Moon Township, Pa. ? The Robert Morris University women's basketball was selected to finish second in the Northeast Conference in 2007-08 according to a poll of the league's head coaches. Prior to winning the NEC Tournament title last season, the Colonials were picked to finish third in the league. Robert Morris was the preseason favorite in 2005-06 before finishing second in the regular season.

Robert Morris received three first-place votes while Long Island ? tabbed the preseason favorite in 2007-08 ? picked up six first-place votes and Quinnipiac took two votes. Quinnipiac was selected third, followed by Sacred Heart, Monmouth, St. Francis (N.Y.), Fairleigh Dickinson, Mount St. Mary's, Saint Francis (Pa.) and Central Connecticut State.

Senior Chinata Nesbit (Washington, D.C. / Chipola J.C.) was selected to the NEC Preseason All-Conference team after finishing second in the conference in scoring (19.2 ppg) and rebounding (10.3 rpg). An All-NEC First Team pick last season, Nesbit was also fifth in the conference in blocks (34, 1.06 bpg) and seventh in assists (113, 3.53 apg). She was named the 2007 NEC Tournament Most Vvaluable Player, averaging 25.3 points and 10 rebounds in three playoff games. Nesbit finished with 15 double-doubles last season while leading the team in scoring 18 times and rebounding 23 times.

Senior Pysche Butler (Fort Worth, Texas / New Mexico J.C.) and junior Kendra Williams (Bronx, N.Y. / Mount Saint Ursula) also return to the starting lineup for Robert Morris. Butler, the best defensive player on the squad, averaged 9.1 points and 6.2 rebounds per game last season. Williams returns to point guard after playing in every game last season. She was second on the team with 89 assists and third with 53 steals while averaging 3.3 points and 2.9 rebounds.

Led by fifth-year head coach Sal Buscaglia, Robert Morris is coming off their first NCAA Tournament appearance after setting a school records for wins, going 24-8. The Colonials tied for the NEC regular season title with a 15-3 record before capturing their third tournament championship with a 68-66 win against Sacred Heart.

The Colonials open the 2007-08 season with a trip to Florida, Monday, Nov. 12, for a 7:00 p.m. game.

2007-08 Northeast Conference Women's Basketball

Preseason Coaches Poll

1. Long Island (6)

2. Robert Morris (3)

3. Quinnipiac (2)

4. Sacred Heart

5. Monmouth

6. St. Francis (N.Y.)

7. Fairleigh Dickinson

8. Mount St. Mary's

9. Saint Francis (Pa.)

10. Central Connecticut State

       Wagner