ROCK HILL, S.C. – The Emory & Henry University Women's Basketball Team has been picked to finish 11th in the South Atlantic Conference this year by the league's head coaches. The poll was released by the SAC office on Friday. Additionally, the league has announced its Preseason All-Conference Teams and Players to Watch.
RELATED - SAC Preseason Poll & Preseason All-Conference Teams
E&H went 10-18 last season, winning five games in conference play to finish in 11th place. The Wasps got a pair of league wins against Tusculum University while also defeating Limestone University, Newberry College and the University of Virginia's College at Wise. Emory & Henry went 5-3 in non-conference action, topping Southern Wesleyan University, King (Tenn.) University, Embry-Riddle Aeronautical (Ariz.) University, Virginia Union University and Lees-McRae College.
This year, the coaches poll has a log jam at the top with the first three teams separated by just six points and sharing 10 of the 13 first-place votes. Carson-Newman University is the favorite with four top votes while Anderson University is second with two first-place votes and Lenoir-Rhyne University is third with four first-place picks. Wingate University (two FPV) and Catawba College (one FPV) are fourth and fifth, respectively.
Additionally, the league has announced its preseason all-conference teams and for the first time this season, a list of players to watch. Junior forward Breanna Yarber (Meadowview, Va.) has been tabbed to the All-SAC Preseason First Team after earning all-league third team honors last year and SAC All-Freshman Team accolades in 2022-23. Additionally, seniors Emma Santoro (King, N.C.) and Hannah Spainhour (King, N.C.) and sophomore Gracyn Hall (Randleman, N.C.) were recognized by the conference as Players to Watch.
Emory & Henry will open the season on Monday when it visits Tennessee Tech for an exhibition game 6:00 p.m. Central (7:00 p.m. EDT). The Wasps' first official game will be Friday, November 8 against Southern Wesleyan University in the SAC/Conference Carolinas Challenge at Mars Hill University. Tipoff for that contest is set for 1:00 p.m.
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2024-25 SAC Women's Basketball
Preseason Poll
| Rank | School (FPV) | Points | ||
| 1. | Carson-Newman (4) | 130 | ||
| 2. | Anderson (2) | 126 | ||
| 3. | Lenoir-Rhyne (4) | 124 | ||
| 4. | Wingate (2) | 113 | ||
| 5. | Catawba (1) | 111 | ||
| 6. | Lincoln Memorial | 93 | ||
| 7. | Coker | 72 | ||
| 8. | Mars Hill | 61 | ||
| 9. | UVA Wise | 56 | ||
| 10. | Limestone | 45 | ||
| 11. | Emory & Henry | 43 | ||
| 12. | Newberry | 23 | ||
| 13. | Tusculum | 17 |
2023-24 SAC Women's Basketball
Preseason All-Conference
First Team
Blaikley Crooks, Lenoir-Rhyne
Diamond McDowell, Anderson
Lindsey Taylor Carson-Newman
Zamiya Passmore, Anderson
Emily Harman, Lenoir-Rhyne
Breanna Yarber, Emory & Henry
Second Team
Maddie Gillie, Mars Hill
Kalisha Hill, Limestone
Reagan Kargo, Limestone
Alexa Smiddy, Lincoln Memorial
Katlin Burger, UVA Wise
Ashlyn Sheridan, Anderson
Players to Watch
Anderson – Ashlyn Sheridan
Carson-Newman – Makayla Alvey, Campbell Penland
Catawba – Nala Baker, Jada Porter, Mary Spry
Coker – Kristynn Knight, Mya Wasswa, Kamari Thompson
Emory & Henry – Emma Santoro, Gracyn Hall, Hannah Spainhour
Lenoir-Rhyne – Alexandra Merceron, Tilda Lindstroem, Vanessa Jurewicz
Limestone – Dior Shelton
Lincoln Memorial – Matty Tanner, Kamil Collier
Mars Hill – Aaliyah El, Tateyoina Harris
Newberry – Ella Pearson, Jess Tomkins
Tusculum – Ni'Kiah Chesterfield, Abbi Douglas
UVA Wise – Ella Karst, Caroline Mullins, Sable Burnside
Wingate – Anna Baraldi, Laney Beale, Trinity Breedlove