MIDDLETOWN, Ohio — WVU Tech was the unanimous favorite in the 2020-21 River States Conference Women’s Basketball Coaches’ Preseason Poll released by the league office on Wednesday (Oct. 14). The Golden Bears received all 12 of the possible first-place votes in the polling, which was conducted by the RSC head coaches.
Watch the RSC Basketball Media Days Oct. 13-14 from 12:00-3:00 p.m. ET on the RSC Facebook Page. Women’s Basketball Media Day Oct. 14. Click the link above for more information and the complete broadcast schedule. Media Day will feature videos of head coaches and players from all 13 schools across five states in the conference.
WVU Tech led this year’s poll with 144 total votes. The Golden Bears were 25-7 overall, 16-0 RSC last year and have won 29 straight conference regular season games dating back to the year before last. WVU Tech is the defending RSC Regular Season and RSC East Division champs. The Golden Bears made the NAIA Division II National Championship last season and pulled an upset of No. 10-ranked Morningside (Iowa) in the first round before the pandemic cancelled the rest of the tournament.
University of Rio Grande (Ohio) came in second in the poll with 127 total votes and the remaining first-place vote. The RedStorm is coming off a season of 19-13 overall, 10-6 RSC in which it was second place in the RSC East behind WVU Tech.
The next five teams in the poll were separated by just 14 votes with RSC West Division favorite Asbury (Ky.) University in third overall with 100 votes followed by Indiana University Southeast in fourth with 97 votes, Indiana University East in fifth with 92 votes, Indiana University Kokomo in sixth with 90 votes and Midway (Ky.) University in seventh with 86 votes. All of those schools were playoff teams last year and were bunched up in the standings of their respective divisions. There were three 20-win teams in that group a year ago.
Ohio Christian University won the RSC Championship last year with an amazing playoff run and is picked eighth this preseason with 81 votes. The Trailblazers made their first NAIA national tournament at 21-12 overall, 8-8 RSC.
The rest of the poll rounded out with Point Park (Pa.) University in ninth with 64 votes followed by Alice Lloyd (Ky.) College in 10th with 49 votes, Brescia (Ky.) University in 11th with 39 votes, Carlow (Pa.) University in 12th with 24 votes and conference newcomer Oakland City (Ind.) University in 13th with 21 votes.
The voting also broke things down by division. WVU Tech was the clear pick to win the RSC East with 11 of the 13 first-place votes. Rio Grande was picked second with one first-place vote. IU East was chosen third and then Ohio Christian in fourth, including a vote for first-place.
The RSC West polling had the first-place votes spread to four different schools. Asbury (20-11, 8-8 RSC) was the divisional favorite with five first-place votes and 62 overall. IU Kokomo (17-13, 8-8 RSC) was close behind with 61 votes and three for first-place. Midway (22-9, 9-7 RSC) was chosen third with 55 votes and three first-place nods. IU Southeast (20-12, 9-7 RSC) was tabbed fourth with 52 votes and two for first-place.
The RSC Preseason All-Conference Team named 10 players. Returning All-RSC first-teamers from last year were automatically included. Returning second-teamers were voted onto the team this preseason.
Back this year from the all-conference first team are WVU Tech guard Brittney Justice, IU Kokomo forward Tia Chambers, Midway forward Jill Enix, Alice Lloyd guard Haley Hall, Asbury forward Zaria Napier and Point Park guard Michelle Burns.
Voted onto the preseason team were WVU Tech guard Alexandria Gray, Rio Grande forward Lexi Woods, Point Park forward Taylor Rinn and Asbury guard Autumn Herriford.
2020-21 RIVER STATES CONFERENCE WOMEN’S BASKETBALL COACHES’ PRESEASON POLL (OCT. 14)
(First-Place Votes in Parenthesis)
|
School |
Votes |
|
1. WVU Tech (12) |
144 |
|
2. Rio Grande (Ohio) (1) |
127 |
|
3. Asbury (Ky.) |
100 |
|
4. IU Southeast |
97 |
|
5. IU East |
92 |
|
6. IU Kokomo |
90 |
|
7. Midway (Ky.) |
86 |
|
8. Ohio Christian |
81 |
|
9. Point Park (Pa.) |
64 |
|
10. Alice Lloyd (Ky.) |
49 |
|
11. Brescia (Ky.) |
39 |
|
12. Carlow (Pa.) |
24 |
|
13. Oakland City (Ind.) |
21 |
RSC WOMEN’S BASKETBALL COACHES’ EAST DIVISION PRESEASON POLL
(First-Place Votes in Parenthesis)
|
School |
Votes |
|
1. WVU Tech (11) |
66 |
|
2. Rio Grande (Ohio) (1) |
54 |
|
3. IU East |
39 |
|
4. Ohio Christian (1) |
34 |
|
5. Point Park (Pa.) |
28 |
|
6. Carlow (Pa.) |
13 |
RSC WOMEN’S BASKETBALL COACHES’ WEST DIVISION PRESEASON POLL
(First-Place Votes in Parenthesis)
|
School |
Votes |
|
1. Asbury (Ky.) (5) |
62 |
|
2. IU Kokomo (3) |
61 |
|
3. Midway (Ky.) (3) |
55 |
|
4. IU Southeast (2) |
52 |
|
5. Alice Lloyd (Ky.) |
35 |
|
6. Brescia (Ky.) |
26 |
|
7. Oakland City (Ind.) |
17 |
2020-21 RSC WOMEN’S BASKETBALL PRESEASON ALL-CONFERENCE TEAM
Brittney Justice, G, WVU Tech
Tia Chambers, F, IU Kokomo
Jill Enix, Midway, F, Midway (Ky.)
Haley Hall, G, Alice Lloyd (Ky.)
Zaria Napier, F, Asbury (Ky.)
Michelle Burns, G, Point Park (Pa.)
Alexandria Gray, G, WVU Tech
Lexi Woods, F, Rio Grande (Ohio)
Taylor Rinn, F, Point Park (Pa.)
Autumn Herriford, G, Asbury (Ky.)