ROCK HILL, S.C. – The Anderson University women's basketball team has been picked to finish fourth in the league this season in a vote by the league's coaches, as released by the conference office on Thursday morning.

Catawba earned (10) first-place votes and a total of 141 points to earn the top-slot in the poll. Carson-Newman (2) accumulated 124 points sliding the Eagles into the second spot. Wingate tallied 122 points for third in front of Anderson with 106 points to earn the fourth position. Lenoir-Rhyne earned 105 points, occupying the fifth spot, followed by Lincoln Memorial (1) with 92 points and Limestone with 71 points. Tusculum was slotted eighth, followed by UVA Wise in the ninth slot. Coker sits in the 10-hole while Newberry, Mars Hill and Emory & Henry rounded out the poll.

Stafford started 30 games for the Trojans last season, averaging 36.9 minutes per game. The native of New Braunfels, Texas, averaged 11.8 points, 4.1 rebounds and 3.8 assists per game for the Black in Gold. Stafford also drained 60-of-66 (90.0 %) attempts from the free-throw line.

McDowell played in 31 contests while making 30 starts for the Trojans. The native of Asheboro, N.C., recorded 15 double-doubles on the season and scored in double digit scoring on 25 occasions. McDowell also recorded 20 eight-plus rebound contests. McDowell's 24 rebounds versus Lenoir-Rhyne in the SAC Tournament Title game broke the SAC Tournament individual game record and her three-game total of 53 rebounds broke the SAC Tournament record for total rebounds.

Anderson opens its season on November 10^th at the Conference Challenge, hosted by Clayton State. AU will open with Flagler at 3:30 pm on Friday and will play host Clayton State on Saturday at 3:30 pm.

2023-24 SAC Women's Basketball Preseason Poll

Rank School (First Place Votes) Points

1 Catawba (10) 141

2 Carson-Newman (2) 124

3 Wingate 122

4 Anderson 106

5 Lenoir-Rhyne 105

6 Lincoln Memorial (1) 92

7 Limestone 71

8 Tusculum 63

9 UVA Wise 57

10 Coker 44

11 Newberry 37

12 Mars Hill 29

13 Emory & Henry 23

2023-24 South Atlantic Conference Women's Basketball PRESEASON All-Conference

First Team

Janiya Downs, Catawba

Blaikley Crooks, Lenoir-Rhyne

Emily Harman, Lenoir-Rhyne

Lindsey Taylor, Carson-Newman

Lyrik Thorne, Catawba

Braelyn Wykle, Carson-Newman

Second Team

Hannah Clark, Wingate

Emily Hege, Wingate

Diamond McDowell, Anderson

Sara McIntosh, Catawba

Alexa Smiddy, Lincoln Memorial

Caitlyn Ross, Virginia-Wise

Third Team

Lauren Flowers, Lincoln Memorial

Kalisha Hill, Limestone

Kristynn Knight, Coker

Campbell Penland, Carson-Newman

Brittney Stafford, Anderson

Breanna Yarber, Emory & Henry