CEDARVILLE, Ohio - The Lady Jackets were voted to finish second in the American Mideast Conference in a pre-season poll of the league's women's basketball coaches.

Cedarville, who was the runner-up last winter at 21-9 overall and 12-3 AMC, earned one first-place vote and totaled 176 points. All five starters return from last year's NAIA Division II National Tournament squad.

Two-time defending AMC champion Shawnee State was selected to repeat in the top spot of the 14-team league. The Bears picked up 13 first-place votes and 195 points.

Completing the AMC top five in the poll are Walsh, Daemen, and Mount Vernon Nazarene.

The Lady Jackets begin the 2009-10 campaign in the Cedarville Classic against Malone on Nov. 13 at 7:30 p.m.

[2009-10 PRE-SEASON AMC WOMEN'S BASKETBALL COACHES' POLL]