Central Islip, N.Y. – The C.W. Post men’s and the St. Thomas Aquinas women’s basketball teams have been ranked in the Division II Bulletin Preseason National Poll. Each team also had a student-athlete named to the Preseason All-America Teams, with Stefan Bonneau of C.W. Post and Brianna Sloper of St. Thomas Aquinas earning the honor.
The C.W. Post Pioneers come in at No. 23 in the Division II Bulletin poll following a 21-10 record and an ECC Tournament Championship in 2010-11. The Pioneers are one of two teams from the East Region included in the poll, joined by St. Rose of the Northeast 10 Conference at No. 10.
Returning for C.W. Post is the reigning ECC Men’s Basketball Player of the Year, Stefan Bonneau. Bonneau was a force for the Pioneers last season, leading the conference in scoring with 18.9 points per game. Bonneau’s outstanding play last season earned him a spot on the Division II Bulletin’s Preseason Super 16 All-America Team.
The St. Thomas Aquinas women’s basketball team comes in at No. 20 in the preseason poll. The Lady Spartans are coming off one of the best seasons in school history, finishing 21-8 with the ECC Regular Season Championship. St. Thomas Aquinas is joined by three East Region teams on the preseason poll including Bentley (No. 2), Franklin Pierce (No. 14), and Holy Family (No. 17).
Briana Sloper, last year’s Co-ECC Player of the Year, is back for her senior season for the Lady Spartans. Sloper, who finished in the top three in the ECC in scoring and the top six in rebounding, also earned a spot on the Division II Bulletin’s Preseason Super 16 All-America Team.
