The Wilmington College women's basketball team has been picked to finished fifth in the Ohio Athletic Conference preseason coaches poll, the league announced today (November 3, 2015).
Capital earned seven of 10 first-place votes and received 79 votes to be the preseason favorite. Baldwin Wallace (one first-place vote) and Ohio Northern (two first-place votes) were picked to be tied for second with 68 points. John Carroll (56 points), Wilmington (45 points), Heidelberg (42 points), Mount Union (37 points), Marietta (27 points), Otterbein (16 points) and Muskingum (12 points) rounded out the preseason poll.
"I think the polls are great for generating some interest, but they really mean nothing to me," said Wilmington head coach Jerry Scheve. "Coaches predict which teams they think have the most talent, and I guess that means they think we have the fifth most talent. But talent is only one small part of what it takes to have a successful season. We have very high goals, and we will continue to work very hard every day to get better. And in March we will see how we did."
Junior Brittaney Jefferson (Dayton, OH/Chaminade Julienne) is the team's top returning scorer despite coming off the bench in all 27 games. The guard averaged more than 20 minutes per game, while scoring 9.5 points per game. Not only will be counted on to score, she will be asked to continue her defensive presence. She finished ninth in the league with 1.8 steals per game.
Junior Ja'Cole Tabor (Dayton, OH/Chaminade Julienne) will be an option to replace Ashley Andracki (Columbus, OH/Bishop Watterson), who suffered a preseason injury that will cost her the season, at point guard.
Sophomores Ellie Kivell (West Chester, OH/Lakota West) and Savannah Hooper (Wilmington, OH/Wilmington) will play a huge part in the backcourt.
Juniors Mary Moyer (Martinsville, OH/Clinton Massie) and Hannah Haeseker (Germantown, OH/Valley View), along with sophomore Emily Smith (Bellbrook, OH/Bellbrook) and senior Alexandria Kingsbery (Lima, OH/Central Catholic) return in the post.
Wilmington opens the season Saturday, November 14 at Denison.
