SPOKANE, Wash. - After graduating three starters, including two First Team All-Northwest Conference selections, the Puget Sound Logger women's basketball team has been picked to finish fourth in 2008-09, according to the NWC Preseason Coaches Poll as announced by the conference office on Wednesday afternoon.

The Loggers, who will have the services of two returning starters in junior guard Claire Ely (Walnut Creek, Calif./Northgate) and senior post Karen Chase (Yakima, Wash./West Valley), garnered 60 points in the poll, which awarded points on a 10-8-7-6-5-4-3-2-1 basis. The Loggers will also have experience returning in junior forward Natasha Ludwig (Hilo, Hawaii/Waiakea), who averaged 3.2 rebounds per game in 13.2 mpg in 07-08, and senior guard Chelsi Shaw (Metaline Falls, Wash./Wenatchee Valley CC), who chipped in 3.9 ppg in 15.0 mpg last year.

Whitman was named the team to beat with four first-place votes and 73 total points. Whitworth was picked to finish second with three first-place votes and 68 total points. Lewis & Clark added a first-place vote to take third place with 60 points, followed by the Loggers (56), George Fox (52 and one first-place vote), Pacific Lutheran (42), Linfield (28), Pacific (18) and Willamette (17).

The Loggers will tip-off the 08-09 campaign on Nov. 16 when they take on St. Thomas (Minn.).

2008-09 Women's Basketball Coaches Pre-Season Poll: