NASHVILLE, Tenn. – The Eastern Kentucky University women’s basketball team has been picked by league head coaches and sports information directors to finish seventh in the Ohio Valley Conference this season, it was announced on Tuesday at the annual OVC Media Day event.
The Colonels were picked to finish third in the OVC in a Preseason Media Poll released last Friday.
EKU tied with defending champion UT Martin for the second-most first-place votes (three), but finished with only 138 points in the poll.
Belmont was voted the conference favorite, receiving 14 first-place votes and 224 points. The Bruins were followed by UTM (three first-place votes / 203 points), Jacksonville State (two first-place votes / 189 points), Tennessee Tech (169 points), SIUE (152 points), Tennessee State (two first-place votes / 144 points), EKU (three first-place votes / 138 points), Eastern Illinois (92 points), Murray State (83 points), Southeast Missouri (73 points), Austin Peay (71 points) and Morehead State (40 points).
OVC women’s basketball teams will no longer compete in divisional play as they have the past two years.
Belmont senior forward Jordyn Luffman was tabbed the OVC Preseason Player of the Year.
EKU lost leading scorer Marie Carpenter and starting point guard Pilar Walker to graduation, but the Colonels return three starters from a team that won 17 games last season and advanced to the OVC semifinals for the first time since 2005, including juniors Shelly Harper (10.4 points-per-game, 6.2 rebounds-per-game), Miranda Maples (7.3 points-per-game, 5.9 rebounds-per-game) and Jasmine Stafford (4.1 points-per-game, 47 assists).
The Colonels open the season in the Preseason WNIT at nationally-ranked West Virginia on Saturday, Nov. 15.
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2014-15 OVC Preseason Women’s Predicted Order of Finish
1. Belmont (14 first-place votes) – 224 points
2. UT Martin (3) – 203
3. Jacksonville State (2) – 189
4. Tennessee Tech – 169
5. SIUE – 152
6. Tennessee State (2) – 144
7. Eastern Kentucky (3) – 138
8. Eastern Illinois – 92
9. Murray State – 83
10. Southeast Missouri – 73
11. Austin Peay – 71
12. Morehead State – 40
Preseason Player of the Year: Jordyn Luffman, Belmont
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