Guilford Picked Eighth in ODAC Women's Basketball Poll
Greensboro, N.C. (11/9/06) -- Old Dominion Athletic Conference (ODAC) women's basketball coaches picked Guilford College eighth in their preseason poll Thursday. League officials announced the poll at the annual ODAC Women's Basketball Media Day at the Salem (Va.) Civic Center.
The Quakers received 48 points in the 11-team poll. Bridgewater earned eight of 11 first-place votes and 117 points in the rankings. The Eagles return four starters from last year's 24-7 club that reached the "Sweet 16" round of the NCAA Division III playoffs. Virginia Wesleyan, with all five starters back from last season's 17-9 unit, ranks second in the poll, followed by two-time defending league champion Randolph-Macon.
Guilford has two starters among three letter winners back from last season's 11-16 club that lost to Randolph-Macon in the 2006 ODAC Tournament semifinals. Senior point guard Dionne Graham is the Quakers' top returning scorer (8.7 ppg.) and ranked among the league's assists and steals leaders a year ago. Guilford's other returning starter is sophomore guard Brittany Bumgarner, who scored 6.5 points per game and 34 three-pointers last year.
Fourth-year head coach Stephanie Flamini's club opens the 2006-07 season Nov. 17 against crosstown-rival Bennett College at 8:00 p.m. in the Guilford Tip-Off Tournament in the Ragan-Brown Field House. The Quakers' league opener is December 1 at Randolph-Macon Woman's College.
2006-07 ODAC Women's Basketball Coaches Preseason Poll
(first-place votes in parentheses)
1. Bridgewater (8) - 117
2. Virginia Wesleyan (2) - 107
3. Randolph-Macon (1) - 99
4. Roanoke - 82
5. Washington and Lee - 80
6. Emory & Henry - 62
7. Eastern Mennonite - 55
8. Guilford - 48
9. Lynchburg - 42
10. Randolph-Macon Woman's College - 22
11. Hollins - 12.