INDIANAPOLIS- Twelve programs were ranked in order with the reigning Great Midwest Champs in Ashland University earning the top spot. Ashland is followed by Kentucky Wesleyan and Walsh to round out the top three in the release of the 2022-23 Great Midwest Athletic Conference Women’s Basketball Coaches Poll presented by Under Armour.
Ashland received 12 first-place votes and totaled 144 points. Kentucky Wesleyan, the second-place favorite, earned 129 points. The Cavaliers are voted to finish third with 110 votes, including one first-place vote.
The Ashland University Eagles were crowned 2021-22 regular season and conference tournament champions. Under Coach of the Year Kari Pickens, Ashland finished the regular season with a 29-3 overall record and a 21-2 conference mark. One of the league’s top scorers in Annie Roshak returns for the Eagles. Roshak averaged 17.3 points per game at a .551 field goal percentage. Hallie Heidemann also returns for Ashland. Heidemann was dominant in the Championship game against Walsh as she poured in 21 points for the Eagles and was also named to the All-Defensive team.
Voted to finish in second place are the Panthers from Kentucky Wesleyan. Tahlia Walton, who was selected to the First-Team All-Great Midwest Conference team, returns for the Panthers. Walton finished the season ranked third in the conference in field goal percentage at .556. She averaged 14.4 points per game and 4.8 rebounds. Shiya Hoosier and Cali Nolot, both All-Conference selections, also return. Hoosier led a dominant Kentucky Wesleyan defense that ranked first in the conference. She was third in the Great Midwest in steals at 59 on the year and was selected to the All-Defensive team. Nolot was a Second-Team selection after averaging 12.3 points per contest.
Last year’s conference runner-up, Walsh University, will to look to build on last year’s success under first-year head coach Mark Schwitzgable. The Cavaliers were picked to finish third after falling short in last year’s Midwest Regional Championship. Walsh will miss Player of the Year in Sha Carter as well as Mayci Sales, a five-time First-Team selection. The league’s best three-point shooter in Morgan McMillen returns for Walsh as well as Second-Team All-Conference selection Lexie Scarton. McMillen made 102 threes on the year at .483 percent. Scarton ranked fourth in the Great Midwest in Assist/Turnover ratio as well as assists per game at 3.7.
Newcomer Northwood University is slotted at the fourth place spot with Hillsdale rounding out the preseason top five. The Timberwolves finished the 2021-22 year with an 18-10 overall record before falling to Michigan Tech in the GLIAC quarterfinal. The Chargers return Freshman of the Year in Peighton Nelson as well as Sydney Mills, who led the Great Midwest in rebounds last season.
Cedarville was polled sixth with 92 points followed by Findlay with 81 points. Ursuline, Malone, Tiffin, Ohio Dominican,
Trevecca Nazarene, and Lake Erie rounded out the preseason poll, respectively, while gearing up for the 2022-23 season.
| Great Midwest Women’s Basketball Preseason Coaches Poll presented by Under Armour |
| School Points |
| ASHLAND (12) |
144 |
| KY. WESLEYAN |
129 |
| WALSH (1) |
110 |
| NORTHWOOD |
105 |
| HILLSDALE |
91 |
| CEDARVILLE |
92 |
| FINDLAY |
81 |
| URSULINE |
74 |
| MALONE |
64 |
| TIFFIN |
50 |
| ODU |
34 |
| TNU |
27 |
| LAKE ERIE |
13 |