Junior Jamie Ruttle was named preseason All-MAAC First Team in a vote by the league's coaches. Ruttle is the first Canisius women's basketball player to earn preseason All-MAAC First-Team honors since Brittané Russell prior to the 2009-10 season.

The Burlington, Ontario native led the Golden Griffins at 11.7 points and 5.3 rebounds per game in 2011-12 when she earned All-MAAC Third-Team honors and became the first Canisius sophomore to earn All-MAAC honors since the 2004-05 season. The 2011 Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference Rookie of the Year, Ruttle closed the season strong by averaging 15.0 points per game in the month of February.

The 6-foot-3 forward shot 54.3 percent on two-point shots in the final 22 games of the season and was 16-for-38 (42.1 percent) from behind the arc in the last 12 contests. Ruttle, who was the only Canisius player to start all 30 games in 2011-12, earned preseason All-MAAC Second-Team honors prior to the start of last season.

Ruttle, along with the other five players on the preseason All-MAAC First Team - Loyola's Katie Sheahin, Siena's Lily Grenci, Iona's Damika Martinez, Niagara's Kayla Stroman and Marist's Leanne Ockenden - are now eligible to be named the 2012-13 MAAC Women's Basketball Preseason Player of the year. That announcement will come on Friday, Nov. 9, at 6:15 p.m., live on ESPN3.

The Canisius College women's basketball team opens the 2012-13 season on Friday, Nov. 9, when the Golden Griffins host fellow Big Four rival the University at Buffalo. Tipoff in the Koessler Athletic Center is set for 7 p.m. and tickets are available at the Canisius College Ticket Office by calling 716-888-2885.

Canisius returns all five starters, nine letterwinners and 98 percent of its scoring from its 2011-12 team.