By Kyle Kuhlman/OCCAC Sports Information
SPRINGFIELD, Ohio – By receiving eight of nine first-place votes in the OCCAC Preseason Women’s Basketball Coaches Poll, Owens Community College has been tabbed as the conference favorites heading into the 2017-18 season. Sinclair Community College comes in at No. 2 while Cuyahoga Community College garnered the remaining first-place vote and is slotted third in the preseason poll.
2017-18 OCCAC PRESEASON WOMEN’S BASKETBALL COACHES POLL
First-place votes listed in parenthesis
1 | Owens (8) | 1.11 avg.
2 | Sinclair | 2.22 avg.
3 | Cuyahoga (1) | 2.67 avg.
4 | Edison | 4.33 avg.
5 | Columbus State | 5.00 avg.
6 | Lakeland | 6.22 avg.
7 | Clark State | 6.56 avg.
8 | Hocking | 8.44 avg.
8 | Lorain County | 8.44 avg.
Owens has won five consecutive OCCAC championships and parlayed two conference crowns into top-5 finishes for the NJCAA D-II national tournament (5 th place in 2016 and 3 rd place in 2015).
The ‘17-18 season officially gets underway on Nov. 1 when OCCAC members Hocking, Lakeland and Sinclair all send their varsity squads to the hardwood for their regular season openers.
WHAT THEY’RE SAYING | TOP RETURNERS/NEWCOMERS INFORMATION
Sinclair
“This team has a good nucleus returning and some awesome additions joining the Tartan family,” head coach Victoria Jones said. “I have enjoyed the process of watching our ‘Twin Towers,’ Madison Connally and Aaryn Evans, develop and I am excited about their futures moving forward to the next level of their basketball careers. Overall we have a good freshman class that brings a huge burst of offense, defense and toughness, and I look forward to coaching them all.”
Top returners – Madison Connally, Aaryn Evans
Top newcomers – Amanda Schroeder
Cuyahoga
“We will be a much deeper team and better at the guard position than last season,” head coach Derrick Williams said. “Our defense will lead us this year and we will be more organized in our approach to each game.”
Top returners – Tre’vion Beverly, Marisela Santos
Top newcomers – Rochelle White, Ryan Greenfield, Ariez Simms
Edison
“We have quite a few freshmen that we expect to contribute this season,” head coach Tim McMahon said.
Columbus State
“This is a team that is made for success,” head coach Bryon Allgood said. “We have six outstanding freshmen ready to step right in, solid sophomore leadership and a strong defensive mindset. We should have a very successful season.”
Top returner – Ally Rutter
Top newcomer – Savannah Blackwell
Lakeland
“We have a young basketball team that will get tested early playing some tough non-conference competition,” head coach Ornette Gardehire said. “I am excited to see how the team responds to the challenges of their first season of college basketball.”
Top returner – Brianna Williams
Top newcomers – Zya Williams, Angel Cannon, Jayla Sanford, Armani Jackson, Aryana Jackson, Delesha Jackson, Brittany Prugel
Clark State
“This coming year, we do not have any returning players,” head coach KaWambee Gaines said. “We also don’t have really a top newcomer, but we do have is a great nucleus of players who work hard, are coachable and want to have a great year. I am very excited to coach this team and look forward to the season.”
Lorain County
“We will be much more balanced this year between returners and newcomers,” head coach Vince Granito said. “Last year we had only one returning player, whereas this year we have a nice mix. This year’s team will be much more athletic as we look to improve on many of our offensive categories.”
Top returners – Carrie Carlson, Angel Blakely
Top newcomer – Hannah Oehlstrom
Hocking
Top returner – Kylie Jettinghoff
Top newcomers – Shalyn Johnson, Shanyce Cabrales