MACON, Ga. (Oct. 12, 2006) - The Atlantic Sun Conference released its women's basketball preseason poll today, with ETSU picked to finish third by both the conference coaches and media. Belmont, last season's regular season champion, is picked to finish atop the league again this season, with Gardner-Webb picked second.

            Belmont and Gardner-Webb both received first place votes, with Belmont receiving seven by the coaches and 16 from the media. Gardner-Webb received three from the coaches and four by the media. ETSU received 72 third place votes from the coaches and 154 by the media.  Rounding out the top-five in the coaches poll is Campbell followed by Jacksonville. In the media poll, Campbell remains fourth and Mercer jumped ahead of Jacksonville for fifth.

After coming off an impressive first season in the A-Sun with an overall record of 18-10 (14-6 in conference), the Lady Bucs will look to continue their success in year two. The 14 wins in conference play were the most in coach Karen Kemp's 12-year tenure at ETSU, and the 18 wins marked the third highest total in Lady Bucs history. Despite losing last year's leading scorer B.J. Banjo (19.1 ppg), the Lady Bucs are returning three starters, including the reigning A-Sun Defensive Player of the Year winner Nichelle Akers.

Once again the Lady Bucs feature a strong non-conference schedule as they open the season on the road against North Carolina, a 2006 Final Four participant on Nov. 10. Before hosting Davidson at the Memorial Center on Nov. 17, the Lady Bucs travel to take on SEC foe South Carolina on Nov. 12. ETSU begins conference play on the road when they play with Mercer on Nov. 30.

The 10-member league headquartered in Macon, Ga., consists of Belmont, Campbell, ETSU, Gardner-Webb, Jacksonville, Kennesaw State, Lipscomb, Mercer, North Florida and Stetson with Florida Gulf Coast and USC Upstate beginning competition in 2007-2008. A complete list of the voting results can be seen below.