Southland Preseason Coaches' Poll Announced
10/28/2015 11:03:00 AM | Women's Basketball
Sam Houston has been picked to finish 10th in the 2016 Southland Conference women's basketball race according to the annual preseason poll of the league's head coaches.
Lamar is the preseason favorite according to the poll. The Cardinal women have claimed two regular-season titles in Southland Conference history with the most recent coming in 2014 after posting a 13-5 league mark.
Northwestern State, Stephen F. Austin and McNeese State, ranked second through fourth respectively, all received first place votes from the coaches. The Cardinals and the Demons each received five first place votes. The Lumberjacks and the Cowgirls earned two first place ballots.
A&M-Corpus Christi in the fifth place selection of the head coaches, followed by Houston Baptist, Central Arkansas, Nicholls, Abilene Christian, Sam Houston, New Orleans, Southeastern Louisiana and Incarnate Word.
After transitioning to Division I, Abilene Christian and UIW were eligible for preseason polls for the first time, but are not eligible for postseason play until the 2017-18 season.
The top eight teams with the highest winning percentage during conference action will earn berths to the 2015 Southland Conference Basketball Tournament March 10-13, at the Merrell Center in Katy, Texas.
The Sam Houston women are looking to bounce back from a 6-22 season in 2015 in which injuries played a key factor. Eight letter-winners return including four starters.
Two returning players – guard Shernise Robertson and center Angela Beadle – have earned All-Southland Conference honors. Robertson was the leading scorer in the Southland last year and earned a first team all-league selection. Beadle missed the 2015 season with an injury but was an all-league player as a junior in 2014.
“Practice has been going well and the team is looking forward to getting the season started,” head coach Brenda Welch-Nichols said. “We're getting great leadership from the seniors. The team is meshing together well.”
The Sam Houston women will play host to Mary Hardin-Baylor in a preseason exhibition game at 3 p.m. on Saturday, November 7, at Bernard G. Johnson Coliseum. The Kats open the regular season Friday November 13 at TCU. The first regular season home women's game is Friday November 20 when the women play host to Our Lady of the Lake in the annual “Pack the House” game at 11 a.m.
2015-16 Women's Basketball Preseason Head Coaches' Poll
|
Place |
Team (first place votes) |
Total |
|
1. |
Lamar (5) |
130 |
|
2. |
Northwestern St (5) |
126 |
|
3. |
Stephen F. Austin (2) |
125 |
|
4. |
McNeese State (2) |
123 |
|
5. |
A&M-Corpus Christi |
100 |
|
6. |
Houston Baptist |
92 |
|
7. |
Central Arkansas |
88 |
|
8. |
Nicholls |
80 |
|
9. |
Abilene Christian |
74 |
|
10. |
Sam Houston State |
61 |
|
11. |
New Orleans |
47 |
|
12. |
Southeastern Louisiana |
28 |
|
13. |
UIW |
18 |
