Generals Followed by Roanoke, Randolph-Macon

FOREST, Va. --- Washington and Lee University earned six first place votes on the way to 115 total points to top the 2010-11 ODAC Women’s Basketball Preseason Poll.  Roanoke College collected 110 tallies and four top nods to take second, and Randolph-Macon College earned the final first place vote and 97 points in the annual coaches’ survey.

Washington and Lee was one of two teams to participate in the 2010 NCAA Division III Tournament following its first ODAC women’s hoops crown.  Joined by Roanoke, both teams competed at Christopher Newport University for the first two rounds.  The Generals, in their first appearance in the NCAA postseason, fell to the Captains in the opening round, but the Maroons continued on to round two following their 77-66 victory over McDaniel.  A matchup with CNU followed, with the Captains getting the best of Roanoke as well.

The Generals (18-10 overall, 14-6 ODAC in 2010) and head coach Mandy King begin their first title defense with a host of talent back for another go-round, including all five starters and 9-of-11 letter-winners from a team that set a program record with 18 wins.  All-ODAC First Team forward Becca Bolton (15.1 ppg, 10.9 rpg) was just one two players to average a double-double in 2010 (Molly Ariail, R-MC).  She and center Felice Herman (8.9 ppg. 6.4 rpg.) helped W&L to the ODAC’s top ranking in rebounds.  They are joined by All-ODAC Second Team guard Meg Ingram (13.3 ppg, 4.2 apg.), Kari Ann Pfannenstein (6.8 ppg. 2.9 rpg) and Allie Long (5.0 ppg.) in the starting lineup.

Roanoke (24-4, 19-1) lost only once in ODAC play last season, and head coach Susan Dunagan welcomes back several key performers to make a run at a conference-best 14^th ODAC title as she begins stare down 575 wins (56-216 record in 29 seasons).  It all starts in the middle for the Maroons with first team center Jordan Gholson (12.4 ppg, 7.0 rpg, 61 blocked shots) and Nicci Moats (9.7 ppg, 7.8 rpg) back in the fold.  They will have help from Kylie Lucas (5.3 ppg) down low with Kendra Porter (7.0 ppg, 43 steals) and Becca Bays (4.9 ppg) chipping in from the perimeter.

Randolph-Macon (18-7, 6-4) will have a new look in 2010-11 following the graduation of three-time ODAC Player of the Year, Molly Ariail.  Returning to help make up the lost production are second team guard Maggie Roy (12.7 ppg, 3.0 rpg) and backcourt mate Jennifer O’Briant (5.8 ppg), as well as forward Katie Williams (6.5 ppg).  Taylor Wieczorek (8.3 ppg, 5.4 rpg) made strides down low in 2010 and looks to earn more time in the post this season.

Bridgewater (17-9, 13-7) is led by first team forward Jordan Burkholder (16.5 ppg, 5.0 rpg) as she looks to help the Eagles to their second title in the last four years.  Also back to help in that effort is guard Jenny Logan (9.2 ppg) and forward Katie Hottinger (5.7 ppg, 4.8 rpg).

Eastern Mennonite (16-10, 11-9) and Virginia Wesleyan (17-11, 12-8) proved adept both inside and outside in 2010.  EMU will look to Danielle Rittenhouse (9.7 ppg) and Sara Lamneck (8.9 ppg, 7.9 rpg), as well as the return of Danielle Scott (11.8 ppg, 5.3 rpg) from injury.  The Marlins feature a trio of returning starters including Kristina Jameson (7.8 ppg) and Jocelyn Spencer (5.1 ppg) on the perimeter and Kristen Blalock (8.5 ppg, 5.2 rpg) down on the blocks.

Guilford (14-12, 11-9) welcomes back only one starter from last year in leading scorer Jazlyn Gibbs (12.4 ppg).  She’ll be joined by Lauren LeFevers (7.0 ppg) and Brittany Atwater (6.0 ppg) in the Quakers’ backcourt.

Lynchburg (7-19, 6-14) and Emory & Henry (6-19, 5-15) battled to the final day for the eighth seed in the ODAC Tournament in 2010, with the Hornets earning the events’ final spot.  Under new head coach and 2004 alumnus Abby Pyzik, LC looks to keep its run of four straight tourney appearances rolling.  Courtney Brewer (8.1 ppg), Caitlin Falls (7.2 ppg) and Carly Greenlief (7.0 ppg) will work to help that cause.  E&H and second year mentor Steve Kenner graduated 60-percent of its offense in four lost starters, but Christina Howard (5.9 ppg), Ashlyn Baird (4.3 ppg) and Blakeley Brewton (2.8 ppg) look forward to their opportunities to contribute.

Hollins (2-23, 1-19) and Randolph (3-21, 2-18) will both be under new leadership this season.  Jim Phillips takes over the reins at HU, and he welcomes back 2010 ODAC Rookie of the Year, Jasmine Green (19.2 ppg – 2^nd in ODAC – 6.8 rpg) and fellow guard Tamara Phillips (15.0 ppg).  Allison Nichols, a former player under Jean Willi at Bridgewater, assumes control of the WildCats.  Lauren French (9.0 ppg) and Rebecca Folden (1.1 ppg) are the only returning players to Randolph’s roster, lending plenty of opportunity for the program’s newcomers.

Listed below is the complete ODAC Women’s Basketball Preseason Poll.  For more information, visit the websites of any of the participating schools, or go to the ODAC’s home on the Internet at www.odaconline.com.  You can also explore the ODAC Women’s Basketball “Virtual” Media Guide by clicking HERE.  This section of the conference website will continue to evolve throughout the preseason with team rosters, previews and other information about each of the 11 women’s basketball teams in the ODAC.

2010-11 ODAC WOMEN’S BASKETBALL PREASON POLL
(#) Denotes First Place Votes