Fitchburg State Picked Fifth In 2009-10 MASCAC Women's Basketball Pre-Season Poll

Buzzards Bay, Mass. (November 13, 2009) - The Falcons of Fitchburg State were picked fifth overall in the 2009-10 Massachusetts State College Athletic Conference Women's Basketball Pre-Season poll this afternoon.

Westfield State, which captured both the conference regular season and tournament titles last winter, claimed three first place votes to amass 41 points in taking the top spot in the poll, as the Owls outdistanced second place Salem State's total of 39 points that included three first place votes. Bridgewater State is next in third place with 34 points, while Worcester State, which garnered the other first place vote, is in fourth place with 33 points.

Fitchburg State and MCLA are next in fifth and sixth place, respectively, with 24 and 18 points, while Framingham State rounds out this year's coaches poll with seven points. Now in its 39th season of existence, the Massachusetts State College Athletic Conference is comprised of eight state member institutions that sponsor 17 championships in NCAA Division III play. Over 2,600 student-athletes participate in intercollegiate athletics at MASCAC members Bridgewater State College, Fitchburg State College, Framingham State College, MCLA, Massachusetts Maritime Academy, Salem State College, Westfield State College and Worcester State College and compete for league titles in the sports of baseball, men's & women's basketball, men's & women's cross country, field hockey, football, men's ice hockey, women's lacrosse, men's & women's soccer, softball, men's & women's indoor and outdoor track & field and women's volleyball.