DES MOINES, Iowa – Drake women’s basketball opens the 2023-24 season slotted in second place in the MVC Preseason Poll. Individually, a trio of Bulldogs were named to the Preseason All-MVC teams including First Teamers Katie Dinnebier and Grace Berg as Second Team selection Anna Miller.

The Bulldogs garnered 482 total points in the preseason poll with 12 first-place votes

Berg played in all 32 games for the Bulldogs last season, averaging 12.8 points, 5.1 rebounds, and 2.6 assists per game. Dinnebier also played in all 32 games, averaging 11.7 points, 3.3 rebounds and 5.8 assists per game. She also finished with 185 total assists, which led the Missouri Valley Conference. Berg and Dinnebier were both named Third Team All-MVC and All-MVC Tournament Team, with the latter being named All-MVC Defensive Team. 

Miller played in all 32 games last season, with an average of 10.3 points, 5.9 rebounds, and 1.8 assists per game. She finished with 72 blocks, good for second in the MVC. Miller was named the MVC Defensive Player of the Year, MVC Sixth Player of the Year, an All-Defensive Team member, and the Elite 17 Award recipient. 

UNI was picked to win the league for the first time in program history with 33 first-place votes and 517 overall points. Two of the Bulldogs’ opponents in last year’s MVC Tournament rounded out the top four as Illinois State received two first-place nods and Belmont got one. The entire MVC Preseason Poll and Preseason All-MVC teams are listed below.

The Bulldogs will look to build on a 22-10 season with a fourth-place regular season conference finish, MVC Tournament, title and a berth into the NCAA Tournament last year. Fans can check out the Drake women in two exhibition contests on Sunday, Oct. 29 and Wednesday, Nov. 1 before the 2023-24 regular season tips off on Monday, Nov. 6.

 

Team (First-place votes)    Points

1. UNI (33)                             517

2. Drake (12)                         482

3. Illinois State (2)                433

4. Belmont (1)                       401

5. Missouri State                  382

6. UIC                                      311

7. Murray State                     308

8. Southern Illinois               295

9. Indiana State                    200

10. Valparaiso                       162

11. Evansville                        137

12. Bradley                            116

PRESEASON PLAYER OF THE YEAR:  Grace Boffeli, UNI

FIRST TEAM
Grace Boffeli, UNI

Grace Berg, Drake

Katie Dinnebier, Drake

Maya McDermott, UNI

DeAnna Wilson, Illinois State

Katelyn Young, Murray State

SECOND TEAM
Tuti Jones, Belmont

Jade Masogayo, Missouri State

Jaida McCloud, UIC

Anna Miller, Drake

Kennedy Taylor, Missouri State