Runnin' Bulldogs Picked Fourth in 2011-12 Big South Women's Basketball Preseason Poll
October 11, 2011 | Women's Basketball
Charlotte, N.C. - The Gardner-Webb women's basketball team was picked to finish fourth overall in the 2011-12 Big South Women's Basketball Preseason Poll voted on by the League's Head Coaches and media panel announced by the League office this afternoon at the annual Big South Basketball Media Day in Charlotte, N.C.
The Runnin' Bulldogs, who will enter the 2011-12 season as the Big South defending champions, were voted to finish fourth this year with a total of 143 points.
Gardner-Webb returns seven players from last season's championship team, highlighted by seniors Brianna Dillard and Breynna Winkler, and welcomes the addition of seven newcomers which includes six true freshmen.
Key returners Dillard, Catrina Green and Jasmine Dale, who all averaged just over five points a game last season, will all be asked to have strong seasons after playing supporting roles for most of last year.
Liberty was voted the preseason women's basketball favorite, as the Lady Flames were a near-unanimous pick with 19 of the 20 first-place votes and 199 out of a possible 200 points.
High Point was voted second with 160 points and collected one first-place vote, while Radford was picked third with 157 total points.
Winthrop was predicted to finish fifth (94 points), while new member Campbell claimed the six spot in the poll with 77 points. Charleston Southern was seventh (75 points), followed by Coastal Carolina who was eighth (68 points), Presbyterian College who was ninth (67 points) and UNC Asheville who came in 10th-place with 60 points.
The Runnin' Bulldogs will open up its 2011-12 season on Saturday, November 12th, as Gardner-Webb will hit the road to take on the North Carolina Tar Heels at 1 p.m. in Carmichael Arena.
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2011-12 Preseason Women's Basketball All-Conference Team
Avery Warley, Liberty - Preseason Player of the Year
Devon Brown, Liberty
Shamia Brown, High Point
Da'Naria Erwin-Spencer, Radford
Dequesha McClanahan, Winthrop
2011-12 Women's Basketball Preseason Poll (combined coaches/media points)
Rk Team (first-place votes) 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 Points
1. Liberty (19) 190 9 -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- 199
2. High Point (1) 10 54 48 42 6 -- -- -- -- -- 160
3. Radford -- 72 40 35 6 -- 4 -- -- -- 157
4. Gardner-Webb -- 36 48 21 24 10 4 -- -- -- 143
5. Winthrop -- 9 8 14 12 30 4 12 4 1 94
6. Campbell -- -- 16 7 12 -- 24 6 10 2 77
7. Charleston Southern -- -- -- 7 24 5 12 21 4 2 75
8. Coastal Carolina -- -- -- 14 6 25 4 9 4 6 68
9. Presbyterian College -- -- -- -- 24 5 24 -- 10 4 67
10. UNC Asheville -- -- -- -- 6 25 4 12 8 5 60
Note: points are based on a weighted system, with first-place votes receiving 10 points, followed by nine points for second-place, and so on.
