INDIANAPOLIS, Indiana – On Wednesday afternoon, the Great Midwest Athletic Conference released their women's basketball Preseason Coaches' Poll. Ohio Dominican landed 11th place among the 13 conference teams.
At the top of the poll is the reigning 2023 G-MAC champions, Ashland University, with 157 points and 12 first place votes. Following them is Malone with 128 points, receiving one first place vote.
Findlay landed the third-place spot with 122 points, with Hillsdale and Kentucky Wesleyan tying the fourth-place spot with 118 points each.
The Saints of Thomas More took sixth place, collecting 107 points, behind them was Northwood University with 105 points. Eighth place holds Walsh with 76 points, followed by Ursuline in ninth, getting 64 points.
Cedarville sits in front of ODU at 10th place with 60 points. Ohio Dominican was voted 11th place, receiving 53 points. Behind ODU sits Tiffin with 50 points and Lake Erie rounding out the last spot with 25 points.
Looking Back at 2023-24
Last season, the Ohio Dominican Panthers finished with an overall record of 7-21 and a conference record of 4-16. A highlight of their season was a notable G-MAC victory against Walsh on January 6, where they secured a 59-51 win. With this experience behind them, the Panthers will be looking to improve upon last year's performance in the upcoming season!
Moving Forward to 2024-25
The Panthers are poised for an exciting season with 12 returning players, including key graduate students Camryn Pickerill and Gabby Stare. Stare, a standout guard, brings impressive accolades from previous seasons, having earned All-Conference First Team honors and recognition as a D2CCA All-Midwest Region Second Team player. Last season, she excelled with an average of 16.7 points per game, showcasing her shooting efficiency with 50.7% from the field and 81.8% from the free-throw line.
Meanwhile, Ohio Dominican is gearing up under new leadership with head coach Brianna Sims and assistant coach Sierra Gonyo. Sims, who previously led the University of Dallas for five seasons, has a strong track record, including three conference tournament appearances and significant team improvements. She also welcomes back 12 returning players while adding one new member to the ODU roster, setting the stage for a competitive season ahead.
Tip-off
Ohio Dominican is set to kick off the 2024-25 season in Michigan, taking on two teams from the Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (GLIAC). The Panthers will begin their campaign against Grand Valley State on November 9 at 5 PM, held at Fieldhouse Arena. The following day, they'll travel to Davenport University to face the red Panthers at 3 PM.
2023-24 Great Midwest Women's Basketball Preseason Coaches' Poll
1. Ashland, 157 points (12 first place votes)
2. Malone, 128 points (1 first place vote)
3. Findlay, 122 points
4. Hillsdale, 118 points
4. Kentucky Wesleyan, 118 points
6. Thomas More, 107 points
7. Northwood, 105 points
8. Walsh, 76 points
9. Ursuline, 64 points
10. Cedarville, 60 points
11. Ohio Dominican, 53 points
12. Tiffin, 50 points
13. Lake Erie, 25 points
