Norcross, Ga. - For the sixth consecutive year, Lee University has been voted to win the SSAC women's basketball championship in the preseason coaches’ poll. Last year the Lady Flames won the SSAC regular season championship for the fifth year in a row. Lee is the SSAC coaches' unanimous pick to win the conference title in 2010-11 by securing 140 first place votes.
Lee head coach Marty Rowe, who enters his seventh season, finished the 2009-10 campaign with an overall record of 31-6, with a 14-2 mark in the conference. Rowe and the Lady Flames return three starters; Senior Guard and Third Team All-American Brooke McKinnon, Angela Spann and Senior Center Kayla Carlisle. Other key returners include juniors Kally Eldridge and Kari Jo Harris. Sophomores Sierra Sims, Julia Zimmerman and Brooke Hamby will all be called upon to expand their roles this year.
Newcomers will also be vital to the Lady Flames’ success this year. Coach Rowe has added depth and skill with this year’s recruiting class. Transfers Maddie Doyle (Lynn University) and Tatsiana Zhurauliova (Panola College) will be called upon immediately to help fill the void left by All-American Katie Nelson. Add transfer Larysa Latyshava, and an outstanding crop of freshmen, and you have what Coach Rowe believes to be an outstanding recruiting class.
Shorter and Southern Poly were picked to finish second and third, respectively, in a very close vote. SPSU returns five starters from a team that finished 30-5 (12-4), won its first SSAC tournament championship and advanced to the second round of the 2010 NAIA DI National Championship. SSAC Newcomer and Tournament MVP from 2010, Marisa Stotler is expected to be one of the league’s top players. The 6-1 senior forward averaged 18.1 points and 7.1 rebounds per game. The Hornets, under the direction of first year head coach Laquanda Dawkins, added Jasmine Smith, a 5-11 senior that transferred in from Tennessee State. Smith was a member of the 2008-09 OVC All-Newcomer team.
Given that Lee and SPSU won the league regular season and tournament titles, respectively, some might forget that Shorter University (22-10,12-4) had a very fine year. The SSAC coaches didn’t forget, and they respect what the Hawks return. Megan Queen, a 6-3 senior center, and 6-2 Shelby Farrer, last year’s SSAC Freshman of the Year should provide the Hawks a strong frontcourt. Shorter also returns junior Kelly Ellison, an All-SSAC guard and NAIA All-American. Joining that group will be Damisha Moore, a 5-7 junior guard who transferred from the University of Miami.
The coaches selected Loyola University to win the West Division. One of the top teams in the GCAC last year, Loyola finished the 2009-10 season with an overall record of 19-11 and a conference record of 12-6. The top returner for the Wolfpack is Keiva Council, a 5-8 Junior who averaged 11 points, 3 assists and 5 rebounds per game.
This year's championship tournament will feature the top 5 teams from each division and will again be held in Rome, Georgia from March 2-5. The play-in round will be held at The Forum, the quarterfinal games at The Darlington School, and the semifinals and finals at The Forum. Floyd County is the presenting sponsor for this event.
Listed below is the complete 2011 SSAC Women's Basketball Preseason Coaches' Poll by division and overall.
East Predicted Finish
Lee 56 (7)
Shorter 47
Southern Poly 46 (1)
Emmanuel 39
Brenau 30
Southern Wesleyan 25
Brewton-Parker 23
Truett-McConnell 13
Columbia 8
West Predicted Finish
Loyola 34 (4)
AUM 29 (2)
William Carey 28 (1)
Mobile 22
Belhaven 17
Faulkner 9
Spring Hill 8
Overall Predicted Finish
Lee 140 (14)
Southern Poly 116 (1)
Shorter 114
Loyola 104
William Carey 75
AUM 74
Emmanuel 70
Brenau 49
Mobile 42
Belhaven 15
