LA GRANDE Ore. – With first-place votes from a combined five coaches, Eastern Oregon University and the College of Idaho are the preseason favorites to win the 2013-14 Cascade Collegiate Conference women’s basketball crown, according to a poll released by the conference office.
The defending league champion Mountaineers, who earned 87 points in the poll, are coming off another historic season where they reached the elite eight of the NAIA D II national championships and finished 18-0 in the CCC and 33-3 overall. Co-favorite, The College of Idaho, earned three first-place vote and 87 points for the tie. The Yotes advanced to the round of sixteen last year at the NAIA D II national championships.
Oregon Tech was picked third with 83 points and five first place votes.Southern Oregon (72) placed fourth, and was followed by Warner Pacific (57), Corban (53), Concordia (39), Northwest Christian (32), Evergreen (26), and Northwest (14).
Eastern Oregon, led by veteran coach Anji Weissenfluh, will look to key returning guards Nicole Redd and Maloree Moss to maintain the up tempo style that EOU prefers. Reagan Rossi leads a College of Idaho squad looking to return to the top of the standings. The Yotes will be led by senior forward Chakala Carthen and senior guard Dayna Drager. Carthan averaged 11 points and 6 rebounds last year will Drager averaged 8.5 points and 3. 5 rebounds.
Oregon Tech is expected to be led by two seniors who have seen plenty of CCC action. Karissa Dixon, a 5’10 guard averaged 13.8 points and 6.6 rebounds last year. Kassi Condit, a 6’2 post averaged 10.7 points and 9.5 rebounds.
The top eight teams in the final CCC regular season standings will advance to the conference postseason tournament.
2013-14 CCC Preseason Coaches’ Poll
|
Place |
Institution |
Points |
2012-13 Overall |
2012-13 CCC |
|
1.-T |
College of Idaho (3) |
87 |
22-9 |
15-3 |
|
1.-T |
Eastern Oregon (2) |
87 |
33-3 |
18-0 |
|
3. |
Oregon Tech (5) |
83 |
23-9 |
13-5 |
|
4. |
Southern Oregon |
72 |
22-10 |
10-8 |
|
5. |
Warner Pacific |
57 |
16-13 |
11-7 |
|
6. |
Corban |
53 |
9-21 |
5-13 |
|
7. |
Concordia |
39 |
11-17 |
5-13 |
|
8. |
Northwest Christian |
32 |
13-17 |
6-12 |
|
9. |
Evergreen |
26 |
7-16 |
6-12 |
|
10. |
Northwest |
14 |
2-23 |
1-17 |
First place votes in parentheses