INDIANAPOLIS, Ind. – The Horizon League released its 2020-21 Women's Basketball Preseason Teams and Preseason Poll Friday afternoon, with Cleveland State senior Mariah White earning a spot on the Horizon League Preseason First Team.
White, who is picking up preseason honors for the first time in her career, is the third Viking to earn a spot on a preseason team during head coach Chris Kielsmeier's tenure.
As the reigning Horizon League Defensive Player of the Year, White returns as the top defensive player in the league after averaging a league-high 3.0 steals per game last season, while helping the Vikings average a league-best 10.1 steals per game as a team. White was also one of the top defensive players nationally during the 2019-20 campaign, as she finished the year ranked 10th among Division I players with 96 total steals.
On the offensive end, White was one of Cleveland State's top threats last year, averaging 15.7 points per game to rank fourth among league players, while also ranking fifth with a team-best 3.2 assists per game.
Entering her senior campaign, White is just shy of a spot in the CSU Career Record Book with 171 career steals, while she also enters the year with 889 career points.
2020-21 HORIZON LEAGUE PRESEASON FIRST TEAM
Mariah White, Cleveland State
Macee Williams, IUPUI (Preseason Player of the Year)
Ally Niece, Northern Kentucky
Angel Baker, Wright State
Chelsea Olson, Youngstown State
2020-21 HORIZON LEAGUE PRESEASON SECOND TEAM
Caitlyn Hibner, Green Bay
Rachel McLimore, IUPUI
Brandi Bisping, Milwaukee
Kahlaijah Dean, Oakland
Shamarre Hale, Wright State
In the 2020-21 Horizon League Preseason Poll, the Vikings were selected to finish eighth, picking up 64 points in the competitive 12-team field. In addition to White, the Vikings return seven letterwinners from last season's team that advanced to the #HLWBB Semifinals for the first time in five years.
The Vikings will be under the direction of third-year head coach Chris Kielsmeier, who owns a career record of 447-147, including a 21-11 record from last season that marked just the third 20-win campaign in program history.
Both the Preseason Poll and Preseason All-League Teams were voted on by the league's 12 head coaches.
2020-21 HORIZON LEAGUE PRESEASON POLL
1. IUPUI – 144 (12)
2. Green Bay – 120
3. Wright State – 118
4. Northern Kentucky – 105
5. Robert Morris – 88
6. Youngstown State – 84
7. Milwaukee – 76
8. Cleveland State – 64
9. Oakland – 54
10. Detroit Mercy – 38
11. Purdue Fort Wayne – 24
12. UIC – 21
