FRISCO, Texas – Just in case the prospect of first-time postseason eligibility wasn't enough motivation for the University of the Incarnate Word women's basketball team, the 2017-18 Southland Conference preseason polls just provided a second dose.
 
The Cardinals were picked to finish 10^th out of 13 league teams on Monday, and 2016-17 Freshman of the Year, Imani Robinson, was conspicuously left off of the preseason all-Southland team.
 
In last year's SLC preseason poll, UIW was unanimously predicted to finish last, but the Cardinals ended the year ahead of six Southland foes. In fact, UIW would have entered the Southland Conference Tournament as the No. 7 seed had the program not been in its final year of transition to NCAA Division I status.
 
The 2016-17 Cardinals earned their first victories in program history over Houston Baptist, Texas A&M-Corpus Christi and Sam Houston. UIW also picked up its first season-sweep of Nicholls. The Cardinals secured seven league wins, equaling the number of Southland victories the program had over its first three years of transition to NCAA Division I combined.
 
Undoubtedly, UIW will struggle to find a replacement for Second Team All-Southland honoree and SLC All-Defensive Team member Celia Garcia Paunero. The forward signed a professional contract with CD Zamarat of Spain at the conclusion of her senior season. The Cardinals will also have a tough time replacing floor general Cheyenne Berry, who was also lost to graduation.
 
While supplanting two senior captains will be difficult, UIW began the process in the offseason by adding seven talented freshmen signees and a pair of preferred walk-ons. Moreover, the Cardinals will gain the assistance of 6-2 center Quincy Baker and Utah transfer Gabbi Bowie, who each redshirted last season.
 
The 2017-18 UIW roster will be faster, stronger and undoubtedly bigger. Last year the Cardinals had just one player over 6-foot, while this season UIW has four. The average height of last year's team was just 5-foot-7-inches, while this season the Cardinals average 5-foot-9-inches as a unit. An average increase of two inches per player may not seem like much, but it translates to an extra 10 inches of height on the floor at all times.
 
To further put things into perspective, UIW's current roster is one inch taller on average than the roster of defending Southland Conference Champion Central Arkansas.
 
While preseason polls are about as accurate as a Shaquille O'Neal free throw, the Cardinals will undoubtedly keep this year's Southland Conference preseason speculation in the back of their minds as they take the court in less than a month.
 
UP NEXT
 
UIW women's basketball opens its 2017-18 campaign at 11 a.m. on Nov. 10 against Big 12 opponent Oklahoma State.
 
STAY TUNED
 
The Cardinals home-opener will come on Nov. 15 as the squad welcomes regional foe Texas State for a 6 p.m. battle at the McDermott Center.
 
For the most up-to-date information on UIW Athletics visit uiwcardinals.com. Be sure to follow UIW Athletics on Twitter @UIWAthletics and like UIW Athletics on Facebook at UIW Athletics.