HobbsDailyReport.com
ROCK HILL, S.C. – The South Atlantic Conference (SAC) women’s basketball head coaches expect Lenoir-Rhyne University to finish ahead of only four other teams this season.
LRU’S SCHEDULE: https://lrbears.com/schedule.aspx?schedule=193
LRU’S ROSTER: https://lrbears.com/roster.aspx?path=wbball
SUDDRETH
In voting released by SAC officials on Wednesday, the Bears were predicted to finish in seventh place, ahead of Catawba, Coker, Queens and Mars Hill.
Carson-Newman is the league favorite, gaining 10 first-place votes, and Wingate got the only other first-place vote and is picked to finish second.
Former Hickory High star Danasia Witherspoon, playing for Wingate, is a first-team preseason All-SAC selection.
LRU is coming off a 15-14 record under head coach Cameron Sealey, who will have among her returnees a second-team preseason All-SAC pick in senior forward Madi Suddreth of Taylorsville.
Suddreth, who played high school basketball at Alexander Central, averaged 14.5 points, 7.1 rebounds and 1.5 assists last season, starting in all of the Bears’ 29 games.
LRU finished eighth in Sealey’s first season at her alma mater as head coach. They have nine of 16 players on last year’s roster returning and lost two starters.
The Bears open their season Nov. 9 with a 5 p.m. neutral site game against Lander University in Jefferson City, Tenn.
SAC PRESEASON COACHES POLL
1. Carson-Newman (10)
2. Wingate (1)
3. Anderson, S.C.
4. Tusculum
5. Lincoln Memorial
6. Newberry, S.C.
7. LENOIR-RHYNE
8. Catawba
9. Coker
10. Queens
11. Mars Hill.
PRESEASON ALL-SAC
First team
Haris Price, Carson-Newman
Mika Wester, Carson-Newman
Meg Essex, Newberry
Caroline Averette, Wingate
Danasia Witherspoon, Wingate
Shelby Britten, Newberry
Second team
Kayla Marosites, Carson-Newman
Maddi Suddreth, LENOIR-RHYNE
Madison Baggett, Anderson
Alexy Mollenhauer, Anderson
Lade Adepoju, Queens
Briana Smith, Carson-Newman