ST. LOUIS – The Westminster women's basketball team has been voted to finish fourth in the St. Louis Intercollegiate Athletic Conference by the conference's coaches. Spalding was picked to finish first, followed by Greenville and Webster.
The Blue Jays will be led by first year Head Coach Talisha Washington ('13) who spent the past two seasons as an assistant coach.
Westminster will have to replace 2018-19 First Team All-Conference picks Kendahl Adams and Mirrakohl Johnson, who wrapped up their college careers last season.
Junior guard Kallee Dowler is the top returner for the Blue Jays. Dowler has been named to the conference preseason watch list after earning a place on the All SLIAC Third Team last season. Dowler averaged 12.2 points-per-game and made a Westminster record 80 three pointers. One of the best shooters in the conference, she will look to break her own school record this season.
Sophomore forward Abbie Reece is another key returner for the Blue Jays. Reece started in all but one of Westminster's games as a freshman last season and averaged 6.6 points-per-game and 4.3 rebounds per game.
Senior guard Rei Imamura returns after being limited to just 14 games last season due to injury. In that time Imamura averaged five assists-per-game. Junior Makayla Jackson, who was a significant contributed to Blue Jay defense last season, also returns. Senior forward Mikalyn Callahan saw solid minutes off the bench last season was a key rebounder for the Blue Jays.
The young Westminster team will look for their underclassmen to make an impact this season. The sophomore class features Jackie Arnold, Reese Arnold, Connar Hadley and Corrie Reece. Washington also brought in six freshman as part of her first recruiting class as Westminster's head coach and has high hopes for these newcomers.
The Blue Jays open their season at home on Friday Nov. 8 when they host Illinois College in the Tip Off Tournament. Westminster will then play Millikin in the second day of the tournament.
The full release from the SLIAC can be read here.
