LC Earns Eight First Place votes, R-MC, EMU and GC with Top Consideration

FOREST, Va. --- There's a new team atop the ODAC Women's Basketball Preseason Poll as Lynchburg College looks down from its No. 1 position after picking up eight first place votes and 117 total points.  Randolph-Macon College received two top nods and 106 points, while Eastern Mennonite University grabbed one first place vote and 101 tallies to place third.  Guilford College garnered the remaining first place vote and tied with Virginia Wesleyan College for fourth in the annual coaches' survey with 90 points.

For the second straight year, two ODAC schools earned a berth into the NCAA Division III Women's Basketball Tournament in 2014.  Randolph-Macon had its dance card signed automatically after winning its eighth ODAC women's basketball title with a 91-84 decision over Guilford.  A semifinal loss didn't keep Eastern Mennonite off the national stage as the Royals earned an at-large berth into the 64-team field.  Neither R-MC nor EMU advanced past the first round.  Eastern Mennonite fell to Christopher Newport University, 78-63, while Randolph-Macon dropped a 91-62 decision to Messiah College.

Half of last season's all-conference honorees make a return to courts across the league, giving the ODAC a nice blend of returning talent to welcome in this year's newcomers.  That includes the coaching ranks where three new mentors take over the reins of ODAC squads.  Randolph-Macon is the lone school to receive any preseason recognition as the Yellow Jackets are receiving votes towards the D3hooops.com Top-25 Preseason Poll.

Lynchburg (16-11 overall, 12-4 in ODAC play in 2013-14) welcomes back a pair of all-conference performers and three starters to a squad that made a second straight trip to the ODAC Tournament semifinals last season.  Forward Shannon Allan (14.9 ppg, 5.3 rpg, 27 blk) earned her second straight All-ODAC First Team nod, and she's joined on the frontcourt by All-ODAC Third Team forward Chaney Forbush (11.7 ppg, 8.4 rpg, .524 fg%, 41 blk).  Guard Sammi Goldsmith (6.3 rpg, 107 ast) started in 2014, while guard Charmaine Hairston (10.2 ppg, 40 stl) and forward Lauren Penley (8.4 ppg, 6.5 rpg) further bolster the Hornets lineup.

Randolph-Macon (23-6, 13-3), owner's of the ODAC's most prolific offense at 87.4 points per game last season, must replace 21 points per game from last year's conference leading scoring, Taylor Huber.  To help do that, the Yellow Jackets return the league's third and fourth-highest scoring players.  Guard Sarah Parsons (17.5 ppg, 4.1 rpg, 46 3fg, 62 ast, 45 stl) and forward Katie Anderson (15.9 ppg, 9.6 rpg, .521 fg%) are those two athletes, respectively, with both earning All-ODAC Second Team laurels.  Point guard Khajae Hester (7.6 rpg, 89 ast) returns to run the offense, while guard Hannah Livermon (8.1 ppg, 44 3fg) patrols the perimeter and forward Lauren Vugteveen (5.7 ppg, 4.7 rpg) adds punch down low.

Eastern Mennonite (22-6, 15-1) featured 10 players that averaged at least 10 minutes per game last season.  Seven of those athletes are back this season, with a pair of starters and two all-conference standouts among them.  Forwards Jess Rheinheimer (10.3 ppg, 4.9 rpg, 30 stl) and Shakeerah Sykes (10.1 ppg, 5.8 rpg) both grabbed second team honors last year.  Guard Alisa Brown (7.6 ppg, 46 stl) and forward Becky Barrett (3.0 ppg, 4.1 rpg) both started all 28 games for the Royals.  Shooter Marla zumFelde (8.0 ppg, 44 3fg) adds a perimeter presence to the ODAC's second-highest scoring squad (72.9 ppg) last season.

Guilford (21-7, 11-5), the ODAC's best rebounding squad by far at a +12.4 boards per game average last season, has two major low-post standouts to replace if it hopes to repeat that feat in 2014-15.  Guards Brittany Drew (8.9 ppg, 51 ast, 44 stl, 39 3fg) and Jennette Taylor (4.8 ppg, 4.6 rpg, 57 ast, 42 stl) return to the starting lineup, with forwards Anais Weatherly (6.0 ppg, 46 stl) and Heaven Walters (1.8 ppg) prepared for increased roles after solid rookie seasons.  Guards Lila Scott () and Alex Payne () add more depth to the Quakers perimeter.

Virginia Wesleyan (17-10, 10-6) returns four starters in addition to a pair of players that missed all or most of last season while on the mend.  Do-everything point guard Brittany Glasco (13.3 ppg, 6.9 rpg, 102 ast, 36 stl) earned first team accolades last year.  She is joined by forwards Nancy Kelly (10.4 ppg, 6.2 rpg, .554 fg%) and Cassie Conley (5.3 ppg, 3.9 rpg) and guard Kerri-Leanne Taylor (6.0 ppg, 4.1 rpg, 71 ast) in the Marlins first five.  Guard Andrea Paphites (15.3 ppg, 4.2 rpg, 48 ast in 10 games) was leading the squad in scoring before injury cut short her season, and guard Symonne Newsome (5.3 ppg, 47 stl in 2012-13) is back after missing all of 2013-14.  Guard Kelly Jones (10.1 ppg) was third in three-pointers made (54) last season.

