PROVIDENCE, R.I. - The Rhode Island College women’s basketball team was named the favorite to once again take home the Little East Conference (LEC) title after accumulating 60 points and five first-place votes in the 2021 LEC Preseason Coaches’ Poll. The announcement comes following a vote of the league’s nine head coaches.
 
The Anchorwomen captured both the LEC regular season and tournament championships in last year’s COVID-shortened season with a undefeated record, going 11-0 overall and 7-0 in conference play. RIC opened the LEC tournament with a 72-20 win over Plymouth State University before dispatching Keene State College 50-38 in the title game.
 
2019-20 LEC regular season and tournament champion Eastern Connecticut State University was picked to finish second with 55 points and three first place votes. The Warriors, who did not participate last season due to the pandemic, finished 23-6 and advanced to the second round of the NCAA tournament when they last took the court in 2019-20.
 
UMass Dartmouth finished third in the preseason poll with 55 points and claimed the remaining first place vote. The Corsairs were 5-4 overall and finished 5-2 in league play during the COVID-shortened 2020-21 campaign.
 
The complete preseason coaches’ poll ranking is as follows:
 
2021-22 LEC Women's Basketball Preseason Coaches' Poll
1. Rhode Island College - 60 points (5 FPV)
2. Eastern Connecticut - 55 points (3 FPV)
3. UMass Dartmouth - 52 points (1 FPV)
4. Southern Maine - 36 points
5. Keene State - 33 points
6. Western Connecticut - 31 points 
7. UMass Boston - 25 points
8. Castleton - 24 points
9. Plymouth State  - 8 points