Correspondent file photos / Robert Hayes YSU senior Cris Carroll (left) and sophomore Sophia Gregory (right) put up shots during games last season. They were each selected for the Preseason All-Horizon League First Team this week.

Both the Youngstown State men and women’s basketball teams were picked to finish third in the annual Horizon League preseason polls that were released this week.

The men, led by second-year head coach Ethan Faulkner, were picked behind preseason favorite Milwaukee, as well as Oakland, which was picked second.

YSU, which went 21-13 last year, is coming off a historic season in which the Penguins reached the Horizon League championship game for the first time in program history.

As one of YSU’s four returning players, senior Cris Carroll was also voted to the Preseason All-Horizon League First Team after averaging 9.2 rebounds and 5.0 rebounds per game for the Penguins last season. He scored in double figures 16 times, recorded three double-doubles, and posted three 20-point games.

Oakland forward Tuburu Naivalurua was named the league’s Preseason Player of the Year, while Detroit Mercy’s Orlando Lovejoy, Green Bay’s Marcus Hall and Milwaukee’s Amar Augillard also earned preseason First-Team honors.

The YSU men open the season Nov. 3 at Pitt at 7 p.m. at the Petersen Events Center in Pittsburgh.

The women, led by second-year head coach Melissa Jackson, were picked behind reigning conference champion and preseason favorite Green Bay, in addition to Robert Morris, which is also seeing increased expectations under second-year coach Chandler McCabe.

The Penguins, which went 12-19 overall and 7-13 in conference play last year, returns nine players from last year’s young team and also adds three newcomers. Of those returners, YSU is also expected to get back three players who missed most of last season with long-term injuries.

Sophomore and reigning Horizon League Freshman of the Year Sophia Gregory was tabbed for the Preseason All-Horizon League First Team after a breakout season last year in which she led all conference freshmen in points (10.2), rebounds (7.2), blocks (1.2), steals and double-doubles.

Cleveland State guard Colbi Maples was named the league’s Preseason Player of the Year after missing most of last season with an injury. She and Gregory were joined on the First Team by Detroit Mercy’s Aaliyah McQueen, Green Bay’s Maddy Skorupski and Northern Kentucky’s Mya Meredith.

The YSU women also begin the season on Nov. 3, but at home against Thiel at 11 a.m. at Zidian Family Arena at Beeghly Center.