For the third consecutive year, the UTC women’s basketball team was picked to win the Southern Conference regular season title by the league coaches in a preseason poll released by the Southern Conference office Friday morning.
The Lady Mocs, who have shared or won outright the last 10 titles in the league, received 98 overall points and nine first place votes to Samford’s two. The Bulldogs challenged Chattanooga for the title as it came down to the final game of last season to decide the winner. The Lady Mocs shut down Samford’s charge with a 72-48 effort to clinch the crown.
Senior forward Shanara Hollinquest was selected the preseason favorite for Player of the Year and she was joined on the all-conference team by fellow senior Jenaya Wade-Fray. All-Tournament player, senior Tagan Hatchett, is the third starter returning for the Lady Mocs who went 22-10 overall last year and 17-3 in league play.
Samford, with 91 points and two first place votes, returns four starters from a team that went 22-7 overall and finished second in its freshman season in the league with a 16-4 conference record.
College of Charleston (84) was picked to finish third and returns three starters to a team that 14-6 overall and 23-8 in league play. The Cougars made their first trip to the conference tournament title game last season before falling to Western Carolina in triple overtime.
Picked to finish fourth in the league was Davidson (64), which returns three starters.
Defending tournament champion Western Carolina (58) was picked to finish fifth. The Catamounts are led by new head coach Karen Middleton and return two starters from last season.
Georgia Southern (56) was picked to finish at sixth, while UNC Greensboro (54) came in at seventh. Appalachian State and Furman (31) tied for eighth, followed by Elon (26) at 10th and Wofford (12) at 11th.
College of Charleston, Davidson and Samford also each had two players on the team. Representing the Cougars were senior Jade Hughes and junior Tonia Gerty. Juniors Alex Thompson and Ashley Lax were tabbed from the Wildcats, while juniors Emily London and Savannah Hill were picked from the Bulldogs.
Also named to the team were Furman senior Lee Stephens and Western Carolina junior Emily Clarke.
The Southern Conference women’s basketball season begins Friday, November 13 with 10 teams taking the court. All 11 teams will begin play during the weekend. The 2010 Southern Conference Tournament will be held March 4-8 in Charlotte, N.C.
SoCon Women’s Basketball Coaches Preseason Poll
Team (1st Place Votes)Total Points
1. Chattanooga (9)98
2. Samford (2)91
3. College of Charleston84
4. Davidson64
5. Western Carolina58
6. Georgia Southern56
7. UNC Greensboro54
T8. Appalachian State31
T8. Furman31
10. Elon26
11. Wofford12
SoCon Women’s Basketball Preseason All-Conference Team
Emily Clarke, Western Carolina
Tonia Gerty, College of Charleston
Savannah Hill, Samford
Shanara Hollinquest, Chattanooga
Jade Hughes, College of Charleston
Ashley Lax, Davidson
Emily London, Samford
Lee Stephens, Furman
Alex Thompson, Davidson
Jenaya Wade-Fray, Chattanooga
SoCon Women’s Basketball Preseason Player of the Year
Shanara Hollinquest, Chattanooga