Oct. 29, 2009

COLUMBIA, S.C. - The Southeastern Conference announced the results of its sixth annual women's basketball preseason poll with the University of South Carolina coming in at sixth. The league's coaches tabbed Tennessee to win the regular season, edging out LSU by a single vote.

The Gamecocks are coming off a 10-18 season in 2008-09 that saw them win a pair of SEC games in 14 league outings. Head coach Dawn Staley returns six letterwinners, including four starters, and inked the fourth-best recruiting class in the nation. The Gamecocks were led last season by unanimous SEC All-Freshman selection La'Keisha Sutton, who netted 11.0 points per game and tied for team-high honors with 2.4 assists per outing. She was the SEC's highest-scoring freshman in league play, pouring in 13.6 points per game to go with 3.6 assists per contest.

After Tennessee and LSU, Mississippi State, Georgia and Vanderbilt placed ahead of the Gamecocks in the top half of the league standings. Florida, Auburn, Arkansas, Mississippi, Kentucky and Alabama rounded out the lower half.

South Carolina tips off its 2009-10 season with an exhibition game against Augusta State on Wed., Nov. 11, at 7 p.m. at Colonial Life Arena. Season tickets are available for $50 for a reserved seat or in a Family Pack of four general admission tickets for $100.

SEC Preseason Coaches Poll

1. Tennessee (112) 22-11 (9-5)
2. LSU (111) 19-11 (10-4)
3. Mississippi State (100) 23-10 (8-6)
4. Georgia (91) 19-14 (7-7)
5. Vanderbilt (86) 26-9 (10-4)
6. South Carolina (56) 10-18 (2-12)
7. Florida (55) 24-8 (9-5)
8. Auburn (51) 30-4 (12-2)
9. Arkansas (49) 18-14 (6-8)
10. Mississippi (39) 18-15 (5-9)
11. Kentucky (27) 18-15 (5-9)
12. Alabama (13) 13-17 (1-13)

Preseason Player of the Year
Allison Hightower, LSU

Preseason All-SEC First Team
Ciera Ricketts, Arkansas
Ashley Houts, Georgia^
Angel Robinson, Georgia
LaSondra Barrett, LSU
Allison Hightower, LSU^
Alexis Rack, Mississippi State
Angie Bjorklund, Tennessee
Shekinna Stricklen, Tennessee

Preseason All-SEC Second Team
Alli Smalley, Auburn
Porsha Phillips, Georgia
Victoria Dunlap, Kentucky
Bianca Thomas, Mississippi
Armelie Lumanu, Mississippi State
Chanel Mokango, Mississippi State
Glory Johnson, Tennessee
Merideth Marsh, Vanderbilt
Hannah Tuomi, Vanderbilt

^ Unanimous selection