Women Tabbed Fifth In Preseason Poll
10/24/2012 1:42:00 PM | Women's Basketball
Two-time defending conference tournament champion McNeese State is the head coaches' choice to earn the regular season. The Cowgirls received seven first place votes.
Stephen F. Austin was selected second in the preseason poll, followed by Central Arkansas, Oral Roberts and Sam Houston in fifth.
Lamar, Nicholls State, A&M-Corpus Christi, Southeastern Louisiana and Northwestern State complete the 2013 preseason Southland head coaches' poll.
"As long as we do our job, we'll have a good chance to do well in the Southland Conference this year," SHSU head women's basketball coach Brenda Nichols said. "With nine returning letter winners plus some top newcomers, we're looking forward to an exciting conference race this year."
Seniors Britni Martin, Sequeena Thomas and Chanice Smith return from last year's team that rolled up an 18-12 overall record and played in a national post-season tournament for the first time in school history.
The 2012 Bearkats added a second consecutive West Division championship for the program. With their 12-4 league record in 2012, the women' achieved their highest seed (third) at the Southland post-season tournament. The .750 winning percentage in Southland action is the program's highest in 25 years in the league.
The 18-12 overall record equaled the school mark for most victories in one year (tying the 1996 squad). The 35 victories during the past two seasons mark the most in a two-year period for Sam Houston's 30-year history as an NCAA program.
Martin and Thomas both are two-time All-Southland Conference performers. Martin was a first team selection in both 2011 and 2012 while Thomas was a second team pick both years.
Martin was the league's third-leading scorer last year and stood 52nd nationally with a 17.2 scoring average. She led the Southland Conference in three point baskets per game (2.9).
Thomas led Southland Conference rebounding and ranked No. 2 nationally with 12.5 rebounds per game. She also stood ninth in the league in scoring with 14.4 points per game.
The top eight teams in based on conference winning percentage earn berths to the 2013 Southland Conference Basketball Tournament March 13-16, at the Merrell Center in Katy, Texas.
2012-13 Women's Basketball Preseason Polls
Coaches' Poll
Place Team (first place votes) Total
1. McNeese State (7) 78
2. Stephen F. Austin (3) 69
3. Central Arkansas 59
4. Oral Roberts 56
5. Sam Houston State 54
6. Lamar 46
7. Nicholls State 33
8. A&M-Corpus Christi 21
9. Southeastern Louisiana 19
10. Northwestern State 15
