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CAMBRIDGE, Mass. – The University of Vermont women's basketball team was picked to finish tied for seventh in the America East Preseason Coaches Poll released by the conference on Wednesday.
 
The University at Albany was picked to finish first, garnering eight of the possible nine first place votes and 64 points. Stony Brook was second with 51 points, while Hartford and New Hampshire tied for third with 46 points. UNH received the final first place vote. Maine (fifth), UMBC (sixth), UMass Lowell (seventh) and Binghamton (ninth) rounded out the poll.
 
The Catamounts return their top six scorers, including seniors Kayla Burchill (12. 1 ppg) and Niki Taylor (10.3 ppg/6.0 rpg), 93.4 percent of their scoring, 89.6 percent of their rebounding and 84.8 percent of their assists for the 2014-15 season. Sophomore Kylie Butler (8.8 ppg/6.0 rpg), an America East All-Rookie Team selection last season, also returns for her second season at Vermont.
 
Four newcomers also join the Catamounts this season: Emilie Cloutier (Ancienne-Lorette, Quebec/Rhode Island), Katie Lavelle (5-9, G, Hicksville, N.Y./Long Island Lutheran), Rachel Merrill (6-3, F, Owego, N.Y./Owego Free Academy) and Sydney Smith (5-11, G, Vernon Hills, Ill./Vernon Hills).
 
Fans can get their first look at the 2014-15 team on November 8 when UVM hosts Saint Michael's at 1 p.m. in an exhibition game at Patrick Gymnasium. The 28-game regular season slate opens on November 15 when Vermont faces Brown in Burlington.
 
All UVM women's basketball games can be heard on WVMT-620 AM and online at SportsJuice.com. Additionally, all Vermont home games will be streamed online for free in HD via CatamounTV.com and all conference games on the road can be seen online for free on the America East Digital Network at AmericaEast.tv.
 
Tickets for all games are currently available online at UVMathletics.com, in person at the UVM Athletic Ticket Office located on the balcony in the Patrick Gymnasium Lobby or via the phone at 802-656-4410. Tickets can also be purchased one hour before tipoff the day of the game in the Patrick Gymnasium Lobby.

America East Preseason Coaches Poll
1. Albany (8), 64 points
2. Stony Brook, 51 points
T3. Hartford, 46 points
T3. New Hampshire (1), 46 points
5. Maine, 43 points
6. UMBC, 24 points
T7. Vermont, 21 points
T7. UMass Lowell, 21 points
9. Binghamton, 8 points

America East Preseason All-Conference Team
Shereesha Richards, Jr, Albany
Liz Wood, Jr, Maine
Shannon Samules, Sr, UMass Lowell
Corinne Coia, Jr, New Hampshire
Sabre Proctor, Sr, Stony Brook