INDIANAPOLIS – Seniors Brittany Byrd and Taylor Toney of UIC women's basketball have been named to the Horizon League Preseason Second Team, the Conference office announced on Thursday. It is the first career preseason accolade for both Byrd and Toney. Preseason teams are voted on by League's head coaches, sports information directors and members of the media.

Byrd earns preseason recognition after holding the title of UIC's top scorer for the second-straight year last season, averaging 14.8 points per game last season. Byrd is the top returning scorer in the League, and looks to anchor the 2018-19 Flames.

The Chicago native ended last season eighth in the League in three-pointers, averaging 2.0 per game, while also coming in 11th in offensive rebounds, averaging 2.0 offensive board per contest. Byrd was also the League's leader in minutes played, seeing an average of 35.7 minutes per game in 2017-18.

Toney led the squad in total points (412), field goal attempts (384), field goals made (150), free throws made (96), free throw percent (.733), total assists (73) and total steals (70) last year, and also tallied a team-high five double-doubles. The senior scored in the double-digits on 25 occasions and had six showings of 20-plus points in 2017-18.

Across the Horizon League, Toney finished ninth in rebounding (6.6 per game), 13th in assists (2.4 per game), tied for fourth in steals (2.3 per game) and 11th in free throw percentage (.733) in 2017-18.

Byrd, Toney and the rest of the UIC women's basketball team will open the 2018-19 campaign on Wednesday, Nov. 7 at home against Valparaiso.

Horizon League Preseason All-League

Preseason Player of the Year
Macee Williams, IUPUI

Preseason First Team
Jen Wellnitz, Green Bay
Macee Williams, IUPUI
Molly Glick, Northern Kentucky
Emily Vogelpohl, Wright State
Sarah Cash, Youngstown State

Preseason Second Team
Tamya Sims, IUPUI
Taylor Jones, Oakland
Brittany Byrd, UIC
Taylor Toney, UIC
Chelsea Olson, Youngstown State