Nov. 6, 2009

BIRMINGHAM, Ala. - The Samford women's basketball team was picked to finish second in the Southern Conference when the league released its preseason poll and All-Conference team on Friday. Two Samford players, juniors Emily London and Savannah Hill, were named to the All-Conference team.

For the third year in a row, Chattanooga was picked as the favorite to win the conference title, receiving 98 points in the poll, which was voted on by the league's head coaches. Samford came in seven points behind the Lady Mocs with 91 points, including two of the 11 first-place votes.

College of Charleston (84 pts.) was picked to finish third in the league, while Davidson (64) was picked fourth. Defending tournament champion Western Carolina (58) was picked to finish fifth.

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.

Chattanooga senior Shanara Hollinquest was named the league's preseason Player of the Year, joining London and Hill on the All-Conference team.

Also on the preseason All-Conference team were Emily Clarke (Western Carolina), Tonia Gerty (College of Charleston), Jade Hughes (College of Charleston), Ashley Lax (Davidson), Lee Stephens (Furman), Alex Thompson (Davidson) and Jenaya Wade-Fray (Chattanooga).

London and Hill were both named All-Conference last season. London led the team in scoring, averaging 13.8 points per game, while Hill was the team's leading rebounder, pulling down 5.4 boards per contest.

Samford returns four of five starters and eight of 12 letterwinners from a team that posted a 22-7 overall record last season. The Bulldogs set a program record with 16 conference wins (16-4) in their first season in the SoCon.

Seniors Megan Wilderotter and Monica Maxwell join London and Hill as the team's returning starters. Non-starters J'Quita Babineaux, Jazmine Powers, Paige Anderson and Alex Crow also return to the squad.

The Bulldogs welcome four newcomers to this year's team. Jazmine Martin (G, 5-7, Fr., Hoover, Ala.), Ruth Ketcham (G, 5-8, So., Auburn University), Kylie Black (F, 6-3, Fr., Danville, Ala.) and Hannah Dawson (F, 5-11, Fr., Shelbyville, Tenn.) join the team this season, though Ketcham will sit out this season due to NCAA transfer rules.

Samford opens the 2009-10 regular season on Nov. 13, when the Bulldogs play host to in-state rival Jacksonville State. Tip-off is scheduled for 7 p.m. at the Pete Hanna Center. The Bulldogs will also host an exhibition contest with Cumberland University on Tuesday, Nov. 10, at 7 p.m.

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