Women’s basketball picked fourth in coaches poll

Temple is expected to finish fourth in the American Athletic Conference, based on a preseason coaches poll compiled at The American’s media day Thursday at the New York Athletic Club.

The Owls are tied for the fourth spot with Tulane, as both teams received 67 points in the poll.

Sophomore guard Feyonda Fitzgerald was also named as a preseason All-Conference selection by American coaches, after averaging 12.9 points and 3.9 assists per game in her freshman season.

UConn, which will be starting the 2014-15 season at No. 1 in the Associated Press Top-25 poll, is the favorite to win the conference, receiving 10 of 11 first-place votes in the poll.

East Carolina came in third with 72 points, and USF in second with 91 points.

Temple finished the 2013-14 campaign at 14-16, and lost to USF, 72-44, in the quarterfinals of the conference championship.

The Owls will open up their season with a Big 5 matchup Nov. 14 at home against La Salle.