The Old Dominion Athletic Conference (ODAC) released the 2020-21 Women's Basketball preseason poll on Thursday afternoon. Roanoke was voted first by the league's 12 coaches.

The Maroons come into the 2020-21 campaign off of a sixth place regular season finish a season ago. Roanoke knocked off the #3 seeded Eagles of Bridgewater (85-58) in the ODAC quarterfinals before falling to Guilford, 66-61, in the semifinal round. The Roanoke women return a veteran lineup that includes their entire starting lineup form last season's tournament and every statistical leader.

Kristina Harrel, the team's top returning scorer, is back after being named to the All-ODAC third team and joins 2018-19 All-ODAC third teamer Whitney Hopson in leading the Maroons into a schedule that features 12 games against ODAC competition. The abbreviated season, due to the Covid-19 pandemic, is slated to begin on Thursday, January 21 with a trip to Shenandoah for a non-conference matchup. After another non-league game with Emory & Henry, the Maroons will set their sites on earning a berth in the four-team, 20201-21 ODAC tournament when they travel to Randolph-Macon to face off with the defending ODAC Champion Yellow Jackets.  

Roanoke will host her first home game on Sunday, January 31 against Eastern Mennonite. The home schedule features visits by Emory & Henry, Washnington and Lee, Shenandoah, and Bridgewater.