SPARTANBURG, S.C. - For the first time since joining the Southern Conference, Samford has been selected by the conference's women's basketball coaches to win the SoCon regular season title in 2010-11. The Bulldogs received seven first-place votes. Samford senior Emily London, the conference's leading three-point and free-three shooter from a season ago, was selected as the preseason Player of the Year.
Samford received 96 points overall, five points ahead of second-place Appalachian State. The Bulldogs were last season's SoCon tournament runners-up, and advanced to the second round of the Women's National Invitational Tournament. Samford returns two of the top five scorers in the SoCon in seniors London and Savannah Hill. Samford finished tied for second in the league last season with a 23-11 overall and 14-6 conference record.
Receiving two first-place votes and 91 points overall was Appalachian State, which was picked to finish second in the league. The Mountaineers return all five starters from a team that went 23-12 overall and finished tied for second in the conference with a 14-6 record in league play. The Mountaineers won the inaugural Women's Basketball Invitational (WBI) last year, defeating Memphis in the championship game.
For the first time in three years, Chattanooga was not picked to finished first in the preseason poll. The Lady Mocs collected the final two first-place votes and 85 total points to finish third in this year's polling. Chattanooga returns only four players from last season's championship team that went 24-9 overall and 16-4 in SoCon play. The Lady Mocs have won or shared the last 11 regular season titles.
College of Charleston (59) was picked to finish fourth and returns only one starter to a team that fell to Appalachian State in the semifinals of the WBI.
Picked to finish fifth in the league was Georgia Southern (58), which returns 10 letter-winners.
Davidson (55), under new head coach Michele Savage, was picked to sixth in the league.
Western Carolina (46) was predicted to finish seventh, while Elon (45) is believed to finish close behind in eighth.
UNCG (36) was picked to finish ninth, while Furman (20), under new head coach Jackie Carson, came in at 10th, followed by Wofford (14) at 11th.
The coaches also selected the preseason all-conference team. London is joined by teammate Hill for the two Samford representatives on the preseason team.
Appalachian State and Davidson also each have two players on the team. Representing the Mountaineers are senior Sam Ramirez and sophomore Anna Freeman. Senior Ashley Lax and sophomore Sophia Aleksandravicius are the two Wildcats on the all-conference team.
Also named to the team are College of Charleston senior Tonia Gerty, Elon sophomore Ali Ford, Chattanooga sophomore Kayla Christopher and Western Carolina senior Emily Clarke.
The Southern Conference women's basketball season begins Friday, November 12 with nine teams taking the court. All 11 teams will begin by Nov. 15. The 2011 Southern Conference Tournament will be held March 3-7 in Chattanooga, Tenn.
SoCon Women's Basketball Coaches Preseason Poll
|
Team (1st Place Votes)
|
Total Points
|
|
1. Samford (7)
|
96
|
|
2. Appalachian State (2)
|
91
|
|
3. Chattanooga (2)
|
85
|
|
4. College of Charleston
|
59
|
|
5. Georgia Southern
|
58
|
|
6. Davidson
|
55
|
|
7. Western Carolina
|
46
|
|
8. Elon
|
45
|
|
9. UNCG
|
36
|
|
10. Furman
|
20
|
|
11. Wofford
|
14
|
SoCon Women's Basketball Preseason All-Conference Team
Anna Freeman, Appalachian State
Sam Ramirez, Appalachian State
Tonia Gerty, College of Charleston
Sophia Aleksandravicius, Davidson
Ashley Lax, Davidson
Ali Ford, Elon
Savannah Hill, Samford
Emily London, Samford
Kayla Christopher, Chattanooga
Emily Clarke, Western Carolina
SoCon Women's Basketball Preseason Player of the Year
Emily London, Samford