Rock Hill, S.C.----The South Atlantic Conference announced the preseason women's basketball poll and Players to Watch List Friday afternoon. Wingate is third in the preseason poll, with
Laura Montiel Baena and
Kyleigh Bacon earning SAC Player to Watch accolades.
Lenoir-Rhyne is the preseason favorite, followed by Carson-Newman, Wingate and Lincoln Memorial. Anderson is fifth, with Coker, UVA Wise and Catawba rounding out the top eight. Newberry checks in at number nine, while Emory & Henry, Mars Hill and Tusculum finish out the poll.
Montiel Baena was named the SAC Defensive Player of the Year last season, leading the SAC in steals and steals per game while ranking in the top 40 nationally in both categories. She piled up 83 steals on the year, good for 2.87 steals per game while adding 9.3 points and 3.7 rebounds per contest. Montiel Baena shot 47 percent from the field and 88 percent at the free throw line, adding 77 assists on the season.
Bacon led the Bulldogs with 12.1 points and 7.3 rebounds per game last season, earning second team All-SAC accolades. She shot 50 percent from the field, 47 percent from three-point range and 73 percent at the line, while adding 46 steals and 33 assists. Bacon scored in double figures 17 times last season, notching four double-doubles.
Wingate opens the season Monday, Nov. 9, traveling to Mount Olive for a 5:30 p.m. start. The Bulldogs then host a conference challenge tournament Nov. 13 and 14, welcoming UNC Pembroke to town Friday at 6 p.m., then hosting Francis Marion Saturday at 4 p.m.
SAC Women's Basketball Preseason Poll
| Rnk |
Team |
Points |
| 1 |
Lenoir-Rhyne (10) |
120 |
| 2 |
Carson-Newman (2) |
108 |
| 3 |
Wingate |
92 |
| 4 |
Lincoln Memorial |
89 |
| 5 |
Anderson |
72 |
| 6 |
Coker |
71 |
| 7 |
UVA Wise |
68 |
| 8 |
Catawba |
62 |
| 9 |
Newberry |
42 |
| 10 |
Emory & Henry |
31 |
| 11 |
Mars Hill |
24 |
| 12 |
Tusculum |
13 |
SAC Women's Basketball Players to Watch
Anderson: Rose Gravel, Ashley Hill
Carson-Newman: Mattie Nuckolls, Keeleigh Rogers
Catawba: Sheree Gidney, Brayla Harris
Coker: Kamari Thompson, Dasia Ferguson
Emory & Henry: Rhyan Harris, Gracyn Hall
Lenoir-Rhyne: Aaliyah El, Abigail Brown, Elyseia Brown
Lincoln Memorial: Kallie Housley, Keyonee Neal
Mars Hill: Jadyiah Peoples, Shyann McCummings
Newberry: Mary Kate Grant, Sanae Graham
Tusculum: Marin Lind Agustsdottir, Angela Gomez
UVA Wise: Alissa Cheek, Grace Vyborny
Wingate: Kyleigh Bacon, Laura Montiel Baena
