The Missouri Valley Conference released it’s pre-season basketball poll yesterday. The SMS Lady Bears have been picked to finish third in the ten-team league. Last season they finished with a record of 12-6 in conference play and 16-13 overall. The most promising returning starter is Jenni Lingor. The sophomore guard was named to the pre-season All-Conference team. She averaged 13.1 points per game last year and was named the Missouri Valley’s Freshman of the Year. This will be the first season for head coach Katie A. Henderson who takes over for Cheryl Burnett. The future isn’t as bright for the SMS men, according to the poll. The Bears are picked to finish eight. Head Coach Barry Hinson will certainly have his work cut out for him with just six returning letter winners from last season’s squad. That team went 17-15 overall and 11-7 in MVC play.