THOMASVILLE, NC - The Anderson College women top the 2004-2005 preseason poll as voted on by CVAC head basketball coaches. Last season the Trojans captured the CVAC Tournament Championship and went on to the semifinals of the NCAA East Regional Championships. Anderson returns a core of talent that includes last years CVAC Tournament MVP and Freshman of the Year LaShonda Chiles, as they will look to build on their 25-7 (16-4 CVAC) record. Being last year’s #1 scoring team in the nation for DII schools, they were 20-0 when they scored 80 or more points.
Barton College is directly behind Anderson for the top spot in the preseason poll. The Bulldogs matched the Trojans with their own semifinal appearance in the NCAA East Regional Championships. They reached their pinnacle last year by dominating the CVAC regular season to become the CVAC Regular Season Champions with a 24-6 (18-2 CVAC) record. Reigning CVAC Coach of the Year Wendee Saintsing will be counting on 2003-04 Player of the Year Keauna Vinson for continued leadership this year.
Finishing third in the poll are the Crusaders from Belmont Abbey College. The Abbey will be looking to build on last year’s 19-10 (15-5) record, where they finished third in the CVAC regular season and advanced to the semifinals of the CVAC Tournament Championships. The Crusaders strength will be that they are returning six players from last year with four of their five starters coming back.
Rounding out the lady's poll 4-11 was: Coker, Mt. Olive, Lees-McRae, St. Andrews, Erskine, Pfeiffer, Queens, and Limestone respectively.
CVAC Women's Basketball Preseason Poll (# of First place votes in parentheses)
1. Anderson College (9) 99
2. Barton College (1) 87
3. Belmont Abbey College (1) 84
4. Coker College 64
5. Mt. Olive College 50
6. Lees-McRae College 48
7. St. Andrews Presbyterian College 45
8. Erskine College 44
9. Pfeiffer University 42
10. Queens University of Charlotte 26
11. Limestone College 16