INDIANAPOLIS – Walsh, the defending league champion, was projected to repeat following Wednesday’s release of the 2020-21 Great Midwest Athletic Conference Women’s Basketball Preseason Coaches Poll presented by Under Armour.
Walsh was the overwhelming favorite as the unanimous choice, receiving all possible 11 of the 12 first-place votes for 121 total points.
Kate Bruce, the 2019-20 Great Midwest Coach of the Year, led the Cavaliers to an undefeated conference schedule and a conference tournament championship run. Walsh was set to compete in the NCAA Regional tournament as a three seed, prior to the COVID-19 pandemic shutting the bracket down.
It was a tight race for the two, three and four spots, with Kentucky Wesleyan runner-up in the poll with 107 points and the other first-place vote. Cedarville and Findlay received 98 and 96 votes, respectively. The Malone Pioneers rounded out the top five programs with 83 points.
The Cavaliers return the Great Midwest Player of the Year and All-American, Quionche ‘Sha’ Carter who enters her junior year after leading the league in scoring last season (18.8 ppg). First team all-conference selection, Mayci Sales, enters her senior season with the Cavaliers after averaging 16.8 points and 8.4 rebounds per game in 2019-20.
Walsh returns a supporting cast of veteran players in Kimmie Borck, Lexie Scarton, Megan Ball and Alyssa Dean. The Cavaliers led the conference in scoring while averaging 85.6 points per contest and shooting almost 50 percent from the floor as a team last season.
Kentucky Wesleyan brings back a pair of talented second team all-conference selections, guard Lily Grimes-Miller and forward Kaylee Clifford. The Panthers also return Tahlia Walton, Emma Johnson and Cali Nolot, who made up a large chunk of the team’s scoring last season.
During the 2019-20 season, the Panthers held opposing teams to an average of 56.1 points per game, ranking first among league competitors in that category.
Another top team on both sides of the floor is Cedarville, who averaged 74.4 points per game while holding opponents to just under 65.
The Yellow Jackets will need to replace a key piece of their puzzle in first team and all-defensive team selection, Abby Wolford. Wolford led the team in scoring (14.6 ppg) and averaged 2.4 three-pointers per contest during the 2019-20 season.
Cedarville returns its second leading scorer and leading rebounder in dependable senior guard Ashlyn Huffman. Isabelle Bolender, the reigning Great Midwest Freshman of the Year, will look to take the next step in her development.
The Findlay Oilers will be a more experienced team this season as the dynamic frontcourt duo of Sydney Kin and Bridget Landin enter their junior seasons.
Kin shot over 55 percent from the floor, averaging 16.4 points per game and 8.3 rebounds last season. Landin led the team in both steals and blocks and was rewarded with a spot on the league’s all-defensive team for her efforts. Both are nightly double-double threats.
Malone, however, returns a strong backcourt combo in sharpshooter Holly Groff and facilitator Robin Campbell. Groff led the league in both 3-point field goal percentage and 3-point field goals per game, averaging 17.9 points per contest last season.
Ohio Dominican rounds out the top half of the coaches poll after making an appearance in the conference quarterfinals last season. The Panthers have a void to fill with high-scoring Alexa Fisher graduating, but also return veterans Angela Troyer and Alli Kern.
Tiffin, Ursuline, Hillsdale, Trevecca, Lake Erie and Ohio Valley make up the remaining portion of the preseason rankings, in that order.
The conference-only schedule is scheduled to tip off on Thursday, Dec. 3, with all 12 teams in action. The Great Midwest women’s basketball season preview will be released one week prior to the start of the season.
The Great Midwest is also waiting with anticipation for the addition of the historically successful Ashland women’s basketball program to the preseason poll for the 2021-22 academic year.
Eight teams will qualify for the Great Midwest Championship Tournament that will be held March 2; 5-6, 2021. The quarterfinal rounds will be held at the top four seeds, with the semifinals and finals being held by the top remaining seed.
Great Midwest Women's Basketball Preseason Coaches Poll presented by Under Armour
| School |
Points |
| 1. Walsh (11 first-place votes) |
121 |
| 2. Kentucky Wesleyan (1 first-place vote) |
107 |
| 3. Cedarville |
98 |
| 4. Findlay |
96 |
| 5. Malone |
83 |
| 6. Ohio Dominican |
63 |
| 7. Tiffin |
50 |
| 8. Ursuline |
44 |
| 9. Hillsdale |
43 |
| 10. Trevecca Nazarene |
40 |
| 11. Lake Erie |
36 |
| 12. Ohio Valley |
11 |