Women’s Basketball Picked to Finish Second in League Play

Posted: Nov 03, 2016

ANDERSON, S.C. – With the start of the 2016-17 basketball season less than 10 days away, Anderson University women's basketball has been projected to finish second in the 2016 South Atlantic Conference Women's Basketball Preseason Poll, while seniors Heather Jankowy (first team), Alexis Dillard and Jasmine Franklin (second team) were named to the preseason teams, announced by the league office on Thursday.

Last season, the Trojans were picked to finish first winning the regular season title with an 18-4 conference record while reaching the SAC Tournament Title game for the second year in a row. However, the Black and Gold could not run the table losing to Wingate on championship Sunday.

"We are really excited about getting the season started," said head coach Jonathon Barbaree. "It is an honor to be considered in the top tier, but I'm not worried about where we are right now, but where we finish."

Defending tournament champion Wingate was picked to take the conference crown with 119 points, while the Black and Gold collected 105 points for the second spot. Newberry finished third with 99 points. Carson-Newman totaled 86 points while ending up fourth.

Lincoln Memorial, which saw its season close by the hands of AU, ended up fifth with 74 points. Catawba, which returns preseason first team honorees Terri Rogers and Bri Johnson, was positioned sixth, while Lenoir-Rhyne ended up in seventh place.

Tusculum, Coker, Mars Hill, Queens and Brevard rounded out the annual poll, respectively, as the bottom two teams finished in that same order at the end of the 2015-16 season.

Jankowy closed the 2015-16 season 9th on Anderson's all-time career 3-pts made list and tied for the 10th spot on total assists. The Walhalla, S.C. native average 12.6 points per contest for the Trojans. Jankowy earned a Player of the Week honor, All-SAC second team accolade, and was voted to the All-SAC tournament team. The preseason nod marks the first of her career.

Dillard shined a season ago, averaging 10.2 points and 7.7 rebounds per contests while playing at an even higher level in the NCAA Tournament, averaging 17 points and 11.5 rebounds. The Taylors, S.C. native broke Anderson's all-time career record for total blocks while sitting in the sixth slot for total career defensive rebound and total career rebounds. The preseason honor is Dillard's second of her career as she was named to the preseason second team a year ago.

Despite missing the entire 2015-16 season due to a severe knee injury, Franklin returns to the preseason first team list for the second straight year. The Simpsonville, S.C. native shined through AU's historic postseason run in 2014-15, averaging 14.8 points per game and six rebounds, scoring in double figures in four of the team's six postseason contests. Franklin headlined the SAC Tournament with a game-high 29 points in Anderson's 63-52 victory over Catawba, sending the Trojans to the SAC Tournament title game for the second time in three seasons. Franklin was named to the SAC All-Tournament Team following the championship game, while also being named to the Southeast Region All-Tournament Team following Anderson's trip to the Sweet 16.

Anderson will get its 2016-17 season underway on Nov. 11 when it locks up with nonconference opponent Clayton State on the road. Tip-off is scheduled for 5 p.m.

Women's Preseason Poll - Points

1. Wingate – 119

2. Anderson – 105

3. Newberry – 99

4. Carson-Newman – 86

5. Lincoln Memorial – 74

6. Catawba – 69

7. Lenoir-Rhyne – 65

8. Tusculum – 56

9. Coker – 42

10. Mars Hill – 39

11. Queens – 27