INDIANAPOLIS – On Thursday afternoon, the Great Midwest Athletic Conference released their women's basketball Preseason Coaches' Poll. Ohio Dominican was tied for 13^th place among the 14 conference teams.

At the top of the poll is the undefeated National Champions, Ashland University, with 183 points and 13 first place votes. Following them is Ky. Wesleyan with 161 points and Trevecca Nazarene in third with 152 points and one first place vote. Rounding out the top five is Northwood in fourth with 136 points and Malone and conference newcomer, Thomas More, tied in fifth with 125 points.

The arrows of Ursuline College take seventh place, snagging 111 points, followed by Hillsdale College in eighth with 102 points. Ninth place holds Walsh University (95 points) with Cedarville University in 10^th (78 points).
The Oilers sit in 11^th place, grabbing 64 points, followed by Tiffin in 12^th with 59 points. The Storm of Lake Erie College and the Panthers of Ohio Dominican sit tied for 13^th place with 44 points each.

LOOKING BACK AT 2022-23
A season ago, the Black and Gold finished with an overall mark of 6-21 and a conference record of 3-17. The Panthers picked up notable G-MAC wins against the Chargers on Dec. 10, winning 74-61. ODU then defeated Cedarville, on the road, 81-78, the next week.

Ohio Dominican snagged two regional wins, both coming at home. Back on Nov. 21, the Panthers took down Maryville, 72-70, and defeated Indianapolis, 80-73, on Dec. 19.

MOVING FORWARD TO 2023-24
Ohio Dominican returns 10 from a season ago, including All-Conference First Team winner and D2CCA All-Midwest Region Second Team honoree, Gabby Stare (Newark, Ohio). In her junior season, Stare averaged 20.5 points per game along with 5.3 rebounds and 2.3 assists. The senior shot 47.6 percent from the field and 50.6 percent from behind the arc.

Joining her is sophomore, Macy Chapman (Hilliard, Ohio) who averaged 10.8 ppg. Chapman shot 42.7 percent from the field, collecting 99 rebounds and a team high of 50 steals. Fellow sophomores, Logan Pride (Twinsburg, Ohio) and Madelyn Fearon (Greenville, Ohio) return to the court after averaging 6.0 and 5.6 ppg a season ago. Pride recorded 124 rebounds with Fearon dishing out 52 assists.

Second year head coach Melanie Balcomb and the Black and Gold welcome seven freshman and a transfer to the squad for the upcoming season.

TIP-OFF
ODU will open the 2023-24 season with back-to-back road exhibition games at Division I Toledo and Cincinnati on Oct. 29 and Nov. 1. The season officially begins on Friday, Nov. 10 at McKendree for a Midwest Crossover.

2022-23 GREAT MIDWEST WOMEN'S BASKETBALL PRESEASON COACHES POLL
1. Ashland, 183 points (13 first place votes)
2. Kentucky Wesleyan, 161 points
3. Trevecca Nazarene, 152 points (1)
4. Northwood, 136 points
T5. Malone, 125 points
T5. Thomas More, 125 points
7. Ursuline, 111 points
8. Hillsdale, 102 points
9. Walsh, 95 points
10. Cedarville, 78 points
11. Findlay, 64 points
12. Tiffin, 59 points
T13. Lake Erie, 44 points
T13. Ohio Dominican, 44 points