The Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference released its basketball preseason awards and polls Thursday night, with both Quinnipiac teams garnering some recognition. Two players from each squad were selected to preseason All-MAAC teams, marking the fourth straight season that both teams had at least one player selected in the preseason.

The Quinnipiac women’s team is represented by Shaq Edwards & Mikala Morris, both of whom were selected to the Preseason All-MAAC Second Team. Both Edwards & Morris are entering their second seasons with the Bobcats.

Edwards led the Bobcats in scoring last season, averaging 12.5 points per game in her 26 starts. Morris played a key role for Tricia Fabbri’s crew as well last season, averaging just under 10 points per game while adding 6.5 rebounds per game.

On the men’s side, junior Tyrese Williams earned Preseason All-MAAC Second Team honors, while senior Jacob Rigoni gets a nod on the third team.

Williams is expected to play a pivotal role for Baker Dunleavey’s squad this season as the Bobcats’ highest returner in scoring, rebounds and assists. He started 29 games last year, averaging 9.9 points per game. Williams was named to the MAAC All-Rookie team in 2018-19.

Rigoni enters his swan song season with the Bobcats as the team’s leading three-point shooter from a year ago. He shot over 40 percent from beyond the arch last season, averaging 8.6 points per game.

In the preseason polls, as voted by the 11 MAAC coaches in their respective sports, the Quinnipiac women’s team is tabbed to finish tied for second with Fairfield. The Bobcats received two first-place votes. Manhattan was picked to top the conference.

As for the men, Quinnipiac was selected to finish seventh, its lowest preseason ranking since 2017-18. Defending champions Siena are once again the favorites to win the conference.