PAC Women’s Basketball: Thomas More Is Preseason Favorite

The time is here to revisit the rivalries that run through generations without fail. The Presidents’ Athletic Conference disclosed on Thursday, Nov. 5th the outcome of their 2015-16 Women’s Basketball Preseason Coaches’ Poll. The league’s head coaches picked the Thomas More College Saints to claim their 10th consecutive PAC Championship Tournament crown.

The Blue and White collected nine of 10 first-place votes to lead this season’s preseason rankings with 99 points. TMC closed out an undefeated 2014-15 campaign with an overall record of 33-0 and a 18-0 mark in the PAC. Jeff Hans, who enters his fifth season as head coach of Thomas More, and the Saints are the defending NCAA Division III National Champions. They downed the No. 8, No. 2, No. 5, and No. 3-ranked teams last March during the NCAA Tournament.

Athletic dirctor Terry Connor told Adam Turer of cincinnati.com after winning the title, “The support I cannot say enough about. The pride that they have in their school and excitement to see our programs go to another level. [There is] a great sense of pride and this is proof that it can be done.”

The women of Thomas More commence this season at No. 1 in a trio of polls. They are No. 1 in the USA Today Sports Division III coaches preseason Top 25, the D3hoops.com women’s preseason Top 25, and the Women’s DIII News Preseason Top 25.

Saint Vincent College came in second in the PAC coaches survey with 89 points after securing the final first-place vote. Washington and Jefferson College was third with 80 points, Waynesburg University was fourth with 69 points, and Bethany College rounded out the top five with 57 points.

Grove City College was next in sixth place with 56 points, and Westminster College came in seventh with 32 points. Thiel College was in the eighth spot with 30 points, Chatham University was ninth with 24 points, and Geneva College finished in 10th with 14 points.

Three members of the PAC, Geneva, Saint Vincent, and W&J, launch their seasons the weekend of Nov. 13-14 in non-conference match-ups.

2015-16 PAC Women’s Basketball Preseason Coaches’ Poll:

1) Thomas More College Saints (33-0 overall last season / 18-0 in PAC)
2) Saint Vincent College Bearcats (22-5 / 15-3)
3) Washington & Jefferson College Presidents (21-8 / 13-5)
4) Waynesburg University Yellow Jackets (15-12 / 12-6)
5) Bethany College Bison (12-14 / 8-10)
6) Grove City College Wolverines (14-12 / 10-8)
7) Westminster College Titans (7-20 / 5-13)
8) Thiel College Tomcats (5-21 / 4-14)
9) Chatham University Cougars (6-19 / 3-15)
10) Geneva College Golden Tornadoes (4-21 / 2-16)

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PAC Women’s Basketball Players To Watch In 2015-2016:

Bethany

Kelsea Daugherty – Sophomore – Forward – 6-0 – From Newport, Ohio
Hayley Holenka – Junior – Guard – 5-6 – From Shadyside, Ohio
Mikyla Tipton – Senior – Guard – 5-6 – From Wellsville, Ohio

Chatham

Rachel McClain Senior – Guard – 5-3 – From Hollidaysburg, Pennsylvania
Megan Sieg – Sophomore – Guard – 5-6 – From Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

Geneva

Jodie Carlson – Freshman – Guard – 5-7 – From Warsaw, Indiana
Nicole Hyland – Junior – Guard – 5-8 – From Trafford, Pennsylvania
Heidi Mann – Senior – Guard – 5-7 – From Colorado Springs, Colorado

Grove City

Kathryn Erbelding – Senior – Forward – 5-10 – From Rochester, New York
Lexie Arkwright – Sophomore – Guard – 5-7 – From Mercer, Pennsylvania

Saint Vincent

Mara Benvenuti – Junior – Guard – 5-9 – From Franklin, Pennsylvania
Hannah Carroll – Junior – Forward – 5-9 – From Severna Park, Maryland
Jill Kegg – Senior – Guard – 5-5 – From Johnstown, Pennsylvania

Thiel

Hannah Stoneman – Senior – Forward – 6-1 – From Sugarcreek, Ohio
Jaclyn Watkins – Senior – Forward – 6-0 – From Aliquippa, Pennsylvania
Kayla Welty – Senior – Guard – 5-3 – From Portville, New York

Thomas More

Nikki Kiernan – Sophomore – Forward – 5-10 – From Cold Spring, Kentucky
Sydney Moss – Senior – Guard/Forward – 5-10 – From St. Albans, West Virginia
Abby Owings – Sophomore – Guard – 5-2 – From Independence, Kentucky

Washington and Jefferson

Beka Bellhy – Senior – Guard/Forward – 5-9 – From McDonald, Pennsylvania
Taylor Cortazzo – Junior – Guard – 5-4 – From Irwin, Pennsylvania
Amirah Moore – Sophomore – Guard – 5-7 – From Moon Township, Pennsylvania

Next: PAC Men's Basketball: Bearcats Are Preseason No. 1

Waynesburg

Lauren Blair – Senior – Guard – 5-4 – From Granville, Ohio
Maura Bobby – Senior – Forward – 5-9 – From Poland, Ohio
Heather Davis – Senior – Forward – 5-10 – From Ford City, Pennsylvania

Westminster

Shelby Brown – Junior – Guard – 5-7 – From New Castle, Pennsylvania
Rachel Durbin – Junior – Guard – 5-8 – From Lowellville, Ohio
Krissy Fromknecht – Sophomore – Forward – 5-9 – From Erie, Pennsylvania