Gorloks Favored in Women's Basketball

After a third consecutive regular season title, Webster University is the women's basketball preseason favorite in the St. Louis Intercollegiate Athletic Conference for the 2022-23 season. The Gorloks finished with 46 total points, taking five of eight first-place votes from league coaches. The Gorloks went 25-1 last season, setting a conference record for consecutive wins and tying the league mark for wins in a season but return just one starter from their championship team. Despite returning just one starter Head Coach Jordan Olufson was able to work a large group of players onto the court, bringing back 52 percent of their minutes played from last year. The lone returning starter is former SLIAC Player of the Year, Julie Baudendistel. The senior forward averaged 12.0 points and 4.4 rebounds per game while shooting 46 percent from the field. Juniors Jordyn Grimes, Bethany Lancaster, and Kate Rolfes will step into larger roles this year. Grimes shot 49 percent from the field last year with Lancaster finishing 4th on the team in scoring and Rolfes finishing second on the team with 32 three-pointers. Sophomore Emily Wilson put up strong numbers as a freshman last year, averaging 5.3 points and 4.8 rebounds per game while shooting 58 percent from the field. Top newcomers that will join the 14 returners include Renasha Benjamin, Jenna Gregory, and Claire Williams.

Westminster College was picked second in the poll, receiving 41 points and one first-place vote. The Blue Jays have advanced to the championship game in each of the last two seasons and were 18-10 overall last year under head coach Talisha Washington. Although they return just two starters the Blue Jays are bringing a trio of players that earned conference recognition last year. Shelby Kurtz and Avylina Powell-Qualo both earned Third Team All-Conference honors in 2022. Kurtz put up 10.0 points and 5.2 rebounds per game while Powell-Qualo was second on the team in scoring (10.6) and rebounding (5.9) while leading the team with 49 steals. Annette Ramirez was the SLIAC Newcomer of the 6th Woman of the Year last season when she averaged 10.1 points per game while finishing second in the conference in three-point percentage. After averaging 5.2 points and 5.3 rebounds per game in her first two seasons Abby Nichols played in just one game last season but is expected to jump right back into the lineup this year. Freshmen Carli Libhart and Jamie Peffer and sophomore transfer Tristan Porter should see plenty of minutes on the court as well.

Placing third on the poll is Greenville University with 40 points. The Panther received the final two first-place votes from the coaches as they will have the most experienced team coming back in 2022-23 with four starters. Heading up the list of starters is senior guard Emily Reinneck, a First Team All-Conference selection in each of the last two years. Reinneck averaged 14.9 points, 7.1 rebounds, 4.0 assists, and 2.1 steals per game; leading the team in each category. Madelyn Stephen, a Second Team All-Conference player, put up 13.6 points and 5.0 rebounds per game last season while shooting 46 percent from the field and leading the team in three-point field goal shooting. Abigail Reinneck (8.0 ppg) and Ally Cantrill (3.1 apg) are back as well. Head Coach Roy Mulholland will work in a group of newcomers that include Carolina Hoffman, Savanna Powell-Goodman, and Alyssa Seymour.

Spalding University received 29 total points, coming in 4th. The Golden Eagles are coached by Kylee Gorby who brings back three starters. Natalie Fichter is the league's top returning scorer at 16.5 points per game. The senior forward also led the league in rebounding (9.5 RPG) and shot 46 percent from the field. She is just as much of a force on the defensive side where she ranked in the top six in the SLIAC in both steals (52) and blocks (15). Mercedez Moore averaged 9.8 points and 6.3 rebounds per game as a true freshman. Maelyn Ridener and Kailey Reed both averaged at least 7.0 points per game. Bailei Walker was third on the team in scoring and second in rebounding before getting hurt early last year but is fully healthy this season. New faces to the program include a pair of freshmen forwards in Jacie Chesser and Anastasia Dowlen.  

Fontbonne University totaled 26 points to come in 5th on the poll. The Griffins were 12-14 overall last season and bring back three starters but head coach Mike Fitzgerald will need to replace All-Region performer Rylee Stafford. He can turn to senior guard Kourtney White to step up. White is experienced, starting 56 games during her Griffin career, and an athletic player that fills up the stat sheet averaging 16.4 points and 9.0 rebounds per game while dishing out 95 assists and recording 38 steals. Kya Harbour (8.1 ppg) and Rylee Pickett (7.9 ppg) are two players whose scoring could help replace Stafford's points. The Griffins will rely on the athletic abilities of sophomore Sam Foppe and freshman Madison Nelson. Whitney Gines is a senior transfer that will be an inside presence for the team. Ja'mise Bailey missed last season with an injury but will be counted on for her defensive abilities. Seniors Haley Buscher and Amaya Earls are seniors that will also play their roles on the team.

After going 11-14 overall under first-year head coach Jaylynn Stewart Eureka College was chosen 6th with 20 points. Stewart returns three starters in Shakaya Rogers, Sydney Hannam, and Abby Stotler. Rogers, a former 6th Women of the Year award winner, put up 10.0 points and 3.8 rebounds per game last season. Hannam averaged 9.7 points per game while connecting on a team-leading 32 three-pointers. Stotler, a former All-Conference performer, will look to better her 7.7 points and 4.5 rebounds per game averages from a year ago. Newcomers include freshman guard Reece Putrich and a pair of transfers in Avery Seidel and Makayla Rosenbery. 

Blackburn College finished with 13 points in the poll. Head Coach Daniel Johnson returns two starters from his first year with the Beavers including Third Team All-Conference selection Mariah Hopson. Hopson, a junior, averaged 11.0 points and 4.9 rebounds per game while leading the league in blocks with 26 and adding 23 steals. Aryanna Harris led the team in scoring last year at 11.4 points per game while fellow returner Courtnee Riley averaged 6.1 points and 4.4 rebounds per game. Junior Elizabeth Morris will be looked upon to provide some outside scoring while Megan Lindzy will be returning from an injury that cost her all of last season. The program welcomes in transfers Christianna Monger and Miley Kwiatkowski as well as freshmen Nekhiah Fiffee, Caidy Tuetken, Jaylin Nesbitt, Sarah Olson, Juliette Adlawan, Kaela Vincent, and Claudia Bennett.

Principia College head coach Ramiro Dominguez continues to rebuild the program. Beginning the second year of the program's relaunch the Panthers picked up 9 votes in the poll. They were 1-19 overall last season and will be a young but experienced team. Alana Hinson, a junior, led the team in scoring last year at 11.8 points per game and averaged 5.7 rebounds per game as well. Transfer Deija Carter brings more experience to the team and will team with Paige Fowler (10.8 ppg and 7.5 rpg) to be the go-to post players. Carolina Rojas is back after averaging 7.0 points per game last season and was one of three players on the team to reach double-digit three-point field goals. Other newcomers to the program are freshmen Taylor Brown and Ariana Williams.

2022-23 SLIAC Women's Basketball Preseason Watch List