APSU Sports Information
Brentwood, TN – Austin Peay State University women’s basketball team was picked to finish seventh in the third annual Ohio Valley Conference Media Poll, as voted on by a 14-voter panel from around the league.
In the women’s voting, defending tournament champion Belmont picked up 10 of the 14 first-place votes and 164 total points in being tabbed the preseason favorite.Three-time defending regular season champion UT Martin received the other four first place vote and 151 points to be tabbed second while Eastern Kentucky (136 points) and SIU Edwardsville (124) were also close in the voting.
Rounding out the results were Southeast Missouri (101), Murray State (99), Austin Peay (73), Tennessee State (71), Jacksonville State (56), Tennessee Tech (49), Morehead State (48) and Eastern Illinois (20).
EKU’s Jalen O’Bannon and Murray State’s Ke’Shunan James were selected as Preseason Co-Players of the Year.
Pollsters for the 2016-17 OVC Media Poll included: Catlin Bogard, OVC Ball; Mike Bradd, Eastern Illinois Radio; Neal Bradley, Murray State Radio; David Loos, Austin Peay Radio; Edward Marlowe, Paducah Sun; Mike Organ, The Tennessean; Brian Rives, Austin Peay Radio; Justin Rust, Journal Gazette/Times-Courier; Harry Schroeder, ValleyHoopsInsider.com; Greg Stotelmyer, Eastern Kentucky Radio; Rich Tiner, Belmont Radio.
2016-17 Media OVC Preseason Women’s Predicted Order of Finish
1. Belmont (10 first-place votes) – 164 points
2. UT Martin (4) – 151
3. Eastern Kentucky – 136
4. SIUE – 124
5. Southeast Missouri – 101
6. Murray State – 99
7. Austin Peay – 73
8. Tennessee State – 71
9. Jacksonville State – 56
10. Tennessee Tech – 49
11. Morehead State – 48
12. Eastern Illinois – 20
Preseason Co-Players of the Year: Jalen O’Bannon Eastern Kentucky & Ke’Shunan James, Murray State