INDIANAPOLIS, Ind. – The Horizon League released its 2017-18 Preseason Teams and Preseason Poll Friday morning, with Cleveland State junior Ashanti Abshaw earning a spot on the Horizon League Preseason First Team, and senior Khayla Livingston earning a spot on the Horizon League Preseason Second Team.
This marks just the third time under head coach Kate Peterson Abiad that two Vikings have earned Preseason honors – 2014-15 Imani Gordon & Cori Coleman and 2009-10 Kailey Klein & Shawnita Garland.
ASHANTI ABSHAW | R-JR | FORWARD
Abshaw picks up preseason honors for the second straight season, and has been Cleveland State's leading scorer for the last two seasons. Last year, Abshaw became the third fastest Viking to record 1,000 career points, and enters her junior campaign with 1,051 points.
As a sophomore, Abshaw averaged 17.7 points per game and 7.0 rebounds per game – leading the Vikings in both categories. Among Horizon League players, Abshaw ranked third in scoring and 10th in rebounding.
Abshaw is one of six Vikings under Peterson Abiad to earn Preseason First Team honors, and is one of four to earn the accolade in back-to-back years.
KHAYLA LIVINGSTON | R-SR | GUARD
Livingston picks up preseason honors for the first time in her career after ranking in the top-10 in the Horizon League in five different categories last season. As a junior, Livingston led the Vikings and ranked second among league players averaging 35.3 minutes played per game, and was Cleveland State's leading distributor with 4.8 assists per game.
As a junior, Livingston ranked sixth in the league averaging 15.9 points per game, and is closing in on recording her 1,000th career point.
Livingston is the 10th Viking to earn a preseason accolade under Peterson Abiad.
CLEVELAND STATE VIKINGS
In the team poll, the Vikings were tabbed to finish sixth, picking up 117 points in this year's poll. In addition to Abshaw and Livingston, the Vikings return nine letterwinners from last season's squad including the trio of Olivia Voskuhl (Sr., F), Jade Ely (So., G) and Shadae Bosley (Sr., F) who all have experience in the starting lineup.
Both the Preseason Poll and Preseason All-League teams are voted on by the league's 10 head coaches, women's basketball sports information directors from all 10 schools, and a media member from each institiution.
2017-18 HORIZON LEAGUE PRESEASON POLL
1. Green Bay (21), 246
2. Wright State (4), 204
3. Oakland, 139
4. Milwaukee, 129
5. Detroit Mercy, 126
6. Cleveland State, 117
7. IUPUI, 106
8. Youngstown State, 93
9. Northern Kentucky, 59
10. UIC, 31
2017-18 HORIZON LEAGUE PRESEASON FIRST TEAM
Ashanti Abshaw, Cleveland State
Brianne Cohen, Detroit Mercy
Jessica Lindstrom, Green Bay
Steph Kostowicz, Milwaukee
Chelsea Welch, Wright State (Preseason Player of the Year)
2017-18 HORIZON LEAGUE PRESEASON SECOND TEAM
Khayla Livingston, Cleveland State
Allie LeClaire, Green Bay
Danielle Lawrence, IUPUI
Taylor Jones, Oakland
Lexi Smith, Wright State
