OKLAHOMA CITY - The Sooner Athletic Conference has announced the 2018-19 women's basketball preseason coaches' poll, and Mid-America Christian University's team is stationed near the top of the poll.
MACU - coming off an NCCAA National Title season - is picked third in the SAC preseason ballot, behind only Wayland Baptist University and Oklahoma City University. The Evangels are ranked ahead of two teams who made the NAIA National tournament a year ago in the University of Science & Arts (Okla.) and John Brown University.
"Polls are funny things," opined MACU head coach Hannah Moeller. "I am pleased that the other coaches in our league have high expectations for us this year, and if we are at our best this will be an exciting season. Ultimately, though, I am far more concerned with the final poll that will come out in March."
Wayland Baptist just edged out OCU by three points for the top spot in the polls. Wayland Baptist advanced to the NAIA Fab Four before being knocked out by Westmont (Calif.). OCU won the SAC Tournament title for the second consecutive season in 2018 with an 89-63 victory over USAO. Wayland Baptist took home six first-place votes for 115 total points, while OCU earned five first-place votes and 112 points. USAO earned the remaining first-place vote. MACU garnered 93 points in the poll, finishing ahead of USAO (88 points) and John Brown (84 points) to round out the top five.
There was a sizeable drop in the points from fifth to sixth, where the Southwestern Assemblies of God University Lady Lions finished with 66 points, and they were followed in rapid succession by Texas Wesleyan University (53 points), conference newcomer Langston University (52 points) and Oklahoma Panhandle State University (50 points). Southwestern Christian University finished 10th with 27 points, Central Christian College of Kansas slotted in 11th with 24 points, and Bacone College rounded out the poll with 13 points.
The Evangels open their season on October 26th when they will welcome Manhattan Christian College (Kan.) to the Gaulke Activity Center for a 6 p.m. tip. MACU recently announced season ticket plans for this season, additional details of which can be found here.
"I believe in this group," Moeller concluded. "I believe we have a lot of special pieces, and I am excited to get rolling."
