• 2023-24 OVC Women's Basketball Preseason Release (PDF) | OVC Men's Basketball Release | Photo Gallery
In a vote of Ohio Valley Conference head women’s basketball coaches and communication directors, Tennessee Tech has been picked the preseason favorites for the 2023-24 season. It marks the second-straight year the Golden Eagles have been tabbed the favorites.
TTU picked up 16 of 22 first-place votes in picking up 196 points. Little Rock picked up five first-place votes and was voted second (184) while Eastern Illinois got the other first-place vote and was tabbed third (157). UT Martin was fourth (135) and followed by Southeast Missouri (125), Southern Indiana (104), SIUE (89), Tennessee State (75), Morehead State (64), Western Illinois (49) and Lindenwood (32).
This season marks the first for Western Illinois who became official members on July 1 and pushed membership to 11 squads. This season teams will play an 18-game Conference schedule.
The 2023-24 OVC Preseason Men’s Basketball Team was headlined by Preseason Player of the Year Maaliya Owens. Last season the Tennessee Tech graduate student averaged 14.9 points/game while knocking down a school-record 92 3-pointers in leading the Golden Eagles to the OVC Tournament Championship and a NCAA Tournament victory over Monmouth.
Overall, nine different schools were represented on the Preseason Team which included 13 individuals.
2023-24 OVC Women’s Basketball Predicted Order of Finish
1. Tennessee Tech (16 first-place votes) – 196 points
2. Little Rock (5) - 184
3. Eastern Illinois (1) - 157
4. UT Martin - 135
5. Southeast Missouri - 125
6. Southern Indiana - 104
7. SIUE - 89
8. Tennessee State - 75
9. Morehead State - 64
10. Western Illinois - 49
11. Lindenwood - 32
2023-24 Preseason All-OVC Women’s Basketball Team
Preseason OVC Player of the Year: Maaliya Owens, Tennessee Tech
Veronica Charles, Morehead State
Anna Deets, Western Illinois
Jaliyah Green, Southeast Missouri
Tia Harvey, Little Rock
Faith Lee, Little Rock
Shae Littleford, UT Martin
Macy McGlone, Eastern Illinois
Miah Monahan, Eastern Illinois
Maaliya Owens, Tennessee Tech
Meredith Raley, Southern Indiana
KK Rodriguez, SIUE
Vanessa Shafford, Southern Indiana
Anna Walker, Tennessee Tech