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(PRINCETON, W.Va.)---2008-09 WVIAC regular season and tournament runner-up West Liberty is a solid favorite to capture this season's conference women's basketball title by a vote of league head coaches.

The Toppers earned nine first-place votes to edge defending champion Charleston, Fairmont State, and Seton Hill in the voting. Pitt Johnstown, West Virginia Wesleyan, Concord, and West Virginia State hold down the fifth through the eighth spots in the poll.

Shepherd, Wheeling Jesuit, Alderson-Broaddus, and Glenville State are in the ninth through twelveth positions. Davis & Elkins, Ohio Valley, and Bluefield State round out the voting. Salem International is not eligible for the 2009-10 WVIAC women's basketball title.

West Liberty (24-7, 17-3) should have one of the Atlantic Region's top backcourts with Tori Hansen (5-8, Jr.) and Laura Malernee (5-11, Jr., 15.6 ppg). Hansen was the 2008-09 WVIAC Player of the Year after averaging 18.5 points, 7.6 rebounds, and 5.0 assists per game. Malernee established an NCAA Division II single-season record with 146 made three-pointers last season. Lincoln Memorial transfer Andi Winney (6-0, Sr., 10.0 ppg) should help head coach Lynn Ullom plug a graduation induced hole in the middle for the Lady Toppers.

Charleston (26-7, 17-3) must replace the inside-outside combination of Jihan Williams and Veronica Carman, but the Golden Eagles have seldom been out of contention during head coach Sherry Winn's stay at her alma mater. Lindsay Kentner (5-8, Jr., G, 10.2 ppg), Kaitlyn Arick (6-0, Sr., F, 9.0 ppg), and Ali Tobias (5-7, Jr., G, 6.9 ppg, 2.8 apg) are returning starters for UC. Look for junior forward Tarenna Dixon (5-10, 6.2 ppg, 5.8 rpg) to shoulder a larger role on the interior.

Fairmont State (18-11, 14-6) must find reinforcements after losing four of their top five scorers. However, first team All-WVIAC guard Ashley Vavrek (5-8, Sr., G, 17.8 ppg) is back for her final campaign as a Falcon. Samantha Guell (5-10, Sr., F, 3.8 ppg, 5.0 rpg) started 28 of 29 contests last season for FSU. Head coach Steve McDonald brought in a talented group of eight newcomers that will play an immediate role.

Seton Hill (18-11, 14-6) could field Division II's most-experienced squad as Ferne Labati's Griffins return their top ten players from last season. Senior forward Katie Lintner (6-0, 15.4 ppg, 9.4 rpg) is a consistent double-double threat. Junior Jordan Burkes (5-10, Jr., F, 11.5 ppg) earned second team All-WVIAC accolades in 2008-09, while senior point guard Orit Farchi (5-6, Sr., G, 7.0 ppg, 4.0 apg) ranked among the conference leaders in assists.

Pitt Johnstown (18-12, 14-6) vaulted into contention during head coach Sasha Palmer's second season. Juniors Sheena Aden (5-7, G, 14.3 ppg, 3.2 apg) and Andrea Dalton (5-10, G/F, 11.7 ppg) are expected to be standouts for the Lady Cats. Monae Baker (6-1, Soph., F/C, 9.5 ppg, 6.5 rpg) was a force in the middle at times during her rookie season. A crop of eight newcomers, including five transfers, should bolster UPJ's depth in 2009-10.

West Virginia Wesleyan (20-10, 15-5) has to replace do-it-all star Sarah Van Horn, but the cupboard is not bare for head coach Steve Tierney's Bobcats. Guard Lydia Bridenbaugh (5-10, Soph., 9.6 ppg) made the WVIAC All-Freshman squad last season. Senior Angela Tassari (6-2, C, 7.1 ppg, 5.3 rpg, 1.5 bpg) brings plenty of experience to the interior. WVWC also adds Akron transfer Sarah Tokodi, a 5-9 senior guard.

Concord (13-15, 11-9) head coach Kenny Osborne may not be a fan of the 1992 hit movie Sister Act, but he certainly likes the sibling production that he puts on the court in Athens. Former Summers County standouts Sierra (5-10, Sr., F, 12.5 ppg) and Jolysa (6-0, Soph., C, 6.4 ppg) Brown should pair to give CU a formidable inside game. Junior forward Meghan Cole (5-10) gave the Lady Lions 8.9 points per game in only 17 minutes per outing last season.

