CHARLOTTE, N.C. – Senior guard Carley Plentovich was named First-Team Preseason All-Big South Conference and the Gardner-Webb Runnin' Bulldogs were picked fifth in the league's preseason poll, which was unveiled at Big South Media Day in Charlotte.

Plentovich (Clearwater, Fla. / Calvary Christian) was Gardner-Webb's leading scorer in 2018-19, scoring at a clip of 14 points per game. She had a memorable night in league play when she exploded for 36 points on 13 made field goals and 8 three-pointers, all of which were career-highs and Gardner-Webb's single game records. Her scoring outburst helped the 'Dogs to a come-from-behind win over the USC Upstate Spartans.

Following the conclusion of the 2018-19 season, she was named First-Team All-Big South Conference and earned First-Team All-State honors. from the North Carolina Collegiate Sports Information Association (NCCSIA). 

She is currently the career leader in free throw percentage for the Runnin' Bulldogs having made 157 of 182 attempts (86.2 percent). She enters his senior campaign just 167 points away from 1,000 for her career and has career averages of 9.2 points, 2.9 rebounds and 1.8 assists per game.

Joining Plentovich on the First-Team were the Big South Preseason Player of the Year – Ashley Bates of Hampton – as well as UNC Asheville's Sonora Dengokl, Radford's Sydney Nunley and Longwood's Dayna Rouse.

In the Big South Conference preseason poll, the Runnin' Bulldogs were picked fifth overall. Radford (6 first-place votes), Hampton (3), UNC Asheville (1) and Campbell (1) all received a first-place vote.

Radford (113 points) was the only team to surpass the 110-point mark and joins second-place Hampton (104) as one of two teams to receive more than 100 points.

UNC Asheville (94), Campbell (91) and Gardner-Webb (86) rounded out the top-five.

Last year's Big South regular season runner-up, the High Point Panthers were picked sixth with 66 points, followed by Winthrop (47), Presbyterian (43), Charleston Southern (32), Longwood (26) and USC Upstate (23).

Points were based on a weighted system with teams receiving 11 points for a first-place vote, 10 points for a second-place vote and so forth.

Gardner-Webb opens the 2019-20 campaign on the road at Charlotte on November 5 at 7 p.m. The 'Dogs will host Chowan in an exhibition on Thursday, November 7 before hosting its first NCAA Division I opponent – Wofford – at 7 p.m on Thursday, November 14.