Indiana University Athletics
Indiana Picked To Finish Third In The Big Ten; Patberg Selected Preseason All-Big Ten
10/21/2019 1:00:00 PM | Women's Basketball
ROSEMONT, Ill. – Indiana Women's Basketball has been selected to finish third by the league's coaches and fourth by the media in the annual Big Ten Conference Preseason Polls, announced on Monday.
In addition, redshirt junior guard Ali Patberg was selected by both the coaches and the media as a preseason All-Big Ten selection. Patberg, an All-Big Ten second team selection in 2018-19, returns as the program's leading scorer with 15.8 points and led in assists with 4.8 dishes per game.
Indiana returns four starters from a season ago where it advanced to the NCAA Tournament Second Round and finished 21-13 overall. It returns all four leading scorers and 91 percent if its scoring and 72 percent of its rebounding from last season. Patberg is joined by All-Big Ten selections senior forward Brenna Wise and junior guard Jaelynn Penn. Junior guard Bendu Yeaney also returns for her third season at Indiana along with sophomores Grace Berger and Aleksa Gulbe.
Maryland was selected as the preseason favorites with Michigan, Michigan State, Purdue and Minnesota all featured in the expanded preseason rankings that featured the top 5 teams in the league for the first time this season.
Indiana plays its lone exhibition game on Sunday, November 3 against McKendree and begins the regular season at home on Thursday, November 7 against Mount St. Mary's.
2019-20 COACHES BIG TEN PRESEASON RANKINGS
1. MARYLAND
2. Michigan State
3. Indiana
4. Michigan
5. Purdue
2019-20 COACHES PRESEASON ALL-BIG TEN TEAM*
Ali Patberg, Jr., G, Indiana
KATHLEEN DOYLE, Sr., G, Iowa
KAILA CHARLES, Sr., G, Maryland
Taylor Mikesell, So., G, Maryland
NAZ HILLMON, So., F, Michigan
Shay Colley, Sr., G, Michigan State
Destiny Pitts, Jr., G/F, Minnesota
LINDSEY PULLIAM, Jr., G, Northwestern
Dorka Juhász, So., F, Ohio State
Ae'Rianna Harris, Sr., F, Purdue
Karissa McLaughlin, Jr., G, Purdue
2019-20 COACHES BIG TEN PRESEASON PLAYER OF THE YEAR
Kaila Charles, Sr., G, Maryland
2019-20 MEDIA BIG TEN PRESEASON RANKINGS
1. Maryland
2. Michigan
3. Michigan State
4. Indiana
5. Minnesota
2019-20 MEDIA PRESEASON ALL-BIG TEN TEAM
Ali Patberg, Jr., G, Indiana
Kathleen Doyle, Sr., G, Iowa
KAILA CHARLES, Sr., G, Maryland
Taylor Mikesell, So., G, Maryland
NAZ HILLMON, So., F, Michigan
Shay Colley, Sr., G, Michigan State
Destiny Pitts, Jr., G/F, Minnesota
Lindsey Pulliam, Jr., G, Northwestern
Ae'Rianna Harris, Sr., F, Purdue
Karissa McLaughlin, Jr., G, Purdue
2019-20 MEDIA BIG TEN PRESEASON PLAYER OF THE YEAR
Kaila Charles, Sr., G, Maryland
Unanimous selections listed in ALL CAPS
* - additional honoree due to tie in voting
Follow Indiana Women's Basketball on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram
#GoIU
Players Mentioned
Guard
/ Women's Basketball
Forward
/ Women's Basketball
Guard
/ Women's Basketball
Guard
/ Women's Basketball
Forward
/ Women's Basketball
Guard
/ Women's BasketballIUVB vs. Michigan: Highlights
Saturday, October 11
FB: Under the Hood with Indiana Football - Week 7 (at Oregon)
Thursday, October 09
IUWBB at 2025 Big Ten Media Day
Wednesday, October 08
FB: Aiden Fisher Media Availability (10/7/25)
Tuesday, October 07