NEW HAVEN, Conn. - - Dominican University and Thomas Jefferson University were tabbed first in their respective divisions in the 2023-24 Central Atlantic Collegiate Conference (CACC) Women's Basketball Preseason Coaches Poll, as announced on Tuesday by Commissioner Dan Mara. The Chargers (North Division) and Rams (South Division) each earned 66 points in the voting and 11 first-place votes. The voting was conducted by the league's 12 head coaches in the sport.
The Wilmington University women's basketball team was picked to finishing sixth in the South Division, earning 16 points in this year's coaches poll. Last year, the Wildcats went 3-25 overall and 2-15 in CACC play. Head coach Kerry Jenkins returns for his third year at the helm of the Wildcats in 2022-23
Both Dominican and Jefferson represented the CACC in the NCAA Division II East Region Tournament last March. The Chargers claimed the CACC Championship to earn the league's automatic bid to the regional, while Jefferson earned an at-large nod and advanced to the regional final.
Rounding out the top three in North was Post University (2nd, 53 pts) and Caldwell University (3rd, 48 pts, 1 1st vote). The top three in the South also included Holy Family University (2nd, 55 pts, 1 1st vote) and Goldey-Beacom College (3rd, 39 pts).
The 2023-24 season gets underway the weekend of Nov. 10-12, as the regular season will be a buildup to the CACC Championship tournament on March 5, 9-10. The semifinals and championship final will be hosted by Caldwell University.
The Wildcats' season begins on Friday, November 10, as they make the short trip across town to Goldey-Beacom to play the opening weekend. They start the season with New Haven at 6:00 p.m.
2023-24 CACC WOMEN'S BASKETBALL PRESEASON COACHES POLL
North Division
1. Dominican University 66 (11)
2. Post University 53
3. Caldwell University 48 (1)
4. Felician University 35
5. University of Bridgeport 24
6. Bloomfield College 20
South Division
1. Thomas Jefferson University 66 (11)
2. Holy Family University 55 (1)
3. Goldey-Beacom College 39
T4. Chestnut Hill College 35
T4. Georgian Court University 35
6. Wilmington University 16
() - First-Place Votes