Guilford Women’s Basketball Tops ODAC Coaches’ Poll

SALEM, Va. – Guilford College’s women’s basketball team was picked first in the 2012-13 Old Dominion Athletic Conference (ODAC) Preseason Coaches’ Poll. The Quakers received eight first-place votes for their first top ranking since 2002. The poll was announced Thursday at the league’s annual women’s basketball media day at the Salem Civic Center.

Eastern Mennonite University received four first-place votes and was picked second. Virginia Wesleyan College stood third in the poll. Bridgewater College and Randolph-Macon College rounded out the top-five.

Guilford enters its 40th season looking to build on its best record since 2001-02. The Quakers ended the 2011-12 season with a 22-7 record, overcoming top-seeded Virginia Wesleyan to clinch the program’s third ODAC Championship and earn an NCAA Tournament bid. Tenth-year head coach Stephanie Flamini returns 11 letter winners from last season, including four starters.

Junior forward Gabby Oglesby, a D3hoops.com preseason Second Team All-American, leads the Quakers’ veterans. The reigning ODAC Player of the Year, she averaged 14.7 points and 7.8 rebounds per game last season and owns all of Guilford’s blocked shots records. Classmate Morgan King, a 6-1 forward, recorded five double-doubles last season and scored 10 or more points 15 times. Senior Jaclyn Nucci rounds out the returning frontcourt starters and four-year starter Brittany Atwater is one of the ODAC’s top returning point guards.

Guilford opens the season Nov. 15 against cross-town rival Greensboro College at 7:00 p.m. in the Ragan-Brown Field House. The Quakers open league play at home against Eastern Mennonite Nov. 28.

2012-13 ODAC WOMEN’S BASKETBALL PRESEASON POLL

(#) Denotes First-Place Votes

   1. Guilford (8)           118 pts.
   2. Eastern Mennonite (4)  114 pts.
   3.Virginia Wesleyan        92 pts.
   4. Bridgewater             89 pts.
   5. Randolph-Macon          75 pts.
   6. Lynchburg               70 pts.
   7. Hollins                 63 pts.
   8. Roanoke                 56 pts.
   9. Emory & Henry           36 pts.
  10. Shenandoah              32 pts.
  11. Randolph                28 pts.
  12. Washington and Lee      20 pts.