Lady Statesmen Projected to be Silver Medalists in League

William Penn Women’s Athletics

Oskaloosa–With a plethora of talent back on the hardwood, expectations are high for the William Penn women’s basketball team and the league’s coaches agree as the Midwest Collegiate Conference preseason coaches’ poll was released yesterday.

The Lady Statesmen, who were 12-19 last year (9-9 MCC), are picked to finish second in the MCC with 33 points and one first-place vote. It is the highest preseason ranking for the program since joining the conference in 2001-2002.

2012 NAIA Second-Team All-American Orielle Thomas (Sr., Waynesville, Mo., Physical Education) leads a group that has nearly all of its scoring back from a year ago.

Defending regular season and tournament champion Grand View has been selected to repeat with 47 points and five first-place votes.

St. Ambrose is third with 31 points, while Mount Mercy and Viterbo are tied for fourth with 26 points. AIB, with 17 points and the last first-place vote, and Clarke with 16 points, round out the poll.

William Penn opens its season next Tuesday by hosting Waldorf in non-conference action at 7 p.m.