West Virginia State (15-14, 12-8) showed marked improvement during Renee Bostic's first year as the Jackets' head coach. WVSU must replace the league's leading scorer from 2008-09 in Brittany Mingo, but seven newcomers are expected to help keep the Jackets competitive. Sandrea Coleman (5-8, Sr., F) produced 10.7 points and 5.1 rebounds per game last year. Tiffany Finkton (6-0, Sr., F, 6.6 ppg, 6.0 rpg) anchors the interior.

Former Charleston standout Melanie Ford takes over a Shepherd (15-14, 11-9) program that has to replace their top three scorers from a year ago. Carrie Saunders (5-8, Jr., G, 6.7 ppg) and Jerica Hewitt (5-7, Jr., G, 6.4 ppg, 4.1 apg) are returning starters for SU.

Wheeling Jesuit (12-15, 8-12) also has a new head coach as Katie Hine assumes the top spot. Kim Mueller (5-9, Sr., F, 8.0 ppg, 5.4 rpg) is the program's lone senior. Bridget Buskirk (5-7, Jr., G, 3.9 ppg, 3.5 apg) made 19 starts in 2008-09. Eleven new faces are on the Cardinal roster.

Alderson-Broaddus (14-14, 11-9) enjoyed their best season of recent vintage for 2008-09 WVIAC Coach of the Year Josh Allen. Senior forward Tori Charley (5-10, 10.9 ppg is one of three returning regulars at A-B. Lauren Reed (5-5, Sr., G, 7.8 ppg) and Amanda Harris (5-5, Sr., G, 5.9 ppg, 5.1 apg) comprise a seasoned backcourt.

New Glenville State (9-19, 7-13) head coach Bunky Harkleroad brings a fast-paced style to the Lady Pioneers from Berea (KY) College. Seven letterwinners are on hand and expect the scoreboard operator at Lilly Gymnasium to be busy. Senior guard Donita Adams (5-7) contributed 15.4 points and 5.4 rebounds per game last year.

Jason Asbell is in year two of his makeover of the Davis & Elkins (5-22, 3-17) program. Lindsay Holliday (5-8, Sr., G, 13.0 ppg) and Teonna Jewell (5-6, Sr., G, 12.1 ppg, 4.0 apg) form a solid guard combo. The Senators return all five starters from 2008-09 and could be poised for a rise in the standings.

Ohio Valley (8-20, 4-16) is another program with new leadership as David Wadlington takes over. The Lady Scots could have one of the tallest teams in the WVIAC with five players that measure 6-0 or taller. Kendra Benedict (6-3, Jr., C, 10.6 ppg, 6.6 rpg) and Alana Auld (5-8, Sr., G, 10.1 ppg) averaged in double figures in 2008-09.

Bluefield State (4-23, 2-18) head coach Gary Brown has seven new names on his 2009-10 roster. Sophomore Kelly Pawlowski (5-9, F, 8.7 ppg, 6.2 rpg) led the Lady Blues in scoring and rebounding last season. Tamika Jefferies (5-6, Sr., G, 7.7 ppg) started 19 contests for BSC.

Salem International (0-28, 0-20) hopes to bounce back from a nightmarish 2008-09 campaign that saw the Tigers average losing by an average 94-43 count during league play.

The 2009-10 WVIAC women's basketball regular season tips off November 15. The 31st edition of the league's post-season tournament is slated for March 1-6. Opening round games are played on campus sites with all other games contested in the Charleston Civic Center.

The complete 2009-10 WVIAC women's basketball coaches' poll follows:

# School (1st place votes) 2008-09 W-L Pts.
1. West Liberty (9) 24-7, 17-3 216
2. Charleston (3) 26-7, 17-3 198
3. Fairmont State (1) 18-11, 14-6 174
4. Seton Hill (2) 18-11, 14-6 172
5. Pitt Johnstown 18-12, 14-6 171
6. West Virginia Wesleyan 20-10, 15-5 151
7. Concord 13-15, 11-9 142
8. West Virginia State 15-14, 12-8 127
9. Shepherd 15-14, 11-9 102
10. Wheeling Jesuit 12-15, 8-12 88
11. Alderson-Broaddus 14-14, 11-9 86
12. Glenville State 9-19, 7-13 64
13. Davis & Elkins 5-22, 3-17 51
14. Ohio Valley 8-20, 4-16 31
15. Bluefield State 4-23, 2-18 25
Note: Salem International is not eligible for the 2009-10 WVIAC women's basketball title.