#21 USC AIKEN TABBED FOURTH IN PBC PRESEASON POLL
LAST YEAR'S RUNNER-UP SQUAD POISED TO CHALLENGE FOR THE HARDWARE
AIKEN, S.C.-- Clayton State has been selected to repeat as Peach Belt Conference women’s basketball regular season champions, according to a poll of the league’s 11 head coaches released this week by the conference office. The Lakers received eight of a possible 10 first-place votes for 98 points in the 2007-08 preseason poll. USC Aiken was picked fourth after collecting 68 total points including a pair of second-place tallies. (PHOTO BY: Scott Webster)
Clayton State is coming off a historic season in which they won the PBC regular season and tournament titles, captured the South Atlantic Regional, and advanced all the way to the NCAA Final Four. The lone conference foe to knock off the Lakers on their home floor, however, was the Lady Pacers, handing 15th-ranked Clayton State a 68-64 setback on January 27.
Lander was picked second in the balloting, picking up the remaining three first-place votes for 91 points. Columbus State was third with 74 points followed by USC Aiken. Augusta State (62), Georgia College & State (60), Francis Marion (40), Armstrong Atlantic State (38), North Georgia (37), UNC Pembroke (26), and Georgia Southwestern (11) round out the poll.
After a two-year run with divisional play, the Peach Belt Conference returns to a full slate of 20 conference games per institution as each member will play home-and-home with the other 10 schools.
In the only preseason national poll released thus far, the Women’s Division II Bulletin, the Lady Pacers are ranked 21st, trailing only Clayton State at #12 among PBC teams.
USC Aiken (20-9, 11-5 PBC) won eight of their final nine regular season games and advanced to the Peach Belt Conference Tournament semifinals in 2006-07 for their most successful season in five years. Picked to finish ninth in the preseason coaches poll, the Lady Pacers surprised critics with a young, but talented team that won 20 games and captured the program’s third PBC North Division Title, but first since 2001-02.
With an 11-5 conference mark, USC Aiken finished second outright in the overall standings, just one game back.
For the 2007-08 campaign, USC Aiken head coach Mike Brandt returns three starters and six of his top seven scorers from last year. Led by seniors Avonte Williams (9.0 ppg, 5.6 rpg) and Jordon Thomas (8.5 ppg, 5.3 rpg), the Lady Pacers feature the return of junior Meredith Legg (11.3 ppg), who finished third in Division II in three-point shooting last year at 47.5 percent. Also, the addition of Morgan Johnson will be key. The 6-0 post player transferred from Presbyterian after earning Second-Team South Atlantic All-Conference honors.
The Lady Pacers open the 2007-08 season on Tuesday, November 20 when they host Catawba at 7:30 PM in the brand new 3,468-seat Convocation Center. The arena will play host to the 2008 PBC Tournament on March 5-9.
2007-08 Peach Belt Conference
Women’s Basketball Preseason Poll
1. Clayton State (8).....................98
2. Lander (3)................................91
3. Columbus State.......................74
4. USC Aiken..............................68
5. Augusta State..........................62
6. Georgia College & State..........60
7. Francis Marion.........................40
8. Armstrong Atlantic State..........38
9. North Georgia..........................37
10. UNC Pembroke.....................26
11. Georgia Southwestern...........11