Bearkat women picked sixth in preseason poll
11/3/2010 11:00:00 AM | Women's Basketball
The Lamar and UTSA women's basketball teams have been selected as the preseason favorites to win the Southland Conference East and West Divisions, respectively, in the league's annual head coaches' poll predictions for the 2011 season.
Lamar is the defending regular season and conference tournament champion.
Sam Houston State, which earned its first Southland Conference tournament berth since 2004 and posted its highest Southland finish in a decade, was tabbed to place sixth in the head coaches' predictions.
Following UTSA in the poll for the Southland West were Texas A&M-Corpus Christi, Stephen F. Austin, UT-Arlington, Texas State and the Bearkats.
Behind Lamar in the East Division predictions were Central Arkansas, Northwestern State, Southeastern Louisiana, McNeese State and Nicholls.
The head coaches were not unanimous in picking a West Division winner. UTSA received only four first place votes, the same as A&M-Corpus Christi. SFA got three picks to win the division and UT-Arlington one.
In the East Division the decision was more clear cut with Lamar receiving 10 of the 12 head coaches' votes and Central Arkansas the other two.
Sam Houston enters the 2010-11 season with a young squad and only one starter returning from last year. Head coach Brenda Welch-Nichols looks to reload with an exciting group of returning players and another quality recruiting class.
Sophomore Clarke Davis is the team's lone returning starter. The 6-0 forward earned a starting role in pre-conference play and averaged 4.2 points and 3.8 rebounds in league action.
Chanice Smith, a 5-9 sophomore guard, averaged 19.5 minutes and 8.7 points off the bench in 2009-10. Other returning players from last year's squad include 5-6 junior guard Khamra Echols (4.9 points), 6-0 sophomore forward Sequeena Thomas (3.6 points), 6-0 senior forward Terrah Austin (3.8 points) and 6-2 junior post LaTisha Morgan (1.1 points).
Sophomore Britni Martin, a 6-0 guard who was a medical redshirt in 2009-10, also returns. Two years ago, Martin was the first Sam Houston freshman woman to score in double figures since Shayla Teague in 1995. Posting a 10.5 average in 2009, Martin became only the fifth freshman in Bearkat women's basketball history to score in double digits.
"We had some young players put up good numbers for us last year," Nichols said. "With those young ladies ready to provide a solid foundation plus another strong recruiting class, we can't wait to get started with the new season."
A solid group of recruits brings needed height, quickness and scoring ability. The newcomers include 5-6 junior guard Devin Wombles from Pleasant Hill, Ill. and freshmen 5-10 Nyha Carter from League City, 5-7 Jasmine Johnson from Missouri City, 6-1 Ashton Jones from Houston Cy Woods and 6-1 Zoe Tucker from Houston Cy Creek.
Sam Houston begins its 2010-11 women's basketball season with an exhibition game on Saturday at 6:30 p.m. against Howard Payne at Johnson Coliseum.
Southland Conference Women's Basketball
2011 Head Coaches Preseason Poll
West Division
1. UTSA (4 first place votes) ......... 53 points
2. A&M-Corpus Christi (4) .............47
3. Stephen F. Austin (3) ...............42
4. UT-Arlington (1) ......................39
5. Texas State ............................19
6. Sam Houston State ..................16
East Division
1. Lamar (10 first place votes) .........60 points
2. Central Arkansas (2) ..................52
3. Northwestern State .....................35
4. Southeastern Louisiana ..............29
5. McNeese State...........................26
6. Nicholls ....................................14
