By Kyle Kuhlman/OCCAC Sports Information
SPRINGFIELD, Ohio – Sinclair Community College comes in atop the 2018-19 OCCAC Women’s Basketball Preseason Coaches Poll after receiving five of nine first-place votes and being slotted no worse than second by any of the other head coaches across the conference. Owens Community College is ranked second and corralled three first-place tallies while Cuyahoga sits third overall, including a show of confidence by selecting itself as the top squad.
2018-19 OCCAC WOMEN’S BASKETBALL PRESEASON COACHES POLL
First place votes in parenthesis
1 | Sinclair (5) | 1.67 avg.
2 | Owens (3) | 2.00 avg.
3 | Cuyahoga (1) | 3.56 avg.
4 | Edison State | 3.67 avg.
5 | Lakeland | 4.22 avg.
6 | Columbus State | 6.11 avg.
7 | Lorain County | 7.33 avg.
8 | Clark State | 7.67 avg.
9 | Hocking College | 8.87 avg.
In addition, Bryant & Stratton (Ohio) joins the conference as a provisional member for the 2018-18 campaign.
HEAD COACH REPORTS
Sinclair Community College
Top returner: Amanda Schroeder
Top newcomer: Julona Martin
Owens Community College
Owens does not have any returning players from last year’s team. We will be very young, featuring all freshman. They have worked really hard this preseason and have really come together as a group. They are hungry to make a name for themselves and understand the tradition and high expectations we have at Owens.
Cuyahoga Community College
Top returner: Tionne E’lamin
Top newcomer: Jada Williams
We have a new look and a new team, and the year will be very exciting. We welcome all challenges.
Edison State Community College
Top returners: Clair Schmitmeyer, Kailani Broyles
Top newcomer: Sarah Bergman
Lakeland Community College
Top returners: Delesha Jackson, Zya Williams
Columbus State Community College
Top returner: Stephanie Newell
Top newcomer: Whitney Staggs
We have some high standards and expectations set for this season. Without a doubt, I feel like we have the players to live up to what we want to accomplish. Our team will focus on getting after it on the defensive end, but runs in transition. We have plenty of players to do that. Overall I am very excited about the potential of this team.
Lorain County Community College
Our top returning player is Hannah Oehlstrom, who was an honorable mention all-league last season as a freshman. I actually have a trio of new players who are coming in from successful high school programs: Brianna Gallagher, Elana Maley and Armani Artice.
This year’s team is probably my most athletic from top to bottom in the four years I have been the coach here. We has a solid 12 players that will allow us to play a more up-tempo style. In the past, we had had to be strategic in how we play because we have only had 7-8 players, but with more depth this year, we can afford to be more aggressive in our style of play. Furthermore, we have more new players who are coming in from successful high school programs, so the hope is the attitude change will help change the culture.
Clark State Community College
Top returner: Hayley Melton
Top newcomer: Brooke Starrett
Hocking College
No head coach report provided.