BALTIMORE, MD – The Johns Hopkins women's basketball team has voted second in the 2021-22 Centennial Conference preseason poll it was announced earlier today.
The Blue Jays picked up three first-place votes and finish with 179 poll points, 11 behind Gettysburg, the preseason favorite. Rounding out the top-five in the Centennial poll is Haverford (158), Dickinson (126) and Muhlenberg (125)
The 2019-20 Blue Jays finished 17-9 overall, earning a record of 14-6 in Centennial Conference play. Johns Hopkins has won at least 17 games in three straight seasons under head coach
Katherine Bixby.
Three starters return from Bixby's 2020 team. Senior captains,
Diarra Oden and
Erin Walsh return as does junior point guard
Emily Howie. Oden led the team in scoring, averaging 18.0 points per game. Howie was second on the team in scoring, averaging 10.3 points per game while tying the single-season program record with 59 made three-pointers. Howie also led the team in rebounding at 7.0 per contest. Walsh did a little bit of everything for the Blue Jays, finishing fourth in scoring (5.1), second in rebounding (4.3) and leading the team with 31 blocked shots. The three returning starters led the 2019-20 team in minutes played with Howie playing 35 minutes per contest to lead all players.
The Blue Jays welcome in eight relative "newcomers" for the 2021-22 season. The Blue Jays brought in a freshman class of four to join last year's freshman class who lost out on a season due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Johns Hopkins will open up play on Friday night in Selinsgrove, PA, as they take on Susquehanna University. Tip is slated for 7 pm.
2021-22 Centennial Conference Preseason Men's Basketball Poll
Rk. School (1st place votes) – Points
1. Gettysburg (15) - 190
2. Johns Hopkins (3) - 179
3. Haverford (3) - 158
4. Dickinson - 126
5. Muhlenberg (1) - 125
6. Ursinus - 120
7. Swarthmore - 82
8. Franklin & Marshall - 76
9. Washington College - 70
10. McDaniel – 62
11. Bryn Mawr - 22
