Salem, Va. – Old Dominion Athletic Conference (ODAC) women’s basketball coaches selected Guilford College sixth in their annual preseason poll. The rankings were released by the league Thursday at the annual ODAC Women’s Basketball Media Day at the Salem Civic Center, which also hosts the league’s postseason tournament.
Lynchburg College received six of the 12 first-place votes for 114 overall points and the poll’s top spot for the second year in a row. Eastern Mennonite University was tabbed second with 106 points and received three first-place votes. Randolph-Macon College collected 92 points for third place. Washington and Lee University earned 89 points and two first-place votes for the fourth spot. Emory and Henry College rounded out the top five with 81 points.
This will be the Quakers’ 13th season with head coach Stephanie Flamini on the sidelines. Guilford will miss graduated seniors Brittany Drew, Jennette Taylor, and Kali Cuttaia from last year’s 17-10 team. Junior Anais Weatherly (Winston-Salem, N.C./Mount Tabor) (14.4 ppg), a 2015 Second Team All-ODAC pick, and sophomore Lauren Ramsey (Lexington, N.C./North Davidson) (9.4 ppg) are the Quakers lone returning starters from 2014-15. After coming off the bench for the majority of last season; junior Heaven Walters (6.0 ppg) will be given more opportunities to impact the Quakers’ season. The lineup will also be bolstered by the return of junior Amy Steller (Advance, N.C./Davie County), who missed most of last season due to injury.
Guilford opens its season at Meredith College Nov. 15. The first home contest is Saturday, Nov. 21th versus Denison College in the Guilford College Classic Tournament.
2015-16 ODAC Women’S BASKETBALL PRESASON POLL
(#) Denotes First Place Votes
1. Lynchburg (6) 114 pts. 2. Eastern Mennonite (3) 106 pts. 3. Randolph-Macon (1) 92 pts. 4. Washington and Lee (2) 89 pts. 5. Emory & Henry 81 pts. 6. Guilford 80 pts. 7. Bridgewater 66 pts. 8. Virginia Wesleyan 57 pts. 9. Randolph 36 pts. 10. Roanoke 34 pts. 11. Shenandoah 26 pts. 12. Hollins 11 pts.