The Ohio Northern women's basketball team has been picked to finish first in the 2017-18 Ohio Athletic Conference coaches poll, voted on by league coaches.
Northern received 78 points and six first place votes in the poll and is seeking repeat as OAC Regular Season and Tournament champions under 17th-year head coach Michele Durand.
Marietta was selected to finish second with 67 points and two first place votes, Baldwin Wallace was picked to finish third with 59 points and one first place vote and Capital was picked to finish third with 62 points and the final first place vote.
Durand returns three starters and 11 letterwinners from last year's squad that finished 30-1 overall, was a perfect 18-0 in the OAC, advanced to the NCAA Elite 8 and was ranked No. 5 nationally.
The Polar Bears will open their 2017-18 season Nov. 17-18 at the North Park (Ill.) Tip-Off Tournament. Northern will face area-rival Bluffton in the first game on Nov. 17 and either Saint Mary's (Ind.) or host North Park on Nov. 18.
