Coaches tab UNCG eighth in preseason SoCon poll
SPARTANBURG, S.C. – UNCG's women's basketball team was picked eighth in the Southern Conference's preseason poll, as selected by the 11 league head coaches.
Chattanooga was chosen to win the league, picking up nine first-place votes and 99 points in the poll. Defending regular-season champion Appalachian State was selected second, with 88 points and two first-place votes.
Elon was third with 76 points, followed by defending SoCon tournament champion Samford (71 points), Davidson (67), Furman (55), Georgia Southern (51), UNCG (35), Western Carolina (27), College of Charleston (21) and Wofford (15).
The Spartans, under the direction of first-year head coach Wendy Palmer, return two starters from last season's 13-16 squad. UNCG went 10-10 in the league last year, tying for fifth in the standings.
Junior point guard Dayshaun Richbow was one of just two UNCG players to start all 29 contests last season and led the squad in assists and steals. Sophomore forward Janae' Stevenson was a SoCon All-Freshman selection last year, when she became the first Spartan since the 1996-97 season to lead the team in rebounding. She also blocked 36 shots, the fourth-most in a single season in school history.
Davidson's Sophia Alexandravicius was the tabbed the league's preseason player of the year, headlining the 10-member preseason all-conference team.
UNCG opens the 2011-12 season on Nov. 11 when it hosts Liberty at Fleming Gymnasium at 7 p.m.
2011-12 SoCon Women's Basketball Coaches Preseason Poll
Team (1st Place Votes) Total Points
1. Chattanooga (9) 99
2. Appalachian State (2) 88
3. Elon 76
4. Samford 71
5. Davidson 67
6. Furman 55
7. Georgia Southern 51
8. UNCG 35
9. Western Carolina 27
10. College of Charleston 21
11. Wofford 15
2011-12 SoCon Women's Basketball Preseason All-Conference Team
Anna Freeman, Appalachian State
Sophia Alexandravicius, Davidson
Laura Murray, Davidson
Kelsey Evans, Elon
Ali Ford, Elon
Kaitlyn Murphy, Furman
Meredith Frye, Georgia Southern
Kayla Christopher, Chattanooga
Whitney Hood, Chattanooga
April Moorhouse, Wofford
SoCon Women's Basketball Preseason Player of the Year
Sophia Alexandravicius, Davidson
- UNCG -