NEW HAVEN, Conn. (October 31, 2018) -- Bloomfield College, Jefferson and University of the Sciences were tabbed first in their respective divisions of the 2018-19 Central Atlantic Collegiate Conference (CACC) Women's Basketball Preseason Coaches Poll, as announced on Wednesday by Commissioner Dan Mara. Bloomfield was tops in the North with 89 points and eight first-place votes, while Jefferson and USciences were tied for the top spot in the South with 90 points and 6 first-place nods for the Rams and eight for the Devils. The voting for the poll was conducted by the league's 14 head coaches in the sport.

Bloomfield enters the 2018-19 campaign fresh off an appearance in the semifinals of the 2017-18 CACC Women's Basketball Championship last season. The Bears, under the guidance of Head Coach Vanessa Watson, return several letterwinners from last year, as they won the CACC North Division Regular Season Championship.

USciences won the CACC Championship for the second year in a row in 2017-18, and advanced all the way to the final of the 2018 NCAA Division II East Region Tournament. Jefferson also advanced to the NCAA Division II East Region Tournament and made it to the CACC Championship Final before coming up just short to USciences in a tightly contested affair. USciences is led by Head Coach Jackie Hartzell, while Tom Shirley guides Jefferson.

Rounding out the top three in the North Division were Caldwell University (2nd place, 85, 5 1st votes) and Dominican College (3rd, 75, 1 1st). Caldwell claimed a share of the CACC North Division title last season and advanced to the NCAA Regional Tournament. Dominican qualified for the CACC post-season tournament.

Chestnut Hill College, which reached the CACC Tournament last season, came in third place in the South Division in the 2018-19 preseason poll with 71 points in the voting.

2018-19 CACC WOMEN'S BASKETBALL PRESEASON COACHES POLL
North Division
1. Bloomfield College 89 (8)
2. Caldwell University 85 (5)
3. Dominican College 75 (1)
4. Felician University 49
5. Post University 48
6. Concordia College 27
7. Nyack College 20 

South Division
T1. Jefferson 90 (6)
T1. University of the Sciences 90 (8)
3. Chestnut Hill College 71
4. Holy Family University 55
5. Goldey-Beacom College 39
6. Wilmington University 23
7. Georgian Court University 18 

() - First-Place Votes

ABOUT THE CACC
The Central Atlantic Collegiate Conference is an NCAA Division II Conference composed of 14 institutions in Connecticut, Delaware, New Jersey, New York, and Pennsylvania. The member institutions are Bloomfield College, Caldwell University, Chestnut Hill College, Concordia (N.Y.) College, Dominican (N.Y.) College, Felician University, Georgian Court University, Goldey-Beacom College, Holy Family University, Jefferson (Philadelphia University + Thomas Jefferson University), Nyack College, Post University of Waterbury, University of the Sciences, and Wilmington University.