Monday, October 11, 2004

SPARTANBURG, S.C. (Oct. 11, 2004) - The Southern Conference women's basketball coaches have cast their votes and selected Chattanooga to win the 2004-05 regular season title while ETSU ranks third in both the coaches and media pre-season poll.

The Lady Mocs received 10 of the 11 first-place votes in the poll. Chattanooga looks to defend its four-year reign after picking up the SoCon's first women's basketball win in the NCAA Championships. The Lady Mocs won the 2003-04 regular season title en route to their fourth-straight conference tournament crown and NCAA Automatic Bid. UTC returns six players from last year's squad, including the 2003 Player of the Year and Tournament Most Outstanding Player in Katasha Brown, only one of two women's basketball players in league history to collect both honors in the same season.

Furman was picked to finish second in the 2004-05 season. Head coach Sam Dixon returns 11 players from last year's roster, including senior Jen Nadalin and junior Tommi Paris. East Tennessee State finished third in the voting with the return of senior Tiffani Mayes (Sumter, S.C.) who led the league in rebounding last season and was second in scoring average.

Georgia Southern edged Davidson for the fourth slot, with the Wildcats returning the 2004 Freshman of the Year Katie Hamilton. UNC Greensboro was selected sixth, sliding past Appalachian State by two points, with Elon, Western Carolina, College of Charleston and Wofford rounding out the field.

The Southern Conference also announced the 2004-05 women's basketball preseason all-league team this morning. The 11-member squad is selected by the league's head coaches; coaches are not allowed to vote for their own players.

Nine schools were represented on the team, which features preseason Player of the Year Katasha Brown from Chattanooga. Brown was the 2004 Player of the Year and Most Outstanding Player at the 2004 Women's Basketball Championships, becoming only the second player in league history to record both honors in the same season. Davidson's Katie Hamilton, who was the 2004 Freshman of the Year, was also selected to the team. Hamilton was among the conference leaders in scoring, field goal percentage, free throw percentage, three-point field goal percentage and three-point field goals made as a rookie.

Chattanooga and Furman both landed two players on the preseason team. Junior Tiffani Roberson joins Brown for the Lady Mocs. Roberson was among the conference leaders in 2004 in scoring, field goal percentage and rebounding. Jen Nadalin and Tommi Paris represent the Lady Paladins after leading the 2003-04 squad to an 18-11 record, 14-6 in the conference action, and second-place finish in the league's standings.

Appalachian State's Kiki Conyers and Tiffani Mayes were also selected to the team. Conyers was the 2003 Freshman of the Year and was among the conference leaders in scoring, assists and free throw percentage. Mayes led the conference in rebounding and returns as the conference's scoring leader after finishing second in the ranking last season.  All polls are listed below.

2004-05 Women's Basketball COACHES Preseason Poll

1.    Chattanooga (10)                                                 100

2.    Furman (1)                                                           84

3.    East Tennessee State                                      74

4.    Georgia Southern                                                62

5.    Davidson                                                              59

6.    UNC Greensboro                                                 51

7.    Appalachian State                                                49

8.    Elon                                                                      44

9.    Western Carolina                                                 40

10.  College of Charleston                                          32

11.  Wofford                                                                11

2004-05 Southern Conference WOMEN'S  Basketball MEDIA Preseason Poll

Finish (1st place votes)                                           Points

1.          Chattanooga (29)                                           319

2.          Furman                                                          282

3.          East Tennessee State                                229

4.          Georgia Southern                                           223

5.          Davidson                                                        199

6.          UNC Greensboro                                           189

7.          Appalachian State                                          137

8.          Elon                                                                128

9.          Western Caroloina                                         114

10.        College of Charleston                                    61

11.        Wofford                                                          33

2004-05 Women's Basketball COACHES Preseason Team

Kiki Conyers, Appalachian State

Katasha Brown, Chattanooga

Tiffani Roberson, Chattanooga

Katie Hamilton, Davidson

Tiffani Mayes, East Tennessee State

Brianne Gray, Elon

Jen Nadalin, Furman

Tommi Paris, Furman

Dana Benemon, Georgia Southern