Women's Hoops Land Three on HCAC Players-to-Watch List

GREENWOOD, Ind. – The Heartland Collegiate Athletic Conference has released its preseason coaches' poll and Defiance College is placed fifth out of the ten teams. The Purple and Gold received 58 points from the conference coaches. Hanover claimed the top spot with 91 points followed by Franklin (89) and Transylvania (77). [HCAC Release]

The HCAC highlighted three members of the Purple and Gold that could make a big impact on the 2012-13 season. Receiving the attention for the Jackets are senior center Kim Comden, junior guard Erica King and junior forward Hannah Harshman.

Comden has anchored the Defiance frontcourt the past two seasons, as the senior has started every game during her junior and sophomore campaign. Comden was named to the All-HCAC team for her stellar play during the 2011-12 season. The senior led the Jackets in rebounding and blocks a season ago with averages of 7.1 boards and 1.5 blocks per game. Comden was also second on the team in scoring, putting up 10.7 points per contest.

King returns to the Purple and Gold as an upperclassman after two stellar seasons of play during her freshman and sophomore years. King has played a vital role in the Jackets' success over the course of her career. After averaging over 10 points per game as a freshman, King led DC in scoring last season by putting up 12.6 points per contest. The junior is known for her long-range shooting ability, as King was the only player in the HCAC to average more than two three-pointers made per game.

The third Yellow Jacket to be placed on the list is Harshman, who served as an all-purpose player for the Purple and Gold last season. The junior was the team's third leading scorer, averaging 9.6 points per game. Harshman was also second on the team in rebounds and blocks. Harshman was the most efficient scorer on DC, as the junior finished third in the conference in field goal percentage with a clip of .468.

The trio and the rest of the Yellow Jackets begin the 2012-13 campaign on Friday, November 16 as the Purple and Gold travel to Danville, Ky. to take on Thomas More at 5:00 p.m. The game will be the first in new head coach Jessica 'Cox' Morris's career.