ANGOLA, Ind. – The Trine University women's basketball team will enter the 2021-22 season third in the nation, according to the D3hoops.com preseason poll.
The D3hoops.com Top 25 is voted on by a panel of 25 coaches, Sports Information Directors and media members from across the country, and is published weekly. The Trine women were able to accumulate 522 points, and are second among Michigan Intercollegiate Athletic Association (MIAA) schools. Hope College was ranked number one with 617 points and 21 first-place votes.
Head Coach Andy Rang, who enters his fourth season as head coach and tenth as a member of the Thunder women's basketball coaching staff, is 63-12 heading into the season. Assisting Rang is newly promoted Associate Head Coach Rob Hoffman, and Assistant Coaches Craig Taylor and Becky Johnson.
A season ago, Trine was 14-3 overall, with all three losses coming against the number one team in NCAA DIII. The Thunder were 6-1 in limited MIAA competition and return four of five starters as well as a majority of players off the bench. All-Region selection Tara Bieniewicz [Chesterfield, Mich./Dakota] enters her senior season after averaging 10.8 points per game and shot 41.2% from deep. Kelsy Taylor [Louisville, Ky. / New Albany], Kayla Wildman [Rockford, Mich. / Rockford] and Makayla Ardis [Lake City, Mich. / Lake City] are returning starters for the Thunder.
Trine has an exhibition game against NCAA DI Butler University on Thursday, November 4 and open the regular season versus Kenyon College at home on Saturday, November 13.