MACON, Ga. – The Atlantic Sun Conference released its preseason women’s basketball polls Thursday, and Northern Kentucky University is picked seventh by the coaches and eighth in the media ballot.
Florida Gulf Coast (29-3 last season) is the favorite in the media poll, but Stetson (23-11 last season) is the pick by the league coaches. Victoria McGowan of Stetson is the coaches’ preseason choice for Atlantic Sun Conference Player of the Year.
NKU posted a 21-7 record in Division II last season and advanced to the NCAA Tournament. The Norse welcome back seven letterwinners, but NKU must replace All-America guard and Great LakesValley Conference Player of the Year Casse Mogan (17.7 points per game).
Senior post player Ellen Holton is back after averaging 10.7 points per game last season and earning All-GLVC honors. Also returning are senior guard Jaimie Hamlet (5.5 points per game), senior forward Tiara Hopper (5.1 ppg, 22 blocks) and senior forward Kelsey Simpson (4.3 ppg, 27 blocks).
NKU enters Division I play under first-year head coach Dawn Plitzuweit, who led Grand Valley State to the 2006 NCAA Division II national championship. Plitzuweit was hired in May to replace Nancy Winstel, who retired as NKU’s head coach following last season after winning more than 600 games on the Norse sideline.
NKU begins the season Nov. 9 with a road game against Cincinnati in Fifth Third Arena. That game is set to begin at 7 p.m.
Atlantic Sun Conference
Preseason Player of the Year: Victoria McGowan, Stetson
Defensive Player of the Year: Brittany Kennedy, FGCU
Preseason All-Atlantic Sun Team
Pos. Name School Cl. Hometown Academic Major
G/F Destiny Mitchell ETSU Jr. Bluffton, Ga. Criminal Justice
G Sarah Hansen FGCU Jr. McKean, Pa. Chemistry
G Brittany Kennedy FGCU Sr. Spokane, Wash. Social Work
F Jade Cargill Jacksonville Jr. Vero Beach, Fla. Social Science
G Kristina Wells Kennesaw State So. Douglasville, Ga. Psychology
F Ry’Van Buchanan Mercer Sr. Atlanta, Ga. Marketing
G Tee’Ara Copney USC Upstate Sr. Asheville, N.C. Sociology
G Victoria McGowan Stetson Sr. Inkster, Mich. Sports Management
G Shanasa Sander Stetson Sr. Jacksonville, Fla. Business
F Sasha Simms Stetson Jr. Fayetteville, Ga. Sports Management
Preseason Women’s Basketball Coaches Poll
Pl. Team (1st Place Votes) Points
1. Stetson (8) 98
2. FGCU (2) 89
3. North Florida 68
4. ETSU 64
5. Jacksonville 64
6. Kennesaw State 51
7. Northern Kentucky 35
8. USC Upstate 35
9. Lipscomb 21
10. Mercer 20
Predicted 2013 Tournament Champions: Stetson (8 votes)
Preseason Women’s Basketball Media Poll
Pl. Team (1st Place Votes) Points
1. FGCU (14) 181
2. Stetson (5) 175
3. Kennesaw State 127
4. North Florida 107
T5. ETSU 103
T5. Jacksonville 103
7. USC Upstate 93
8. Northern Kentucky 71
9. Mercer 50
10. Lipscomb 35
Predicted 2013 Tournament Champions: FGCU (14 votes)
