Posted: Nov 08, 2018
FREELAND, MICH. -- The Trine University women's basketball team was picked to finish second in the Michigan Intercollegiate Athletic Association according to the 2018-19 Preseason Coaches Poll.
Hope (Mich.) College was picked to win the MIAA with 64 points and eight first-place votes. Trine, last year's MIAA regular season co-champions with Hope, received the remaining first-place vote and garnered 56 points to rank second. Albion (50 points) placed third overall, followed by Calvin (44 points). Adrian (31 points) edged Olivet (27 points) for fifth place in the poll, with Saint Mary's (18 points) predicted to finish ahead of Alma (17 points) and Kalamazoo (17 points).
Last season, the Thunder set a single-season school record for wins with 26 (26-4 overall) and also made its second-straight appearance in the NCAA National Tournament and advanced to the "Sweet 16" in only its second ever trip to the NCAA postseason.
Trine returns three starters from last season and will be led by senior Brandi Dawson (Garrett, Ind./Garrett). Dawson repeated as the MIAA Most Valuable Player in addition to earning first-team All-Conference accolades as well as All-Region and All-American status in back-to-back seasons.
Dawson led the team in scoring with a 14.6 points per game average in 2017-18. She also led the team, and the MIAA, in field goal shooting at an impressive 60.6 percent (183-of-302). Her field goal percentage ranked as the fifth highest nationally and was the third highest percentage in a single season in Trine history.
Dawson recorded a team-high 185 total rebounds (52 offensive and 133 defensive) and was second in rebounding average at 6.2 boards per game. She also led the team in free-throws made (70) and free-throw attempts (95) to finish with a 73.7 shot percentage.
Also returning this season as starters from last year are senior Cassidy Williams (Archbold, Ohio/Archbold) and junior Katy Steers (Portage, Ind./Portage).
Williams was third on the team in scoring at 7.1 ppg. and led the team in assists with 93. She also led the team in steals with 46. Steers averaged 5.9 ppg. and dished out 69 assists to go along with 44 steals.
Trine will begin the 2018-19 season when it hosts Denison University on Saturday, Nov. 10 at the MTI Center. Tip-off is scheduled for 3 p.m.
2018-19 Preseason Coaches Poll
Rank | School (First-Place Votes) | Points |
1. | Hope (8) | 64 |
2. | Trine (1) | 56 |
3. | Albion | 50 |
4. | Calvin | 44 |
5. | Adrian | 31 |
6. | Olivet | 27 |
7. | St. Mary's | 18 |
8. | Alma | 17 |
Kalamazoo | 17 |