INDIANAPOLIS - The Great Midwest Athletic Conference (G-MAC) has released the 2018-19 Women's Basketball Preseason Coaches Poll, and Tiffin received 67 points to rank ninth out of 14 teams as they start their first season as part of the G-MAC.
Voters could not decide an outright top spot in the poll, as Hillsdale and Findlay tied for first with 153 points apiece. However, the Chargers received five first-place votes compared to four for the Oilers. There was also a tie for third-place, as Walsh and Cedarville both garnered 142 points, but it was Walsh gaining the edge with three first-place votes over Cedarville's two.
Ohio Dominican follows in fifth, Kentucky Wesleyan sixth, Ursuline seventh, and Trevecca Nazarene eighth before the Dragons make their appearance in the ninth spot.
Tiffin will look to make some noise and surprise the conference in their first season, as new head coach Jessie Ivey returns a solid group and brings in an exciting class of freshmen and transfers to the squad. Allie Miller returns for her senior season as, despite limited action, she was the leading scorer from last year with 15.4 points per game and an impressive 40.5 3pt-percentage. Miller also led the Dragons in rebounding (6.0 rpg) and steals (1.6 spg) during the 2017-18 campaign. Other top returners include Ali Schirmer (11.3 ppg, 2.1 apg), Aida Santana Martin (7.7 ppg, 4.1 rpg), and Annie Santucci (7.7 ppg, 42.1 3pt%).
Tiffin will open the 2018-19 season with an exhibition game on the road against Division I Miami (Ohio) on Nov. 4 at 2:00 p.m. The regular season will begin at the Purdue Northwest Tournament Nov. 9-10, and the first home contest will be against Wayne State on Nov. 17.
The full G-MAC preseason poll is below:
2018-19 Women's Basketball Preseason Coaches Poll presented by Under Armour
T1.) Hillsdale - 153 (5)
T1.) Findlay - 153 (4)
T3.) Walsh - 142 (3)
T3.) Cedarville - 142 (2)
5.) Ohio Dominican - 122
6.) Kentucky Wesleyan - 105
7.) Ursuline - 97
8.) Trevecca - 85
9.) Tiffin - 67
10.) Lake Erie - 61
11.) Malone - 60
12.) Davis & Elkins - 40
13.) Alderson Broaddus - 31
14.) Ohio Valley - 16