CARMEL, Ind. – The Heartland Collegiate Athletic Conference (HCAC) released the first of its two pre-season basketball polls on Tuesday (Oct. 25) morning, with the unveiling of the women's basketball coaches poll.
The Grizzlies earned 43 points which was good for sixth overall in the rankings. Head coach
Jessica Johnson takes over a team that went 6-10 in conference play, earning the seventh seed in last year's league tournament.
In addition, three Grizzlies were named to the league's list of Players to Watch, with juniors
CiCi Bailey and
Sarah O'Day joined by sophomore newcomer
Taylor Cooney.
Bailey saw action in 20 games last year, averaging 7.1 points and 8.2 rebounds per game while shooting a team-high 60.6% from the floor. The Milan, Ind.-native had seven games with double digit rebounds and tied for the team lead with four double-doubles last year.
O'Day started all 24 games for the Grizzlies, averaging 6.3 points, 3.1 rebounds and 2.6 assists per game while logging 27.6 minutes per contest. The Avon, Ind.-native led the team with 62 assists and her 41 steals and 21 blocks both ranked second on the team.
Cooney comes to Franklin after a year with the women's basketball program at Grace College, where she appeared in eight games with one start as a true freshman. A native of Greensburg, Ind., Cooney averaged 14.1 points, 6.2 rebounds, 4.2 assists and 2.6 steals per game as a senior at Greensburg HS.
Franklin tips off the 2022-23 season on Friday, Nov. 11, when they host the Wittenberg Tigers at 7:00 p.m.
| 2022 HCAC Women's Basketball Pre-Season Poll |
| 1. Transylvania (9) |
81 |
| 2. Hanover (1) |
69 |
| 3. Bluffton |
61 |
| 4. Rose-Hulman |
56 |
| 5. Anderson |
51 |
| 6. Franklin |
43 |
| 7. Defiance |
27 |
| 8. Manchester |
24 |
| 9. Mount St. Joseph |
23 |
| 10. Earlham |
15 |
