SPARTANBURG, S.C. - For the third consecutive year, Chattanooga has been selected by the Southern Conference women's basketball coaches to win the SoCon regular season title in 2009-10. The Lady Mocs received nine first-place votes. Chattanooga senior Shanara Hollinquest, the conference's leading scorer and Player of the Year in 2008-09, was selected as the preseason Player of the Year.
Chattanooga received 98 points overall, seven points ahead of second-place Samford. The Lady Mocs have won at least a share of the last 10 SoCon regular season titles and return three starters from a team that went 22-10 overall and 17-3 in league play during the 2008-09 season.
Receiving the other two first-place votes and 91 points overall was Samford, which was picked to finish second in the league. The Bulldogs return four starters from a team that went 22-7 overall and finished second in the conference with a 16-4 SoCon record last season, their first season in the conference.
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.
The coaches also selected the preseason all-conference team. Hollinquest was joined by teammate Jenaya Wade-Fray, a senior.
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 Charleston |
84 |
|
4. Davidson |
64 |
|
5. Western Carolina |
58 |
|
6. Georgia Southern |
56 |
|
7. UNC Greensboro |
54 |
|
T8. Appalachian State |
31 |
|
T8. Furman |
31 |
|
10. Elon |
26 |
|
11. Wofford |
12 |
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
Photo Credit: Southern Conference
