INDIANAPOLIS—The Great Midwest Athletic Conference released the Women’s Basketball Preseason Coaches Poll presented by Under Armour Wednesday afternoon. The three-time G-MAC Champions Ashland University claimed the top spot, as voted by the league’s coaches. 
 
Ashland received 12 first place votes and totaled 183 points. Malone, the second place favorite, earned 128 points. Findlay is voted to finish third with 122 points. 
 
Ashland won its third consecutive regular season and conference tournament title with a perfect 20-0 conference mark. The Eagles went on to earn the No. 2 seed in the Midwest Regional last season. Head coach Kerri Pickens will miss two-time Player of the Year Annie Roshak, but returns a depth of talent. 2023-24 Freshman of the Year Lexi Howe returns for Pickens after starting in 22 games and averaging 8.9 points, 3.4 rebounds, and 2.5 assists per game. All-conference selections Zoe Miller and Hayley Smith also return for the Eagles. Miller led the league in FG%, shooting 61.2% on 172 made field goals. Her 61.2% also ranked second in DII. Smith ranked third in the league in rebounding, averaging 7.8 per contest in addition to 9.8 points. 
 
Voted to finish in second place are the Pioneers from Malone University. MU returns the league’s leading rebounder in Erin Kaufman. Through 30 games, Kaufman averaged 9.2 rebounds and 14.1 points to earn her a spot on first team all-conference. 
 
Findlay will look to enter the postseason for the second consecutive season. Kate Ellis is the top returner for the Oilers after averaging 14.3 points and 5.2 rebounds per game. 
 
Hillsdale and Kentucky Wesleyan share the fourth place spot followed by Thomas More in sixth. 
 
Lauren McDonald returns for the Chargers after being voted on the all-conference second team last season. McDonald helped Hillsdale to their best conference finish in over a decade. He led the team in points (12.8) and assists (3.1) per game. 
 
Kentucky Wesleyan shares the fourth place spot with Hillsdale after recording a 16-4 conference mark last season and earning the No. 2 seed in the tournament. 
 
Thomas More was polled sixth after a historic run to the championship final last season. 
 
Coaches voted Northwood as the seventh place team followed by Walsh inn eighth. 
 
The 2024-25 season is slated to start November 2 with two non-conference matchups. 
 

TEAM	POINTS
1. Ashland (12)	157
2. Malone  (1)	128
3. Findlay	122
T4. Hillsdale	118
T4. Kentucky Wesleyan	107
6. Thomas More	107
7. Northwood	105
8. Walsh	76
9. Ursuline	64
10. Cedarville	60
11. Ohio Dominican	53
12. Tiffin	50
13. Lake Erie	25