Salem, Va. – The Roanoke College Women's Basketball team has been picked fifth in the 2019 Old Dominion Athletic Conference (ODAC) Preseason Poll.
The Maroons earned 95 points to tie with Emory & Henry for the fifth spot in the poll. Guilford received 139 points including seven first place votes to take the top spot. Washington and Lee University, last year's conference runner-up, sits second with 127 markers including three top nods. Randolph-Macon College landed the remaining three first place votes on the way to 123 tallies.
The Maroons return four starters from last season. Roanoke had 18 wins, the most for the program since 2011. RC also earned the seventh seed in the 2019 ODAC Tournament and would knock off second-seeded and nationally ranked Emory & Henry in the quarterfinals.
Back in the mix is Third-Team All-ODAC guard Whitney Hopson. As a freshman she averaged 9.6 points per game and led the ODAC with 70 steals on the defensive end of the court. Kristina Harrel (9.5 ppg.) and Molly Hassell (9.4 ppg.) are both back for head coach Carla Flaherty.
The Maroons will open the season on Nov. 16-17 when it hosts its annual Jean Beamer Tip Off Classic. RC will take on D'Youville to start the tournament and then will face either Centre or North Carolina Wesleyan.