The Atlantic 10 preseason coaches’ poll selected women’s basketball as the No. 6 team in the conference, the league announced Monday morning.

Last season, GW was slotted at No. 4 in the conference in head coach Jennifer Rizzotti’s first season. The Colonials ended up finishing the year tied for first in the conference but lost in their first contests in both the A-10 tournament and the Women’s National Invitation Tournament.

Rizzotti returns for her second season with three returning starters in senior forward Kelli Prange, senior guard Brianna Cummings and junior guard Mei-Lyn Bautista.

Cummings was selected to the Preseason All-Defensive Team for her first Preseason All-Conference award. It is the second year in a row with a GW player on the team after then-senior forward Caira Washington was given the accolade last year.

During the offseason, the team lost three of its four-year starters to graduation in Washington, Shannon Cranshaw and Hannah Schaible. The trio combined to average more than 26 points per game in their senior year.

The preseason poll projected Dayton to finish first place in the A-10 after a 13-3 record in the 2016-17 season. The Flyers won the A-10 championship last season and returned one of its top scorers in senior guard Jenna Burdette – who was selected to the All-Conference First Team.

The Colonials start their regular season on the road Nov. 10 with a 6:30 p.m. game at Princeton. The Tigers fell to GW by 11 points last year.

Women’s basketball Atlantic 10 preseason poll

1. Dayton (8 first-place votes)
2. Saint Louis (3)
3. Saint Joseph’s (3)
4. Duquesne
5. Fordham
6. George Washington
7. La Salle
8. George Mason
9. Richmond
10. Massachusetts
11. VCU
12. St. Bonaventure
13. Rhode Island
14. Davidson