Oct. 13, 2004

WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. - The Purdue women's basketball team has been picked as the preseason media favorite to win the 2004-05 Big Ten regular-season crown. The Big Ten Conference office released the top three teams selected by the league coaches and media Wednesday.

Big Ten coaches picked Ohio State to win, followed by Michigan State and Minnesota. The Buckeyes and 2003-04 champion Penn State trailed Purdue in the media poll.

Both entities named Purdue sophomore guard/forward Katie Gearlds to their preseason All-Big Ten teams; she was one of four players to be named to both teams. Gearlds, a 2004-05 Wooden Award preseason candidate, was the 2003-04 Big Ten Freshman of the Year by league coaches.

Janel McCarville of Minnesota was named preseason player of the year by both coaches and media.

Purdue, which has won a league-best five Big Ten Tournament titles, including the last two in a row, has not won a regular-season championship since 2001-02. The seven-time regular-season conference champion Boilermakers finished as runners-up to Penn State the last two seasons.

Purdue returns seven letterwinners from the 2003-04 campaign, in which the Boilermakers posted 29 wins against four losses.

Purdue begins its season Saturday, when it engages in its first official practice. The Boilermakers' season-opening game is scheduled for Nov. 21, against IPFW.

Top Three Preseason Picks - Coaches
1. Ohio State
2. Michigan State
3. Minnesota

Top Three Preseason Picks - Media
1. Purdue
2. Ohio State
3. Penn State

2004-05 Big Ten Preseason All-Conference Team - Coaches
Lindsay Bowen, MSU, JR, G
Jessica Davenport, OSU, SO, C
Katie Gearlds, PUR, SO, G
Janel McCarville, MINN, SR, C
Tanisha Wright, PSU, SR, G

2004-05 Big Ten Preseason All-Conference Team - Media
Jessica Davenport, OSU, SO, C
Jenny DeMuth, IND, SR, F
Katie Gearlds, PUR, SO, G
Janel McCarville, MINN, SR, C
Tanisha Wright, PSU, SR, G

2004-05 Big Ten Preseason Player of the Year - Coaches and Media
Janel McCarville, Minnesota

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