BIRMINGHAM, Ala. - It came as no surprise to Lee University head coach Marty Rowe that his women's basketball team was voted to finish third in the pre-season rankings by the coaches in the annual Gulf South Conference Poll. Last year's champion University of Alabama in Huntsville is the No. 1 choice. Union University is second and Lee is third. Delta State University and Trevecca Nazarene University round out the top five.
Lee's Libby Privett was voted to the Coaches' Pre-Season All-GSC Team. Privett, a red-shirt junior, averaged 12 points and five rebounds per game for the Lady Flames last season. She was one of five selected to the All-GSC Team.
"The GSC should be solid and deep once again this year," commented Coach Rowe after reviewing the selections of the coaches. "Obviously, UAH and Union will be in the mix as always, but teams like Delta State and Trevecca continue to get better and better. It is going to be a brutal conference schedule."
The Lady Flames open the year with an exhibition homecoming game against Maryville College on Nov. 7th at 12 noon. Following six other non-conference contests, Lee will open GSC play and host the Aubrun University Montgomery on Dec. 3rd (5:30 p.m.).
"This may be the toughest non-conference schedule we've had since joining D2," stressed the Lee coach. "Florida Southern, Tampa, Ashland, and Augusta, who was picked to win the Peach Belt, and USC - Beaufort are all games away from home. Trust me, we will know who we are as team before we get into GSC play."
Players Lost
"We lost a very solid core of players, including Anna Muhonen, who was arguably the best post player in the GSC last season," noted Rowe. Muhonen averaged 16 points and almost nine rebounds per game in leading the Lady Flames to a 14-8 GSC mark and 18-10 overall. Baylee Delbridge played an important role with six rebounds per game and her rugged work on the defensive end.
Returning Players
"We feel good with our returning players and the people we have added. We will look to Privett and Kara (Williams) for leadership," Rowe said. Privett has worked hard over the summer months, and red-shirt senior Williams is eager to improve her role as an outside shooter.
"They both have experience competing in this league and they will be keys to our team's growth. I think a big key for us will be (6-foot-1) senior Hannah Jones. She will be in a different role this year, but we're excited and confident she can handle it," the coach added.
Look for red-shirt junior Abby McFarland to continue her important role as a shooting guard and rebounder while senior Mia Alexander has shown signs of giving the Lady Flames a lift when teams are sagging back and trying to stop their inside attack.
Newcomers
"As always, we will need to find an identity as a team early in the year. We will be counting on several newcomers to make impacts for us. There will definitely be room for growth this season," stressed Coach Rowe. Molly Brown comes to Lee as a transfer from Bryan College. Brown is listed as a 5-foot-7 guard. Mattie Machen is a 6-foot-2 freshman from Morris, Alabama while Emma Smith is a 5-foot-11 freshman guard and joins her sisters, Molly and Kate, from Hudson, New Hampshire.
COACHES PRESEASON POLL
Rk. Team, Pts.
1. UAH (7), 96
2. Union (3), 90
3. Lee (1), 80
4. Delta State, 73
5. Trevecca Nazarene, 70
6. Valdosta State, 56
7. West Alabama, 45
8. Mississippi Christian, 34
9. Montevallo, 26
10. AUM, 25
11. Christian Brothers, 10
First-place votes in parentheses ( )
PRESEASON ALL-GSC TEAM
Bella White, UAH, Sr., G [Cleveland, Tenn.]
Libby Privett, Lee, Jr., G [Huntsville, Ala.]
Jordan Gillies, Trevecca Nazarene, Sr., G [Cookeville, Tenn.]
Olivia Lee, Union, Sr., G [Jackson, Tenn.]
Erin Whalen, Valdosta State, Sr., F [Cumming, Ga.]
Listed alphabetical order by school
NEWCOMERS TO WATCH
Name School Yr. Pos. Ht. Hometown/Prev. School
Clare Conzelmann UAH So. G 5-9 Frankenmuth, Mich./Lake Superior State
Kylie Waytashek UAH So. F 6-1 Royalton, Minn./Valparaiso
Rylyn Gilmore-Rose AUM Jr. G 5-8 Red Oak, Texas/Panola College
Karmyn Kelly AUM Fr. G 5-8 Montgomery, Ala./Park Crossing HS
Kenna Kucholtz AUM Fr. G 5-7 Prosper, Texas/Rock Hill HS
Sydney Glahn DSU Fr. G 5-8 Oxford, Miss./Oxford HS
Maddie Mannion DSU Fr. G 5-10 Vilonia, Ark./Vilonia HS
Vivian Sketoe DSU Jr. G 5-6 Lake Arthur, La./Mississippi Christian
Molly Brown LEE So. G 5-7 Fayetteville, Tenn./Bryan College
Mattie Machen LEE Fr. F 6-2 Morris, Ala./Mortimer Jordan HS
Emma Smith LEE Fr. G 5-11 Hudson, N.H./Concord Christian Academy
Jakeria Hawksins MC Sr. G 5-8 Horn Lake, Miss./West Florida
Kameron Sanders MC Jr. G 5-7 Birmingham, Ala./Wallace State CC-Hanceville
Rebecca Wood MC Jr. G/F 5-11 Bradford, Tenn./Dyersburg State CC
Gracelyn Carmichael UM Fr. G 6-0 Laurel, Miss./Laurel HS
Brooklyn Phillips UM Jr. G 5-8 Pinson, Ala./Coastal Alabama CC-South
Bree Sexton UM So. G 5-10 Scottsboro, Ala./Snead State CC
Allie Gillies TNU Fr. G 5-8 Cookeville, Tenn./Cookeville HS
Alyssa Petty TNU So. F 5-10 Fayetteville, Tenn./Bryan College
Maria Perulles TNU Fr. F/C 5-11 Barcelona, Spain/Fert HS
Tiara Hozumi UU Sr. G 5-3 Chiba, Japan/Georgia Southwestern
Clarie Hyde UU 5th G 5-4 Wheaton, Ill./Belmont
Monna Julunen VSU Jr. G 5-11 Vantaa, Finland/Georgia State
Madison Pounds VSU Jr. G 5-8 Rocky Mount, N.C./Hofstra
Lia Edwards UWA Sr. G 5-9 Conyers, Ga./Montevallo
Donee' Frazier UWA Sr. C 6-0 Cleveland, Ohio/Christian Brothers
Amiya Redus UWA Jr. G 5-9 Tanner, Ala./Shorter
