INDIANAPOLIS, IND. - Coming off a season that saw Kentucky Wesleyan go 18-6 (16-4 G-MAC) and make an appearance in both the G-MAC Championship game and the NCAA Tournament, the Panthers are picked to finish 3rd in the G-MAC Preseason Coaches Poll for the 2021-22 season.

KWC finished third in the voting with 94 points, and were not far behind Walsh (116) and G-MAC newcomer Ashland (112) who were picked to finish 1st and 2nd. 

The Panthers return some key contributors from last year's NCAA Tournament qualifying team, including upperclassman such as 2020-21 All-Conference Second Team member Tahlia Walton (11.9 ppg, 4.0 rbg), senior Cali Nolot (9.0 ppg, 3.3 rpg), junior Leah Richardson (7.8 ppg, 2.1 apg), and senior Emma Johnson (6.9 ppg, 2.1 rpg), Along with the upperclassman, sophomores Jordyn Barga (7.7 ppg, 4.9 rpg), Shiya Hoosier (6.4 ppg, 2.7 rpg), Shaylee McDonald (4.8 ppg, 1.8 ppg), Corina Conley (2.2 ppg, 1.7 rpg), and Rachel Richardson (13 GP, 2.1 ppg) were all key contributors last season, and will have a larger role in the 2021-22 campaign. Newcomers Mariah Edmonds, Reeva Hammelman, Gracie Adams, and Emma Leis will look to help continue the success of this program.

The Panthers open their season down in Nashville, Tenn. for the Pops Duncan Classic on November 13-14. There they will face Southwest Baptist and reigning national runner-up Drury. Wesleyan's first home game takes place on November 16th, when they host the University of Illinois-Springfield at 5:30 p.m. 

2021-22 GREAT MIDWEST ATHLETIC CONFERENCE WOMEN'S BASKETBALL PRESEASON COACHES POLL
1. Walsh – 116 points (7 first-place votes)
2. Ashland – 112 points (5 first-place votes)
3. Kentucky Wesleyan – 94 points
4. Cedarville – 85 points
T5. Findlay – 82 points
T5. Tiffin – 82 points
7. Ohio Dominican – 59 points
8. Malone – 51 points
T9. Trevecca Nazarene – 37 points
T9. Ursuline – 37 points
11. Hillsdale – 25 points
12. Lake Erie – 12 points 

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