Click here for the 2012-13 RMAC women's basketball preseason coaches' poll and awards.

DURANGO, Colo. — The Fort Lewis College women's basketball poll is picked to finish fifth in the upcoming Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference season, according to a poll of league coaches released today by RMAC Assistant Commissioner Eric Danner.
 
The Skyhawks (26-5 overall, 19-3 in the RMAC a year ago), received 63 points in the preseason poll.
 
Metro State (27-4, 20-2), ranked No. 7 in today's USA TODAY Sports/ESPN Division II preseason coaches' poll, was picked to win its third consecutive league regular season title. The Roadrunners received 14 total points and 12 first-place votes.

Colorado State-Pueblo (21-7, 18-4) was tabbed second with 33 points and one first place votes. Colorado Christian (18-16, 11-11) and Colorado Mesa (13-14, 11-11) tied for third in the preseason coaches' poll with 55 points each. The Cougars received one first-place vote.
 
The Skyhawks won their second straight RMAC Shootout championship in 2012 and advanced to the second round of the NCAA Division II playoffs. FLC has qualified for the NCAA tournament five straight seasons and six of the past seven.
 
In addition to the coaches' poll, the league also released the 2012-13 preseason All-RMAC squad and preseason players of the year.
 
Fort Lewis' Katerina Garcia was the lone Skyhawk to be named to the team. A 5-foot-5 senior guard from Durango High School, Garcia averaged 7.6 points, 4.3 assists and 1.7 rebounds per game a year ago. She ranked among RMAC leaders in assists (third, 4.3 apg), assist-to-turnover ratio (fourth, +1.6 per game) and steals (ninth, 1.9 spg) as a junior. She also tied FLC's single-game record with 11 assists in the Skyhawks' 87-78 win over Western State in the 2012 RMAC championship game.
 
During her first two years in navy and gold (she played her freshman season at NCAA Division I Southern Illinois University), Garcia has already placed herself among FLC career leaders in assists (ninth, 234) and steals (19th, 123).
 
She was a third team All-RMAC selection as a sophomore in 2010-11.
 
“Kat has persevered through a lot,” said first-year FLC head coach Jason Flores. “We're hoping to have a great senior year out of her. She's put in a lot of time and should reap the benefits from it.”
 
Colorado Mesa senior forward Kelsey Sigl was chosen as Preseason Player of the Year, while Colorado Christian junior guard Christina Whitelaw was picked as Preseason Defensive Player of the Year.
 
The Skyhawks open their season with an exhibition game against NCAA Division I New Mexico State at 6:30 p.m. Friday at the Pan American Center in Las Cruces, N.M.
 
Fort Lewis begins its regular season at the Comfort Inn Presents Ashbrook Classic, hosted by Midwestern State at the D.L. Ligon Coliseum in Wichita Falls, Texas, on Friday and Saturday, Nov. 16-17. The Skyhawks face McMurry at 4 p.m. (MDT) on Nov. 16 and the host Mustangs at 6 p.m. (MDT) on Nov. 17.
 
The Skyhawks open their 22-game RMAC schedule at 5:30 p.m. on Nov. 30 at UC-Colorado Springs. The home fans get their first chance to catch Fort Lewis in the friendly confines of Whalen Gymnasium when FLC hosts Adams State at 5:30 p.m. on Saturday, Dec. 8.
 
All of FLC's RMAC games will be broadcast live on KIUP (930 AM and www.radiodurango.com) by play-by-play announcer Ken Flint.