Women's Basketball Release - ODAC poll - Guilford College

  • GUILFORD WOMEN'S BASKETBALL TEAM PICKED FIRST IN ODAC POLL

Salem, VA (11/07/02) -- Old Dominion Athletic Conference (ODAC) women's basketball coaches picked Guilford first in their preseason poll, the league announced Thursday at its annual media day at the Salem Civic Center. The Quakers are the league's two-time defending champions and received eight first-place votes and the top spot in the 11-team poll.

Tenth-year head coach Barb Bausch returns seven letter winners, including two starters, from last season's 25-4 unit that set the school record for wins in a season. Guilford advanced to the second round of the NCAA playoffs and won the ODAC Tournament for the second year in a row. Junior forward Jennie Keichline (Chapel Hill, NC/East Chapel Hill) is the Quakers' top returning scorer after averaging a career-high 8.6 points per game last year. Junior forward Jackie Hardenbergh (Oak Hill, VA/Paul VI) averaged 8.0 points and is the team's top returning rebounder (5.6 rpg.). Guilford opens the season November 22 against Thomas More in a tournament hosted by Wilmington (OH).

Bridgewater, which Guilford defeated in last year's ODAC Tournament final, returns three starters and was picked second. Emory & Henry, Roanoke and Eastern Mennonite round out the poll's top five spots.

2002 ODAC Women's Basketball Preseason Coaches' Poll

(first-place votes in parentheses)

1. Guilford (8)

2. Bridgewater (1)

3. Emory & Henry

4. Roanoke (1)

5. Eastern Mennonite (1)

6. Randolph-Macon

7. Lynchburg

8. Virginia Wesleyan

9. Hollins

10. Washington and Lee

11. Randolph-Macon Woman's College