The University of Massachusetts women's basketball team was picked 10th Wednesday in the Atlantic 10 preseason poll as coach Sharon Dawley continues her rebuilding job.

Junior big Jasmine Watson was named to the preseason Atlantic 10 All-Conference third team.

Watson, who missed the first eight games with an injury last year, led UMass with 14.4 points and 7.6 rebounds per game. UMass returns five of its top six scorers this season.

"Jas is so critical to our success. Losing her last year was certainly frustrating," Dawley said on the preseason conference call. "I'm excited we have a healthy Jasmine right now. She's so critical on both ends of the floor. We look to her for points and for leadership. She's making a noticeable difference on the defensive end as well. There's no area of the game she doesn't raise to another level when she's on the floor for us."

UMass finished 7-23 overall and 3-11 in A-10 play last year.

Dayton and Temple were picked as co-favorites, splitting the league's 14 first-place votes.

Duquesne was No. 3 followed by No. 4 Charlotte, No. 5 Saint Joseph's, No. 6 St. Bonaventure, and No. 7 Xavier to complete the top half. The Musketeers are the two-time defending champs, but return just one starter.

No. 8 Richmond and No. 9 George Washington are just ahead of the Minutewomen, while No. 11 La Salle, No. 12 Fordham, No. 13 Rhode Island and No. 14 Saint Louis rounded out the poll.

UMass opens the season on Nov. 13 at 2 p.m. when it hosts Boston University at the Mullins Center

Matt Vautour can be reached at mvautour@gazettenet.com. Follow UMass coverage on Twitter at twitter.com/GazetteUMass. Get UMass coverage delivered in your Facebook news feed at http://www.facebook.com/GazetteUMassCoverage.