G-MAC coaches pick Chargers ninth in Women's Basketball Preseason Poll presented by Under Armour

The 2019-20 campaign was a rough one for the Hillsdale College women's basketball team, as the Chargers struggled with youth and injuries, posting a 6-21 record that was the program's worst in 28 years.

But lost amidst the challenges were signs that the team isn't as far from getting back on track as its record may indicate. The Chargers lost 13 games by single digits, nearly upset eventual conference champion Walsh and were a last-second buzzer beater away from sweeping third-place Findlay.

Moreover, Hillsdale was a young squad last season that saw several freshmen forced into more extensive action than planned due to injuries. With three starters returning and several players with more experience under their belt, as well as a new coach at the helm in Charlie Averkamp, the Chargers could be a much-improved team in 2020-21.

A look at the Great Midwest Athletic Conference Preseason Coaches Poll presented by Under Armor, released by the G-MAC office today, shows that opposing coaches see Hillsdale as a team on the rise as well. Despite finishing 12^th in the league standings last season, the Chargers are ninth in the poll at 43 points, and expected to be in contention for a spot in the G-MAC tourney. You can see the full conference poll below.

Much of the optimism surrounding the Chargers stems from the return of a talented backcourt trio that's accumulated significant experience over the last two seasons. Leading the way is junior Lauren Daffenberg, a second-team All-G-MAC pick last season who led the team in scoring (12.7 points per game) in 2019-20 and is on pace to go down as one of the program's most prolific 3-point shooters of all time when her career is over.

Daffenberg is flanked by junior Grace Touchette, another versatile offensive player and sharpshooter who averaged 12.6 points per game in 2019-20, and senior leader Jaycie Burger, who's entering her third season as a starter and whose versatile game makes a big impact at both ends of the floor for the Chargers.

Hillsdale will have to find rotation replacements for graduated seniors Sydney Anderson and Julia Wacker. To help replace the lost production, the Chargers will look for more from sophomore Sydney Mills, who quickly developed into the team's sixth man and its most effective post player offensively in her first season in college last year, as well as junior Anna LoMonaco, another top reserve from the 2019-20 season.

Mills is the headliner for a large sophomore class that cut its teeth in larger-than-expected roles for the Chargers last season and is hoping to take the next step in 2020-21. Players like Maverick Delp, Kennedy Pratt, Arianna Sysum, Macy Berglund and Sophia Pierce will get opportunities to emerge as difference-makers and earn bigger roles early in the season.

The Chargers are also bringing in a solid freshman class in guard Dani Salenbien and center Olivia Patch. Both players were key contributors to extremely successful teams in high school and will get an opportunity to earn a spot in the rotation as well.

Leading the way is Averkamp, who comes to Hillsdale College as a coach on the rise after a four-year tenure at Division III Benedictine University in suburban Chicago where he led the Eagles to unprecedented heights in the history of their program. He's assembled a top-notch staff, including Amanda Parker, previously a head coach at Division III Dominican University, as well as first-year assistants Angela Vecchiarelli and Hayley Maystead.

The Chargers open the 2020-21 campaign on Dec. 3 at 5:30 p.m. with a tough home contest against perennial G-MAC title contender Kentucky Wesleyan, then host Trevecca Nazarene on Saturday, Dec. 5 at 1 p.m. Hillsdale is playing a 22-game schedule against only G-MAC competition in the 2020-21 season, and will look to contend for a trip to the G-MAC tournament in the first week of March after missing out last year.

2020-21 Roster | 2020-21 Schedule

2020-21 Great Midwest Preseason Women's Basketball Coach's Poll