Women's Basketball Picked 10th in Big South Preseason Poll
10/26/2015 12:00:00 AM | Women's Basketball
CHARLOTTE, N.C. - The 2014-15 Coastal Carolina women's basketball team was voted to finish 10th in the Big South regular season by the league's head coaches and media members, according to an announcement by the league on Monday at the annual Big South Basketball Media Day in Charlotte, N.C.
Liberty was voted to defend its 2014-15 Big South championship, garnering six first-place votes and finishing with 116 total points. The Flames' Ashley Rininger, who averaged 12.6 points and 8.8 rebounds per game last season as a junior, was voted the league's Preseason Player of the Year.
Winthrop was selected to finish second, earning four first-place votes and 105 total points. Radford finished third in the voting with 92 points. High Point, last year's runner-up in the Big South championship, placed fourth with 74 points. Campbell totaled 72 points to finish fifth in the voting, while Gardner-Webb's 67 points put the Runnin' Bulldogs at sixth. Presbyterian placed seventh with 59 points, UNC Asheville was voted eighth with 48 points, and Longwood totaled 42 points for ninth place. Coastal Carolina received the final first-place vote and received 36 points, followed by Charleston Southern with 15 points.
Joining Rininger on the Preseason All-Big South first team are Winthrop's Erica Williams and Schaquilla Nunn, High Point's Kaylah Keys and Radford's Aisha Foy.
Sadalia Ellis (Liberty), Olivia Parker (Gardner-Webb), Aliyah Kilpatrick (Winthrop), Raven Williams (Longwood) and RaeChaun Edwards (Campbell) were voted second team Preseason All-Big South.
The Chanticleers are entering their third season under the direction of head coach Jaida Williams, who led Coastal to a 12-18 overall record in 2014-15, including a 6-14 mark in Big South play. Last season's Chanticleers featured a high-paced offense that finished second in the conference scoring 69.0 points per game, just behind High Point's league-leading 69.2 ppg.
Coastal is returning three starters from last season in Ced Gibson (10.7 ppg), Stephanie Isaacs (7.7 ppg) and Alexis Robinson (8.1 rpb),and is also returning sophomore guard Jas Adams, who was a Big South All-Freshman selection in 2014-15.
Chanticleer fans can get an early preview of the 2015-16 women's basketball team on Wednesday, Oct. 28 when Coastal hosts Hoopla, a free celebration to tip off the new basketball season at The HTC Center. The event, set to begin at 10 p.m., will feature several contests involving students and members of the Coastal Carolina men's and women's basketball teams.
The Chanticleer women open their season at home on Nov. 13 with a 7 p.m. game against Mid-Atlantic Christian at The HTC Center.
Season tickets for both men's and women's basketball are on sale now and can be purchased online at GoCCUSports.com or by calling 843-347-8499.
2015-16 Big South Preseason Poll
1. Liberty (6) - 116
2. Winthrop (4) - 105
3. Radford - 92
4. High Point - 74
5. Campbell - 72
6. Gardner-Webb - 67
7. Presbyterian - 59
8. UNC Asheville - 48
9. Longwood - 42
10. Coastal Carolina (1) - 36
11. Charleston Southern - 15
Preseason All-Conference
First Team
Ashley Rininger, Liberty (Preseason Player of the Year)
Eric Williams, Winthrop
Schaquilla Nunn, Winthrop
Kaylah Keys, High Point
Aisha Foy, Radford
Second Team
Sadalia Ellis, Liberty
Olivia Parker, Gardner-Webb
Aliyah Kilpatrick, Winthrop
Raven Williams, Longwood
RaeChaun Edwards, Campbell
