KINGSTON, R.I. – Rhode Island Women's Basketball was picked as the Atlantic 10 Preseason favorites with 218 points and 12 first-place votes, it was announced Thursday. The Rams, coming off a share of the first 2022-23 A-10 Regular Season Championship in program history, also had four players featured on the Preseason All-Conference Teams.
 
Senior Mayé Touré, the 2022-23 Most Improved Player of the Year, earned a spot on the Preseason All-Conference First Team, while Syracuse transfer Teisha Hyman's stats from her season last year with the Orange placed her on the All-Conference Second Team. Senior Tenin Magassa was named to the All-Conference Third Team for the second straight year, and sophomore Anaelle Dutat turned in an impressive rookie season to earn a spot on the All-Defensive Team.
 
Touré had a breakout season in 2022-23. Her offense exploded: after being limited to 2.4 points and 3.9 boards in 9.3 minutes per game in 2021-22, Touré earned her role as starter last season, contributing 13.8 points and 8.6 rebounds per game during the regular season. The Athis-Mons, France product finished the regular season with 12 double-doubles, entering the year with just one career double-double to her name. She improved her shooting as well: she finished the season first in the league in shooting from the floor. Her efforts to lead Rhode Island to their best season in program history also earned her a spot on the All-Conference First-Team for the first time in her career.

Hyman joins the Rams after spending the last four years at Cuse. In 2022-23, she averaged 10.4 points per game. The White Plains, N.Y. native added 4.0 rebounds and 3.2 assists in 26.1 minutes, and earned a spot on the All-ACC Women's Basketball Academic Team for the third time in her career. She was ranked as the No. 33 women's basketball transfer in the portal according to ESPNW. 

Magassa battled injury in her first season with the Rams, but still managed 5.1 points in a limited 14 games. Through those 14 games, the Dayton transfer blocked 18 shots, including a season-high five blocks in the regular season finale against her former Flyers.
 
Dutat is the lone sophomore on the five-member All-Defensive Team. The France native was a defensive menace in her first season in Kingston. Often referenced by head coach Tammi Reiss as Rhody's own "Dennis Rodman", Dutat owned the boards, collecting double-digit rebounds in eight games. All season long, her impact went deeper than scoring. The Rams were 17-3 when Dutat had at least five boards. At the A-10 Tournament, she stepped up with her first two career starts. During those two starts, the France native totaled 21 rebounds, 14 points, seven steals, and two blocks.

In head coach Tammi Reiss' first season leading the Rams, Rhody was picked to finish 12th in the league. Now entering year five, Reiss has led the Rams to a preseason No. 1 pick.
 
The Rams open the 2023-24 campaign on Tuesday, Nov. 7 against Sacred Heart. Game time is set for 6:00 p.m. Season tickets, flex packages, and single game tickets are on sale now.
 
2023-24 Atlantic 10 Women's Basketball Preseason Poll

1. Rhode Island (12)        218
2. Saint Joseph's             203
3. Saint Louis (2)             186
4. Richmond                    176
5. Duquesne (1)              172
6. George Washington    150
7. Davidson                     124
8. George Mason             111
9. Dayton                        100
10. VCU                             96
11. Massachusetts            70
12. La Salle                        66
13. Fordham                     54
14. St. Bonaventure          39
15. Loyola Chicago            35

 
Preseason All-Conference First-Team
Elle Sutphin                 Davidson
Megan McConnell       Duquesne
Mayé Touré                Rhode Island
Addie Budnik              Richmond
Talya Brugler               Saint Joseph's
Kyla McMakin             Saint Louis
 
Preseason All-Conference Second Team
Nya Robertson            George Washington
Teisha Hyman             Rhode Island
Maggie Doogan          Richmond
Laura Ziegler               Saint Joseph's
Sarah Te-Biasu            VCU
Julia Martinez             Saint Louis
 
Preseason All-Conference Third Team
Suzi-Rose Deegan       Davidson
Mariah Perez              Dayton
Nalani Kaysia               George Mason
Mayowa Taiwo           George Washington
Tenin Magassa            Rhode Island
Makenzie Smith          Saint Joseph's
 
Preseason All-Defensive Team
Megan McConnell      Duquesne
Mayowa Taiwo           George Washington
Anaelle Dutat              Rhode Island
Kennedy Calhoun        Saint Louis
Julia Martinez             Saint Louis