WICHITA - The Wichita State University women's basketball team was picked to finish third in the Missouri Valley Conference and senior Haleigh Lankster was named to the MVC Pre-Season Team, as announced by the conference office Tuesday.  It is just the second time since the polls originated in 1983-84 the Shockers have been picked among the top three finishers. 

Lankster was a second team all-conference selection a year ago, after leading the team with 13.3 points per game.  She added 4.5 rebounds per contest, 2.0 steals and shot nearly 46% from the field.  She also earned all-defensive and all-tournament honors last year as a junior.  Lankster was joined on the pre-season team by Carli Tritz (Creighton), Shannon Thomas (Indiana State), Christiana Shorter (Missouri State), and the pre-season Player of the Year, Casey Garrison (Missouri State). 

The Shockers return four starters from a team that finished fifth in the league a year ago with a 10-8 MVC record.  Wichita State advanced to the semi-finals of the MVC Tournament before bowing out to eventual champion, Northern Iowa.  The Shockers were then invited to the WNIT for the first time in 10 years. 

Missouri State and UNI were picked first and second, respectively.  The Lady Bears return the bulk of a team that won 24 games a year ago and captured 36 of 40 first-place votes.  Northern Iowa is the reigning regular season and tournament champion, though they will be without last year's Player of the Year Jacqui Kalin, who suffered a season-ending injury last month.  The Panthers received the remaining four first place tallies.

Wichita State has met or exceeded pre-season prognostications in all three years with Jody Adams as head coach.  Last year the Shockers were picked fifth and finished in that spot.  In 2009-10, WSU was predicted to finish ninth but moved up to sixth.   

The Shockers have also improved positioning and win totals in all three of Adams' season.  After tying for ninth with four wins in 2008-09, WSU moved up to sixth with eight victories and fifth last season with 10 wins.  Additionally, Wichita State has advanced to the post-season in back-to-back years for only the second time in school history.

The last time the Shockers received a top-three ranking was 2006-07 when the conference voted WSU second.  Wichita State has not finished a season in the top three since the 1999-2000 team tied for second place.