Bridgewater College (9-17, 6-10) welcomes back three starters, including reigning ODAC Rookie of the Year, forward Heather Cantrell (11.5 ppg, 7.3 rpg, .500 fg%, 38 stl).  Guard Cassidy Burkholder (12.7 ppg, 5.2 rpg, 56 ast, 61 stl) is the Eagles top returning scorer, while backcourt mate Jessi Strom (7.4 ppg, 39 3fg, 57 ast) adds a perimeter presence.  Guard Jess Lam (4.5 ppg) and forward Oshene Kelly (4.7 ppg, 4.3 rpg) look forward to increased roles this season.

Randolph College (11-15, 5-11) set a program record for wins and winning percentage (.423) last season.  Four starters return from that squad, including third team guard Abigail Bullins (13.5 ppg, 56 3fg, .885 ft%).  Forwards Jensen Hoover (9.7 ppg7.6 rpg) and Allie Druffel (7.6 ppg, 7.0 rpg) and guard Jacqueline Hockman (4.2 ppg, 49 ast) complete that group.  Hoover led the ODAC in field goals shooting (.607).  Guards Brie Holdren (7.1 ppg) and Chelsea Tyler (6.1 ppg, 53 ast) and forward Korin Harris (6.9 ppg, 6.9 rpg) all averaged six points or better in 2014.

Washington and Lee University (6-19, 4-12) and Hollins University (7-19, 2-14) both feature strong mixes of youth and experience as they look to move up the ODAC ladder in 2014-15.  The Generals feature all five starters from last season.  Guards Annie Gauf (8.5 ppg, 80 ast) and Jackie Clifford (8.6 ppg, 61 ast, 31 stl) and forwards Wesleigh Vick (8.4 ppg, 8.3 rpg) and Shelbi Hendricks (8.5 ppg, 5.4 rpg) all averaged 8.5 points or better per game, while guard Paige Corvino (6.3 ppg, 6.5 rpg, 45 stl) does a little bit of everything.  Look for forward Samantha Sharman (7.9 ppg) to have an increased role this season.  Hollins must replace double-double forward Chanci Wright, and HU has four starters back ready to do just that.  Guard Jewell Parfitt (11.9 ppg, 4.5 rpg, 52 ast, 43 stl, 52 3fg) led HU in scoring, and she's joined by fellow guard Taylor Catron (9.7 ppg, 4.6 rpg, 65 ast) and forwards Britney Campbell (6.3 ppg, 4.1 rpg, 32 stl) and Amber Markovitz (2.6 ppg).

Shenandoah University (10-17, 6-10), Roanoke College (13-13, 8-8) and Emory & Henry College (6-20, 4-12) are all under new leadership this season.  Former SU assistant Melissa Smeltzer-Kraft steps into the lead chair.  She welcomes back four starters including second team guard Imani Heggins (15.0 ppg, 6.2 rpg, 57 stl) as well as forward Holly Chittenden (11.9 ppg, 8.9 rpg, 61 ast, 45 stl) and guards Ashley McGhee (4.4 ppg) and Tiffany Bauer (3.9 ppg).  Former Lasell College head coach Carla Flaherty is the new mentor at Roanoke following the retirement of 600-game winner Susan Dunagan after 33 years.  Flaherty benefits from the return of three starters in guards Tatum McKee (9.8 ppg, 7.2 rpg, 54 ast, 58 stl), Kelsey Smith (9.2 ppg, 32 3fg) and Bridget Holleran (4.2 ppg, 61 ast).  Emory & Henry is now under the guidance of former Wasps four-time All-ODAC performer Anne Crutchfield, who spent the past eight years guiding the Franklin County High School girls program.  Four starters are back for E&H, including guard and ODAC/Virginia Farm Bureau Insurance Scholar-Athlete Kristie Langley (11.3 ppg, 5.2 rpg30 stl).  Forward Karina Farr (10.5 ppg, 7.0 rpg) and guards Megan Jacoby (5.5 ppg, 101 ast, 56 stl) and Anna Green (5.2 ppg) also return to Emory.

Listed below is the full 2014-15 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.

Don't forget to become a fan of the ODAC on Facebook.  You can also follow the ODAC on Twitter @odacathletics.  Be sure to check out the ODAC's YouTube channel (www.youtube.com/user/ODAC1976) and watch an interview with each of the ODAC's head men's basketball coaches as they talk about their programs from media day in Salem (videos not live --- to be added after the event).

2014-15 ODAC WOMEN'S BASKETBALL PRESEASON POLL
(#) Denotes First Place Votes