Women Tabbed Fifth in Preseason Poll
10/30/2013 10:44:00 AM | Women's Basketball
The defending Southland Co-Champion Sam Houston State women's basketball team has been predicted to finish fifth in the 2014 Southland race according to the annual preseason vote of the league's head coaches and SIDs.
Stephen F. Austin has been tabbed to win the league after finishing tied for sixth last season.
Oral Roberts, who the Bearkats shared the 2013 title with, are picked to finish second but received three first-place votes in each poll. Nicholls was selected third and received two first-place votes in the coaches' poll and one in the SID poll.
McNeese State was fourth in both polls. In the coaches' poll the Bearkats had 74 points and in the SID poll were tied for fifth in the along with Lamar with 70 points. The Lady Cardinals are picked seventh by the coaches with 65 points. Central Arkansas is slated sixth by the coaches and seventh by the SIDs. The Sugar Bears also garnered the final first-place tally from the SIDs.
Northwestern State is projected eighth in both polls with 64 points from the coaches and 66 points from the SIDs. Texas A&M-Corpus Christi follows the Lady Demons in the coaches' poll with 47 points while Southeastern Louisiana is pick 10th by the coaches with 40 points. The Islanders and the Lady Lions are flipped in the SID poll with Southeastern earning 42 points and the Islanders claiming 39 points.
Conference newcomers New Orleans and Houston Baptist round out both polls with UNO selected 11th and HBU picked 12th the coaches' and SID polls. The Privateers received 19 points from the coaches and 27 from the SIDs while the Huskies picked up 16 points from the coaches and 23 some the SIDs.
Since both Abilene Christian and UIW will not play a full slate of league games in their first year of transition into Division I, they were not eligible to be picked in the preseason polls. Additionally, neither team is eligible for postseason play until 2017-18.
The top eight teams in based on conference winning percentage earn berths to the 2014 Southland Conference Basketball Tournament March 12-15, at the Merrell Center in Katy, Texas.
2013-14 Women's Basketball Preseason Polls
Coaches' Poll
Place Team (first place votes) Total
1. Stephen F. Austin (7) 110
2. Oral Roberts (3) 106
3. Nicholls (2) 95
4. McNeese State 87
5. Sam Houston State 74
6. Central Arkansas 69
7. Lamar 65
8. Northwestern State 64
9. Texas A&M-Corpus Christi 47
10. Southeastern Louisiana 40
11. New Orleans 19
12. Houston Baptist 16
SID Poll
Place Team (first place votes) Total
1. Stephen F. Austin (7) 111
2. Oral Roberts (3) 99
3. Nicholls (1) 96
4. McNeese State 80
T5. Sam Houston State 70
T5. Lamar 70
7. Central Arkansas (1) 69
8. Northwestern State 66
9. Southeastern Louisiana 42
10. Texas A&M-Corpus Christi 39
11. New Orleans 27
12. Houston Baptist 23
