TOLEDO, Ohio --- The Owens Community College women's basketball team was ranked fourth in the National Junior College Athletic Association (NJCAA) Division III preseason poll on Monday.
"Being ranked fourth speaks volumes about our program, especially coming off a year where we didn't play because of Covid-19," Owens head coach Stephen Perry said. "I'm excited about this recruiting class. They have been working hard and getting better every day. It's a long season, and we hope to be one of the top teams again in March."
The Express last saw the court during the 2019-20 season, where they won 10 of their final 16 games before falling 52-50 in the Region XII championship game.
This year, the Red and White are slated to open the regular season Nov. 2 at Henry Ford with a roster of 12 newcomers, including Northwest Ohio products such as Dasia Hardison (Lima Bath), Brooklyn Green (Delta), Aquillah Walker (Woodward), Trena Wiseman-Esparza (Bowling Green), Malorie Schroeder (McComb), Hayley St. John (Lake), Hilda Ismail (Whitmer) and Cierra Harris (Southview). In fact, Harris is the lone sophomore on the team after transferring in from Lawrence Tech.
Perry, a 15-year veteran of the women's basketball coaching staff at Owens, enters his fourth season as coach. He has led the program to a 330-89 (.788) record during his tenure, including a 35-23 performance as head coach, which includes an NJCAA Division III national runner-up finish in 2019.
NJCAA Division III Preseason Poll (10/18/21)
(Votes in parentheses)
1. Northland Community and Technical College (135)
2. Rock Valley College (126)
3. Rochester Community and Technical College (117)
4. Owens Community College (108)
5. North Country Community College (99)
6. Dallas College - Mountain View (90)
7. University of Connecticut at Avery Point (81)
8. Hostos Community College (72)
9. Anne Arundel Community College (63)
10. Madison College (54)
11. Nassau Community College (45)
12. Middlesex County College (36)
13. Onondaga Community College (27)
14. Minnesota State Community and Technical College (18)
15. Dallas College - Cedar Valley (9)
Receiving votes: Joliet, Mohawk Valley, Anoka-Ramsey
For complete coverage of Owens Athletics, follow the Express on Twitter at @owens_express, on Instagram at @owensexpressathletics, on Facebook at /awinningtradition and online at OwensExpress.com.
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