Austintown, Ohio - November 4, 2009 - The Heidelberg University women’s basketball team was selected to finish eighth in the Ohio Athletic Conference during the 2009-10 campaign as voted on by league head coaches.
Claiming seven first-place votes and a first-place ranking was Capital University, the defending regular season champion. Following the Crusaders with two first place votes is Wilmington College. Baldwin-Wallace College is third. Receiving one first place finish, Mount Union College is selected to finish fourth. John Carroll Univeristy round out the top-five finishers. Otterbein College selected sixth and Ohio Northern University picked seventh are in front of the Berg, while Muskingum University and Marietta College round out the conference.
Heidelberg is under the guidance of second-year head coach Marcie Alberts. A year ago the Berg finished at 6-19 overall and 3-15 in the league.
The Berg brings back five letterwinners from last year and three starters. All together 13 upperclassman return including team captains Stacey Barker, Jenny Miller, and Stacey Richard.
Leading the pack is senior Stacey Barker. She was second on the team last year with 39 made three pointers. Looking to match her numbers from last year is junior Jenny Miller, where she led the team in rebounds averaging 6.5 a game and was second on the team with 20 blocks. She also was third on the team in scoring with 9.2 points per game. Following Miller is four-year letterwinner senior Stacey Richards. Richards tied for third on the team last year with 20 made three pointers.
Heidelberg opens action at Fontbonne University Nov. 20 beginning at 7:00 p.m. Its 2009 home slate begins against OAC foe Otterbein College on Wednesday, Dec. 2 at 7:30 p.m.
2009 OAC Preseason Poll (first-place votes)
1. Capital 79 pts (7)
2. Wilmington 69 pts (2)
3. Baldwin-Wallace 65 pts
4. Mount Union 61 pts (1)
5. John Carroll 45 pts
6. Otterbein 43 pts
7. Ohio Northern 35 pts
8. Heidelberg 22 pts
9. Muskingum 21 pts
10. Marietta 10 pts