SALEM, Va. – Old Dominion Athletic Conference (ODAC) women’s basketball coaches selected Guilford College fourth in their 2018-19 preseason poll. The rankings were released Thursday at the annual ODAC Women’s Basketball Media Day at the Salem Civic Center, which also holds the league’s postseason tournament.
Randolph-Macon College earned seven first-place votes, which helped it to the poll’s top spot with 139 points. Emory & Henry College followed with six first-place votes and is second with 136 points. Lynchburg College sits third with 122 points. Guilford (105 points) and Virginia Wesleyan University (94 points) round out the top-five teams in the 13-team poll. League newcomer Ferrum College was picked 11th for its ODAC debut season.
Guilford starts its’ 16th season with head coach Stephanie Flamini on the sidelines. The Quakers return two starters among nine letter winners from the 2017-18 unit that went 17-7. Junior forward Miracle Walters (Elkin, N.C./Starmount) received Second Team All-ODAC recognition last year after averaging 14.7 points and 4.5 rebounds per game. Sophomore center Julie Carini (Little River, S.C./North Myrtle Beach) is also back after averaging 7.3 points and 4.1 rebounds per game as a rookie.
Guilford opens its 47th women’s basketball campaign at home November 13 versus Roanoke College in a conference game.
2018-19 ODAC WOMEN’S BASKETBALL PRESEASON POLL
(#) Denotes First Place Votes
1. Randolph-Macon College (7) 139 pts. 2. Emory & Henry College (6) 136 pts. 3. University of Lynchburg 122 pts. 4. Guilford College 105 pts. 5. Virginia Wesleyan University 94 pts. 6. Bridgewater College 83 pts. 7. Eastern Mennonite University 74 pts. 8. Washington and Lee University 64 pts. 9. Shenandoah University 60 pts. 10. Roanoke College 54 pts. 11. Ferrum College 47 pts. 12. Randolph College 23 pts. 13. Hollins University 13 pts.