LAKE BUENA VISTA, Florida – Senior forward Willow Duffell was selected to the Preseason All-MAAC Third Team, and Marist Women's Basketball was predicted to finish fourth in the Preseason Coaches' Poll following the announcements during the 2020-21 MAAC Preseason Awards Show on Thursday evening.
 
This is Duffell's first preseason All-MAAC honor in her career, and the first time she has been selected to a team after garnering MAAC All-Rookie honors in 2018.
 
The Red Foxes captured 82 points in the preseason poll. The ranking puts Marist in the top five ahead of the season for the 17^th year in a row, beginning in 2004.
 

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A post shared by Marist Women's Basketball (@maristwbb) on Nov 5, 2020 at 4:24pm PST

 
Duffell's recognition comes following a junior campaign where she set career-highs with 7.5 points per game and 6.0 boards per contest. Starting 22 of her 25 appearances in 2019-20, she was first in the MAAC with a .562 field goal percentage. The Monroe-Woodbury product also made the top 15 list in the conference in overall rebounding, blocked shots, and defensive rebounds per game.
 
Marist seeks to defend their 2019-20 MAAC regular season championship, which was split with Rider, after going 18-2 in the MAAC and 26-4 overall. On the season, Marist set a program record with a .482 field goal percentage, which ranks fifth all-time in MAAC history. The Red Foxes also ranked in the top five in the program annals with 73.3 points per game (second to 1981-82, and most under Head Coach Brian Giorgis), a .365 field goal percentage (third), and 232 three-pointers made (fourth).
 

Regular season co-champions last year. Three spots to jump in order to defend it and capture our 13th #MAACHoops regular season title. #GoRedFoxes pic.twitter.com/lEeio9HpWl

— Marist WBB (@MaristWBB) November 6, 2020

 
Manhattan is projected to finish first in the conference, picking up five first-place votes and 109 points. Fairfield and Quinnipiac are tied for second with 108 points, though the Stags outgained the Bobcats 4-2 in first-place votes. Iona rounds out the top five with 66 points.
 

Last Three Preseason Polls

 

YEAR	PRESEASON RANKING	REGULAR SEASON FINISH (POSTSEASON FINISH)
2019	1st	T-1st (MAAC Semifinals*)
2018	2nd	3rd (MAAC Championship Final)
2017	2nd	2nd (MAAC Championship Final)

*Tournament canceled due to the COVID-19 pandemic
 

past red fox preseason accolades

 

YEAR	PLAYER	PRESEASON ALL-MAAC TEAM
2019	Alana Gilmer	First Team*
2019	Rebekah Hand	First Team
2019	Grace Vander Weide	Second Team
2018	Alana Gilmer	First Team
2018	Rebekah Hand	First Team*
2018	Maura Fitzpatrick	Second Team
2018	Grace Vander Weide	Third Team
2017	Rebekah Hand	Second Team
2017	Maura Fitzpatrick	Third Team

*Denotes unanimous selection