When the league coaches voted on a preseason favorite, they selected Capital, and five games into the season the Crusaders haven’t done anything to dispel that notion.

The defending Ohio Athletic Conference tournament championship are winning by an average of 19.2 points per game, and come into the OAC opener unbeaten.

“They are the preseason pick to win the league, and deservingly so,” said Wilmington head coach Jerry Scheve. “They are undefeated and unchallenged against some good pretty competition. We are going to have to be at our best. We are going to have to take away the things they like to do, and execute our game plan extremely well.”

Wilmington will travel to Capital 7:30 p.m. Wednesday.

Capital is one of the most experienced teams in the OAC, if not the country, starting four seniors and a junior. It would be five seniors, however, one is hurt and not expected to play.

Seventy-one percent of the Crusaders’ scoring is coming from the senior class, led by Kristen Thompson and Jenna Irwin. Thompson, a forward, leads the team with 14.0 points and 8.8 rebounds. Her 8.8 boards per game are fourth in the OAC.

Irwin, who is averaging a team-high 30.2 minutes, is second on the team with 13.6 points per game.

Senior Nina Napolitano is the third player averaging double figures for the Crusaders, scoring 11.6 points per game, while shooting 57.5 percent from the field. The shooting percentage ranks her second in the league.

Scheve feels CU doesn’t have any weaknesses, and the Fightin’ Quakers will have to play great team defense.

Junior guard Brittaney Jefferson (Dayton, OH/Chaminade Julienne) has reached double figures in all three games, and is fourth in the OAC in scoring with 17.3 points per game.

Freshman guard Mackenzie Campbell (Cincinnati, OH/Turpin) is also averaging double figures with 11.7 points per game.