INDIANAPOLIS (11/6/2020) -- The University of Detroit Mercy women's basketball team was voted to finish in 10th place out of 12 teams total in the 2020-21 Horizon League Women's Basketball Preseason Poll, it was announced Friday afternoon by the league office.

Under new head coach AnnMarie Gilbert, the Titans received 38 votes and were selected to finish ahead of league newcomer Purdue Fort Wayne (24) and UIC (21). The preseason poll and teams are voted on by the league's head coaches, with the coaches not being able to vote for their own players for the Preseason All-League squads.

Detroit Mercy, entering its 44th season as a program, brings back nearly its entire squad from a season ago and also welcomed five newcomers to the team this summer. Gilbert brings a wealth of success and head coaching experience to the Titans and most recently led Virginia Union to a 135-18 record, five-straight NCAA Division II tournament appearances, a national title game appearance in 2017 and three conference championships in her five-year tenure.

Defending league champion IUPUI was voted to finish first in the preseason poll with 144 points, earning all 12 first-place votes. Green Bay (120), Wright State (118), Northern Kentucky (105) and league-newcomer Robert Morris (88) rounded out the top-five. IUPUI senior forward Macee Williams, the two-time reigning Player of the Year in the league, was voted as the Horizon League Preseason Player of the Year.

The Horizon League released the men's and women's basketball league schedule on Wednesday with 20 games on tap for Detroit Mercy and the rest of the league. The Titans open the HL slate at home Dec. 12-13, hosting Wright State. The Titans are also set to announce non-league games soon prior to the start of the regular season near the end of November.

2020-21 #HLWBB Preseason Poll
Pl. Team -- Pts. (First-place votes)
1. IUPUI -- 144 (12)
2. Green Bay -- 120
3. Wright State -- 118
4. Northern Kentucky -- 105
5. Robert Morris -- 88
6. Youngstown State -- 84
7. Milwaukee -- 76
8. Cleveland State -- 64
9. Oakland -- 54
10. Detroit Mercy -- 38
11. Purdue Fort Wayne -- 24
12. UIC -- 21

#HLWBB Preseason Player of the Year
Macee Williams, IUPUI

Preseason All-Horizon League First Team (alphabetical order by school)
Mariah White, Cleveland State
Macee Williams, IUPUI
Ally Niece, Northern Kentucky
Angel Baker, Wright State
Chelsea Olson, Youngstown State

Preseason All-Horizon League Second Team (alphabetical order by school)
Caitlyn Hibner, Green Bay
Rachel McLimore, IUPUI
Brandi Bisping, Milwaukee
Kahlaijah Dean, Oakland
Shamarre Hale, Wright State