SALEM, Va. - The Emory & Henry College Women's Basketball Team has been picked to finish in a tie for fifth place in the Old Dominion Athletic Conference this season, ODAC officials announced Thursday. The release came as part of the league's annual media day held at the Salem Civic Center. The poll is voted on by the 13 head coaches in the league.

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Now under the leadership of Head Coach Jaclyn Dickens, who served as an assistant for the past four seasons, Emory & Henry returns 11 players from last year's team including three starters. Senior forwards Sydney McKinney (Big Stone Gap, Va.) and Peyton Williams (Saltville, Va.) were named to the All-ODAC Second and Third Teams, respectively. The Wasps also welcome a pair of newcomers in the backcourt.

E&H posted a 22-4 record last year with a 15-3 mark in ODAC play. The Wasps were ranked as high as No. 15 in the country by D3hoops.com during the year and earned the #2 seed in the ODAC Tournament. E&H made an early exit from the postseason, falling to seventh-seeded Roanoke College, 73-72 in the quarterfinals.

Emory & Henry has posted five-straight winning seasons, and now has its eyes set on the school record for consecutive winning seasons at seven. The mark was achieved between the 1982-83 and 1988-89 seasons under Hall of Fame Head Coach Joy Scruggs.

Guilford College leads the poll with seven-first place votes while Washington and Lee University and Randolph-Macon College sit close in second and third with three top nods each. University of Lynchburg is fourth while the Wasps and the Roanoke Maroons are tied for fifth.

Emory & Henry will open the season at Averett University on Friday, November 8 at 6:00 p.m. The Wasps first home game will be Tuesday, November 12 against Maryville (Tenn.) College (7:00 p.m.).

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