FOREST, Va. --- Two points separate four different positions at the top of the ODAC Women's Basketball Preseason Poll following a survey of the league's head coaches. Eastern Mennonite University received seven first place votes on the way to 112 total points to sit clear of second place Lynchburg College by just two points. The Hornets' 110-point outlay features the remaining five top nods. Emory & Henry College and Randolph-Macon College are also separated by just two markers for third position with the Wasps taking up third position with 91 tallies.

RELATED: Women's Basketball Virtual Guide

Last season's ODAC Tournament had a very familiar feel with Guilford College and Lynchburg meeting for the conference title for the second straight year. LC won that contest in 2016, 62-55. The Quakers made their way to the 2017 deciding game with a quarterfinal win over Washington and Lee University (72-55) before knocking off Emory & Henry (67-52) in the semifinals. Lynchburg advanced past cross-town rival Randolph College (58-48) in the quarters and then defeated Randolph-Macon College (69-60) to join GC in the championship game.

It was a tale of two halves for the ODAC hardware as Lynchburg held Guilford to 7-of-29 from the field on the way to a 28-17 halftime lead. The tide turned in the second half as the Quakers shot 50-percent or better in both the third and fourth periods on the way to erasing their 11-point deficit at the intermission and posting a 59-53 triumph for the program's fifth overall conference title.

RELATED: ODAC Tournament Site | 2017 Tournament Results

Despite losing to Guilford, who earned the ODAC's automatic NCAA Tournament qualifier in addition to the league crown, Lynchburg joined GC in the national field of 64 as an at-large selection. Guilford's stay in the tournament, however, last just one game. Playing on their home floor at Ragan-Brown Field House, the Quakers fell to Marymount University (Va.) in the first round, 74-70.

Lynchburg, on the other hand, picked up the program's first NCAA Tournament victory with a 69-64 opening round triumph over Catholic University at Christopher Newport. The Hornets came up short against the host Captains in round two via a 69-51 result.

RELATED: 2017 NCAA Tournament Bracket

Entering the 2017-18 season, 10 All-ODAC athletes are back for another season including three from last year's All-ODAC First Team. Kelly Williams, the 2017 ODAC Rookie of the Year, leads the way for Randolph-Macon, while guards Jayla Harris from Virginia Wesleyan University and Emily Perszyk from Washington and Lee round out the returning first team trio.

Eastern Mennonite and Lynchburg both have a pair of all-conference standouts returning to their rosters. The Hornets feature second team forward Caroline Nauman and third team forward Molly Shephard, while the Royals look to second team guard Myneshia Walker and third team playmaker Chloe Roach.

Emory & Henry forward Taylor Blevins is back after a pair of second team honors the past two years, while guard Lauren Ramsey has leadership responsibilities for Guilford following a second straight third team selection. Bridgewater College center Kaitlyn Lehan affords new head coach Sarah Mathews a solid post presence after picking up third team laurels last season.

RELATED: 2017 All-ODAC Women's Basketball Awards

The 2017-18 season kicks off on Wednesday, November 15, with 10 league schools in action versus non-conference opponents. The first ODAC games are slated for Tuesday, November 28.

Listed below is the 2017-18 ODAC Women's Basketball Preseason Poll.  For more information on ODAC women's basketball, visit any of the participating school's websites, or go to the ODAC's home on the Internet at www.odaconline.com and view the women's basketball virtual media guide.  The virtual media guide and this release will be updated with interviews featuring the ODAC's head coaches from media day.

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2017-18 ODAC WOMEN'S BASKETBALL PRESEASON POLL
(#) Denotes First Place Votes