South Carolina Gamecocks

Oct. 29, 2010

COLUMBIA, S.C. - South Carolina junior guard Marah Strickland earned a spot on the Preseason All-SEC Second Team, as selected by the league's coaches this week. The Gamecocks were picked by the coaches to finish seventh in the league, matching their 2009-10 final league standing.

Strickland spent two seasons at the University of Maryland, during which she etched her name among the Terrapins' top 10 in career 3-point field goals made and attempted. Starting 59 of 70 games in her Maryland career, she was among the ACC's top 10 in 3-point field goal percentage (.375) and 3-point field goals made per game (2.35) as a sophomore in 2008-09. She led the team in scoring three times that season, including a career-high 21 points against UNC Asheville. In her first season of collegiate action, Strickland was an honorable mention ACC All-Freshman selection after ranking second in the league in 3-point field goal percentage (.407) and 10th in 3-point field goals made per game (1.54).

South Carolina finished the 2009-10 season with a 7-9 SEC record to finish tied for seventh in the standings, the Gamecocks' best finish since the 2005-06 team's 7-7 mark was also good for seventh place.

The Gamecocks open their 2010-11 season with an exhibition game against Lander on Fri., Nov. 5, at 7 p.m. The season officially tips off on Fri., Nov. 12, at 6:30 p.m. against Xavier. Both games are at Colonial Life Arena.

SEC Preseason Coaches Poll
1. Tennessee
2. Kentucky
3. LSU
T4. Georgia
T4. Vanderbilt
6. Auburn
7. South Carolina
8. Alabama
9. Ole Miss
10. Florida
11. Arkansas
12. Mississippi State

Preseason Player of the Year
Victoria Dunlap, Kentucky

Preseason All-SEC First Team
Alli Smalley, Auburn
Porsha Phillips, Georgia
Victoria Dunlap, Kentucky
A'dia Mathies, Kentucky
LaSondra Barrett, LSU
Angie Bjorklund, Tennessee
Shekinna Stricklen, Tennessee
Jence Rhoads, Vanderbilt

Preseason All-SEC Second Team
Tierney Jenkins, Alabama
C'eira Ricketts, Arkansas
Jasmine James, Georgia
Katherine Graham, LSU
Marah Strickland, South Carolina
Kelley Cain, Tennessee
Glory Johnson, Tennessee
Hannah Tuomi, Vanderbilt