Heidelberg Picked Eighth in OAC Preseason Poll

In a vote by Ohio Athletic Conference women’s basketball head coaches Heidelberg College has been tabbed eighth in the OAC Preseason Coaches Poll released today.

Earning the top spot with five first place votes was Capital University followed by Baldwin-Wallace College in second with four first place votes and Wilmington College. The Quakers received one first place vote. The top-five also includes Otterbein College and Ohio Northern University. Sitting in front of Heidelberg in sixth is Mount Union College and Muskingum College in seventh. John Carroll University and Marietta College round out the 10-team conference.

Heidelberg, under the guidance of 20th-year head coach Karen McConnell, is coming off a 12-13 campaign, which saw the team just miss a spot in its 28th-consecutive OAC Tournament. The Berg lost one to graduation and will look to All-OAC second team honoree senior Amanda Campbell (Pataskala, Ohio / Watkins Memorial), along with fellow classmate Maureen Hunter (Toledo, Ohio / Notre Dame) and junior Brittany Skolnicki (Lorain, Ohio / Clearview) to lead the way in 2007-08.

Skolnicki led the team in scoring last season, dropping in 13.6 points per outing, while Campbell led the team in rebounding (7.6) and steals (65), while standing second in scoring at 13.5 points a game. Hunter emerged into at starting role a year ago and made the most of her opportunities, dishing out a team-best 68 assists, while blocking 17 shots. Hunter finished third on the team in scoring at 9.2 points a night.

Heidelberg opens its 2007-08 season at the Swarthmore Tip-Off Tournament Nov. 17-18. The Berg squares off with Middlebury on Nov. 17 beginning at 2:00 p.m.