The Urbana University women’s basketball team has been selected to finish eighth in the Mountain East Conference standings in a vote conducted by the league’s 12 head coaches.

The Blue Knights received 59 points in the poll, landing only three points behind Notre Dame and Shepherd, which are tied for sixth. UU finished 11-11 in MEC games last season while finishing 13-15 overall. The Blue Knights made their first appearance in the MEC postseason championship in March, where they recorded a first-round victory over West Virginia Wesleyan to advance to the quarterfinals.

UU returns eight letterwinners, including four of the top five scorers from a squad that averaged 77.4 points per game. All-MEC junior shooting guard Danie Shafer (16.6 ppg) leads the list of returners, along with Jazmyn Haley (10.2 ppg/8.0 rpg), Stefanie Davis (7.8 ppg) and sophomore sharpshooter Megan Beachy (13.3 ppg).

Fairmont State has been selected as the preseason favorite to win the MEC championship.

The Blue Knights’ home opener will be played on Saturday, Nov. 19 versus Wheeling Jesuit at 2 p.m. in the Grimes Center.

The Urbana University men’s basketball team was selected to finish 11th in the final MEC standings in a league-wide vote of head coaches.

UU received 20 points in the preseason poll. West Liberty, Fairmont State, Wheeling Jesuit, Notre Dame and Charleston were picked to finish in the top five while Concord, Shepherd, West Virginia Wesleyan, Glenville State, West Virginia State, UU and UVa-Wise rounded out the poll.

Under the direction of third-year head coach Rob Summers, the Blue Knights will feature a young squad that features 10 newcomers and five returners. Shooting guard Carlas Jackson returns for his junior year after leading the Blue Knights in scoring the previous two years. Also returning are sophomore post-players Jahmere Howze and Justin Johnson, along with junior Aarmanni Garnett and sophomore Demetrius Carr.

UU’s home opener is slated for Saturday, Nov. 19 against Wheeling Jesuit at 4 p.m.