The Missouri State women’s basketball squad was voted fourth in the Missouri Valley Conference preseason poll while senior guard Tahnee Balerio was named to the league’s preseason all-conference squad at Tuesday’s (Oct. 30) MVC media day in St. Louis.

Drake narrowly edged Illinois State for the top spot in the preseason poll that was voted on by the Valley’s coaches, sports information directors and media affiliates. The Bulldogs, who return all five starters and 11 letterwinners from last year’s 14-19 team that captured the State Farm MVC Tournament title, received 24 of the 39 first-place votes and garnered 348 total points to earn the preseason nod. Led by 2007 MVC Player of the Year Kristi Cirone, Illinois State captured 12 votes for the No. 1 spot and finished just six points behind DU.

Coming off a 7-21 campaign and 3-15 conference showing in 2006-07, Missouri State tallied 136 total points to finish seventh in the preseason poll for the second consecutive year. Under new head coach Nyla Milleson, the Lady Bears return four starters in 2007-08, including Balerio, who was a first team All-MVC performer last year after leading the league in scoring with an 18.5 ppg. average.

Rounding out the order of finish is Indiana State (289 points) in third with Evansville (288) close behind in fourth, followed by defending regular-season league champ Southern Illinois (233), Creighton (223), MSU, Northern Iowa (113), Wichita State (95) and Bradley (78).

Balerio was joined on the preseason all-conference squad by Cirone, Brandy Dahir of Drake, Rebekah Parker of Evansville, and Laura Rudolphi of Indiana State.

Missouri State opens the 2007-08 exhibition season Sunday (Nov. 4) with a 2 p.m. contest at Hammons Student Center against Arkansas Tech. The Lady Bears will host Lambuth in their second and final exhibition matchup of the season on Nov. 6 at 7:05 p.m., before opening the regular season at Texas on Nov. 11.