ROCHESTER, Mich. - The Oakland women's basketball team kicks off the 2018-19 campaign against Grace Christian for the home opener on Tuesday, Nov. 6 at 4 pm. The game will be broadcast live from the Blacktop at the O'rena on ESPN+ with Dakota Bretch on the call.
 
Notes:
Series History: The is the first meeting between the two schools. Grace Christian is an evangelical college located in Grand Rapids, Michigan and member of the National Christian College Athletic Association (NCCAA). The Tigers are 0-4 on the season after dropping a one-point decision to Cornerstone Univ. (Mich.), 64-63, on Monday night.

2018-19 Preseason Poll: Oakland was selected to finish seventh in the 2018-19 Horizon League Preseason Poll, announced by the league office (10/
18) and voted on by the league's 10 head coaches, staff and media.

2017-18 Season Recap: Oakland finished the 2017-18 season with a 15-16 overall record and 7-11 conference mark. The Golden Grizzlies entered the Horizon League Tournament as the No. 7 seed and defeated No. 10 seed UIC (80-46) to earn the program's first HL tournament win before dropping a hard-fought game to No. 2 IUPUI (56-49).
 
Statistically Speaking: Last season, The Golden Grizzlies led the Horizon League in 3-point field goal percentage (34.6), ranked second in scoring (70.4 ppg), assists (14.60 apg) and 3-point field goals made (7.6) offensively. Defensively, Oakland led the league in steals (10.60) while ranking second in turnover margin (+3.60) and 3-point field goal defense percentage (27.6%) and sixth in blocked shots (3.50).
 
Returning Firepower: Senior and two-time Horizon League Sixth Player of the Year and three-time preseason All-League Second Team selection Taylor Jones is the top returner after coming off the bench last season ranking third on the team in scoring (11.2 ppg) which was 19th in the league. She scored in double figures 20 times with a season-high 20 points against Old Dominion (12/21). Jones scored 11 points against NKU (1/6) becoming the 28th player in program history to score 1000 career points
 
Big Shoes to Fill: Oakland will look to replace four of the team's top-five scorers in departed seniors Sha'Keya Graves (12.5 ppg), Taylor Gleason (11.7), Leah Somerfield (11.2) and Cierra Bond (10.5) along with defensive specialist Korrin Taylor.
 
Fresh Faces: To help fill the offensive void left from the departed seniors, Oakland will look to senior Alabama transfer Lekaysha Stennis who will play her final year of eligibility after sitting out last year and five new freshmen in guards Brianna Breedy, Kahlaijah Dean, Teneea Heston Victoria Oglesby and forward Kayla Luchenbach.
 
#WEARtheBEAR