ST. LOUIS, Mo. - The University of Northern Iowa women's basketball team is picked fifth in the Missouri Valley Conference preseason poll released Tuesday.

Panther sophomore Jacqui Kalin was tabbed to the league's preseason all-conference team.

UNI brings back four starters and more than 85 percent of its offense from last year. UNI finished 13-18 overall and 8-10 and in a tie for sixth in The Valley a year ago.

Kalin was a second-team all-conference player as a freshman, and she was named the league's freshman of the year in 2008. Kalin led UNI with 13.3 points per game a year ago, and she shot a MVC-leading .899 from the free-throw line.

Illinois State was the unanimous preseason favorite, and it is the first time in MVC history that one team has claimed all the first-place votes. Creighton was picked to finish second, and Drake and Evansville were tabbed third and fourth.

Kalin is joined on the preseason all-conference team by Kristi Cirone (Sr., Illinois State), Maggie Dwyer (Sr., Missouri State), Maggie Krick (Jr., Illinois State), and Shannon Novosel (Sr., Evansville).

MVC 2008-09 Preseason Poll

1. Illinois State (40) 400

2. Creighton 310

3. Drake 297

4. Evansville 251

5. UNI 245

6. Missouri State 215

7. Indiana State 166

8. Bradley 161

9. Southern Illinois 108

10. Wichita State 47

2008-09 MVC Preseason Team

Kristi Cirone, Sr., Illinois State

Maggie Dwyer, Sr., Missouri State

Jacqui Kalin, So., UNI

Maggie Krick, Jr., Illinois State

Shannon Novosel, Sr., Evansville