October 16, 2022
Boston University picked as Patriot League favorites
Terrier star Sydney Johnson voted as preseason Player of the Year
Boston University made a clean sweep of the Patriot League’s top preseason awards with senior guard Sydney Johnson selected as preseason Player of the Year and classmate Maren Durant earning preseason Defensive Player of the Year, the league announced on Thursday.
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The 2022-23 poll, conducted by league head coaches and sports information directors, awarded the Terriers 16 first-place votes. It’s the first time in program history that BU has been selected as the favorite. They joined the league in 2013.
The Terriers bring back all five starters from last year’s playoff lineup, including the only returning First Team All-Patriot League player from the 2021-22 season in Johnson. They were 17-14 a season ago, and 12-6 in conference play.
Lehigh and Holy Cross split the remaining four votes for the top spot. The Crusaders landed a first-place finish in last year’s regular season. Lehigh was the preseason favorite a year ago.
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2022-23 Preseason Poll
- Boston University – 160 (16 first-place votes)
- Lehigh – 136 (2 first-place votes)
- Holy Cross – 127 (2 first-place votes)
- Bucknell – 115
- Army – 93
- Lafayette – 78
- Colgate – 64
- American – 58
- Loyola (MD) – 39
- Navy – 30
2022-23 Preseason Player of the Year
Sydney Johnson, Boston University, Senior Guard
BU’s Johnson was her squad’s MVP a season ago after posting a career-high 15.7 points and 3.4 assists per game on the season. The senior’s 17.1 points per league outing were good for third-best. Johnson enters her senior campaign with 846 career points, 223 assists and 212 rebounds. She led the Terriers in assists (96) and steals (50) last season.
2022-23 Preseason Defensive Player of the Year
Maren Durant, Boston University, Senior Forward
Durant is the first recipient of the preseason Defensive Player of the Year award, which the Patriot League has added to preseason voting for this season. The senior forward was a member of the All-Defensive Team last year and enters the season with 125 career blocks.
2022-23 Preseason All-Patriot League Team
Sydney Johnson, Boston University, Senior Guard
Cecelia Collins, Bucknell, Sophomore Guard
Frannie Hottinger, Lehigh, Senior Forward
Mackenzie Kramer, Lehigh, Junior Guard
Lex Therien, Loyola (MD), Sophomore Forward
Lehigh was the only program to place two players on the squad. Senior forward Frannie Hottinger returned to the preseason team this year while teammate Mackenzie Kramer made her debut. It’s the first time since 2011-2012 that two Mountain Hawks were named to the preseason league team.
Two outstanding sophomores round out the line-up in Cecelia Collins of Bucknell and last season’s Rookie of the Year, Lex Therien of Loyola (MD).
Written by Todd Goclowski
Todd Goclowski currently covers the Patriot League for The Next. Goclowski brings 25 years of coaching experience to his role as an analyst and writer, including 19 years of coaching women's basketball in the NCAA at the D1 and D3 levels.
