For the second straight year, the University of Mary Hardin-Baylor women’s basketball team is picked to win the West Division in the American Southwest Conference’s annual Preseason Coaches and Media Poll. The poll is based on voting from West Division coaches, sports information directors and select media members.
The Cru women earned 12 first-place votes and 76 total points as the overwhelming pick to win the West Division. Concordia Texas is picked second with 51 total points. McMurry University picked up one first-place vote and 50 total points as the pick to finish third. Howard Payne University claimed 47 total points to come in at #4. Hardin-Simmons is picked fifth with 33 total points and Sul Ross State is picked sixth with 16 total points. U.T.-Dallas was picked to win the East Division with eight first-place votes and 77 total points.
UMHB placed three players on the ASC Women’s Basketball Preseason Watch List. Kendall Rollins is a junior guard from Tompkins High School. Rollins averaged 15.6 points and 6.9 rebounds per game last year. Alicia Blackwell is a junior guard from Prestonwood Christian High School. Blackwell averaged 10.3 points and a team-best 7.5 rebounds a contest last season. Hannah Holt is a junior guard from Lumberton High School. Holt led UMHB in scoring at 18.6 points per game last season and added 57 steals.
The Cru women finished 23-5 overall and went 14-3 in ASC play last season. UMHB advanced to the championship game of the ASC Championship Tournament before falling to East Texas Baptist 71-70. The Cru expects to return 11 letter winners and three starters this season. The UMHB women will open the 2018-19 season with an exhibition game at Division I North Texas on November 3rd. The Cru’s home opener is set for November 20thagainst Texas Wesleyan at 6 pm.
