West Virginia Mountaineers Women's Basketball Receives Votes in AP Poll

Mountaineers Start Season Ranked No. 30 in AP Poll

MORGANTOWN, W.Va. - The West Virginia University women's basketball team received votes in the Associated Press (AP) Preseason Top 25 Poll, announced Tuesday. The Mountaineers started the season ranked No. 30 in the poll, which is voted on by a select group of sportswriters and broadcasters.

This is the first time that the Mountaineers have been ranked in the AP Preseason Top 25 Poll since the 2017-18 season and Amanda Braun was named head coach of the program. WVU received 12 votes in the poll, which is just outside the Top 25.

Mountaineers Return Three Starters From Last Season

The Mountaineers return three starters from last season's team that finished 15-14 overall and 7-11 in the Big 12 Conference. The returning starters are guard Kysre Gondrezick, forward Esmery Martinez, and center Blessing Ejiofor.

Gondrezick is a two-time All-Big 12 selection and was named to the Preseason All-Big 12 Team this season. She averaged 17.4 points, 4.9 rebounds, and 4.1 assists per game last season.

Martinez is a 6-foot-2 forward who averaged 5.9 points and 6.6 rebounds per game last season. She is a physical presence in the paint and is a good rebounder.

Ejiofor is a 6-foot-3 center who averaged 3.1 points and 3.9 rebounds per game last season. She is a good shot-blocker and is a strong defender in the post.

The Mountaineers also have a number of talented newcomers on the roster this season, including guard Sarah Bates, forward Jayla Hemingway, and center Yemiyah Morris. Bates is a 5-foot-8 guard who was a two-time All-State selection in high school. Hemingway is a 6-foot-1 forward who was a four-star recruit coming out of high school. Morris is a 6-foot-3 center who was a three-star recruit coming out of high school.

The Mountaineers will open the season on November 11 against the Akron Zips at the WVU Coliseum. The game will tip off at 7 p.m. ET.