The women’s basketball team ranked No. 6 in the 2020-21 National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics Top 25 preseason poll.
The Top 25 poll was voted by a panel of head coaches from the Association of Independent Institutions and Unaffiliated Groups representing the nation’s conferences. The poll was previously split between NAIA Basketball Divisions I and II, but both divisions were combined for the preseason poll following the NAIA’s 2018 decision to move to a single division for men and women’s basketball, beginning during the 2020-21 season.
OCU was voted No. 3 in the 2019-20 Division I preseason poll. OCU was also placed second in the SAC 2020-21 preseason poll.
Mallory Lockhart, business marketing junior and shooting guard, said she was pleased with this year’s ranking.
“I think No. 6 would be really good because NAIA division one and two combined, so there’s a lot more teams in our division, and we are competing with a double amount of teams,” Lockhart said. “So, I think a sixth-place ranking is really good for us.”
Lockhart said this year’s ranking met the team’s overall expectations.
“Last year, our preseason ranking was third, and we could have stayed up there, but my freshman year, two years ago, we were ranked 10th overall. So, it’s a common range that we stay in, the top 10,” Lockhart said.
This year marked the Stars’ 11th consecutive NAIA top 10 preseason rating.
Lockhart said rankings ultimately hold little significance to her and her teammates at this point in the preseason.
“You can be disappointed in your seat, but you can also be very proud of where you’re seated,” Lockhart said. “We come out and practice every single day, and being seated sixth is not going to change how we practice.”
Brett Tahah, head women’s basketball coach, said the team works hard to improve no matter what rankings they receive.
“To me, it honestly doesn’t matter where we’re ranked because we’re going to go out and compete and put our best foot forward every single night,” Tahah said. “We’re going to plan on moving up in the rankings and hopefully get into that No. 1 spot at some point. Our main goal is to win in a conference tournament and win in the national championship, because that last ranking of who finishes No. 1 is all that really matters.”
Tahah said the team remains focused and determined.
“We’re happy, but we’re not satisfied,” Tahah said. “We’re going to strive to put our best foot forward every single day to move up in the rankings and just get better every time we step on the court.”
Tahah said she is proud of the team.
“I’m really proud of how the girls have handled COVID-19 and the resilience we have of making sure that we’re following all the protocols and staying positive, and just working hard and preparing for our upcoming season,” Tahah said. “It’s going to be a good one, and I can’t wait to get it started.”
Selena McDonald, exercise and sports science junior and power forward, said the team has faced many challenges preparing for their season during the COVID-19 pandemic.
“It’s honestly been a little difficult having to adjust to the masks and not being able to practice as a whole team,” McDonald said. “It’s been strange because normally, we would be playing games right now. We’ve been scrimmaging other teams, and it’s like we’re in season, but we’re not in season yet.”
McDonald said the challenges have helped bring the team together.
“I think it’s also a blessing in disguise because it gives us a lot more time to actually come together and get to know each other better and get that chemistry on the court with all the new players that have been brought in,” McDonald said.
For more information on the women’s basketball team, readers can visit the OCUSports website.
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