTON, D.C. – Saint Joseph's was picked to finish second in the Atlantic 10 Women's Basketball Poll, the conference announced on Monday morning in conjunction with the start of A-10 Basketball Media Day. In addition, Talya Brugler and Laura Ziegler were both selected to the Atlantic 10 Preseason All-Conference First Team while Mackenzie Smith was named to the A-10 Preseason All-Conference Second Team.
 
The A-10 Basketball Media Days can streamed on ESPN+, the coverage can be followed by clicking this link.
 
Talya Brugler received a preseason First Team All-Atlantic 10 nod for the second consecutive year. The Nazareth, Pa. native enters the 2024-25 campaign ninth in program history in scoring with 1,370 points, having led the Hawks in scoring with 15.6 points per game last season while posting 28 games with double figures. Brugler earned Second Team All-Conference honors, becoming just the fifth Hawk to record 500+ point seasons on multiple occasions. The senior forward has a .527 career field goal percentage, the sixth-highest mark in school history.
 
Laura Ziegler joins her teammate earning First Team honors, coming off the back of a season in which the junior was named to the Atlantic 10 All-Conference First Team and All-Defensive Team. Ziegler registered 14.3 points per game last season while collecting 9.4 rebounds per game. The Danish forward secured 13 double-doubles on the year to lead the Atlantic 10, bumping her average to 15.9 points and 9.7 rebounds against conference opposition. Ziegler was one of 17 players in the country with 400+ points, 250+ rebounds and 75+ assists.
 
Off the back of Second Team All-Conference accolades last season, Mackenzie Smith earned a spot on the Preseason All-Conference Second Team as the senior became the 30^th Hawk to enter the 1,000-point club. Smith was one of four Hawks that posted double-digit scoring, adding 12.8 points and 4.7 rebounds per game. Smith increased her output with a career-high 56 assists, adding a team-high 45 steals with 12 blocks. The Canadian knocked down triples at an elite rate on the season, shooting 41.7% from deep while registering 25 games with at least 10 points.
 
St. Joe's was picked to finish second in the preseason poll, finishing just behind Richmond as the Hawks received four first-place votes. The Spiders earned 10 first-place votes, St. Joe's falling just five points shy from claiming the top spot in the preseason poll. The second-place prediction was the third time in the last 11 seasons that the Hawks were picked to finish this high, joining the 2023-24 and 2013-14 teams. George Mason finished third in the poll, Davidson earning the final first-place vote after being picked fourth.
 
The Hawks return 11 letterwinners from last year's team that won 28 games, setting a new program record before falling in the WBIT Quarterfinals.
 
 
PRESEASON POLL
Rk.     Team    Pts
1.         Richmond (10) 216
2.         Saint Joseph's (4)        211
3.         George Mason 188
4.         Davidson (1)    173
5.         VCU     153
6.         Duquesne        148
7.         Saint Louis       132
8.         Rhode Island   122
9.         Fordham         96
10.       Loyola Chicago            96
11.       Dayton 84
12.       George Washington    71
13.       Massachusetts 40
14.       St. Bonaventure          38
15.       La Salle            32
 
 
FIRST TEAM
Player School Yr.        Pos.     Hgt.     PPG     RPG     APG
Megan McConnell      Duquesne        Sr.        G         5-7       13.1     8.6       4.6
Taylor Donaldson        Fordham         Gr.       G         5-10     17.9     5.3       1.6
Addie Budnik  Richmond        Gr.       F          6-2       11.9     4.0       2.5
Maggie Doogan           Richmond        Jr.         G         6-2       15.4     5.7       2.3
Talya Brugler   Saint Joseph's Sr.        F          6-1       15.6     4.3       2.5
Laura Ziegler   Saint Joseph's  Jr.         F          6-2       14.3     9.4       2.7
 
SECOND TEAM
Player School Yr.        Pos.     Hgt.     PPG     RPG     APG
Charlise Dunn Davidson         Jr.         G         6-2       12.7     6.1       1.7
Zahirah Walton           George Mason So.       F          5-11     11.3     5.6       0.5
Rachel Ullstrom          Richmond        Jr.         G         6-1       11.2     4.5       0.5
Mackenzie Smith        Saint Joseph's  Sr.        G         5-10     12.8     4.7       1.6
Peyton Kennedy          Saint Louis       Gr.       F          5-11     16.9     5.3       1.4
Timaya Lewis-Eutsey   VCU     Jr.         G         5-8       12.9     5.1       1.7
 
THIRD TEAM
Player School Yr.        Pos.     Hgt.     PPG     RPG     APG
Ta'Viyanna Habib        George Mason            Sr.        G         5-11     10.0     4.9       0.7
Kennedy Harris           George Mason So.       G         5-7       9.4       3.3       1.3
Nalani Kaysia   George Mason Gr.       F          6-2       6.2       6.0       0.8
Anaelle Dutat  Rhode Island   Jr.         F          6-0       4.8       6.5       0.9
Sophie Phillips Rhode Island   Sr.        G         6-0       10.7     1.3       1.4
Mary-Anna Asare        VCU     Jr.         G         5-8       10.4     3.2       1.4