Annette Watts owns a 76-68 career mark at Davidson
W. Basketball Picked Third; Hamilton and Mitchell Garner Preseason Honors
11/1/2006 10:48:06 AM | Women's Basketball
DAVIDSON, N.C. — Coming off its third straight winning season and a second-place finish in the Southern Conference, the Davidson women's basketball team was picked to finish third in the coaches preseason poll released today at the annual SoCon Basketball Media Tip-Off event. Senior Jessica Mitchell (Wilkesboro, N.C.) and junior Katie Hamilton (Lilburn, Ga.) were each honored with a spot on the 10-team preseason all-conference team as chosen by the head coaches.
“While I do appreciate my peers recognizing out team, preseason polls are just that ... preseason,” said head coach Annette Watts, who is entering her sixth season at the helm of the Wildcat program. “We will work just as hard as if we would have been picked to finish 10th. We will just continue on the path to be the best that we can be.”
Davidson concluded the 2005-06 season as yet another successful campaign under Watts. The Wildcats won 17 games, while notching 12 victories in the SoCon on their way to finishing second in the league. The second-place finish tied the highest in the program's 12 years in the conference.
The Wildcats return four of last season's five starters, including seniors Brynn Kelly (Spokane, Wash.), Tia Washington (Charlotte, N.C.), and All-SoCon performer Jessica Mitchell (Wilkesboro, N.C.), who averaged nearly 12 points and hit 36 percent of her three-pointers last year. In all, Davidson returns nine letterwinners from last year's team.
Mitchell and Hamilton are two of those key returners and will be looked upon to help carry the Wildcats. Mitchell, who finished the season scoring in double figures in seven of the last nine games, earned All-SoCon second-team honors last season in a career year. Hamilton will be looking to get back on track after missing all of the 2005-06 season due to a torn ACL suffered in the preseason. Just two years ago the junior shooting guard was second in the conference in scoring at 15.8 points per game, earning her All-SoCon honors.
“I'm most excited about two Davidson players being selected to the preseason all-conference team,” said Watts. “I felt I had at least three more who certainly deserve the honor, but I'm very happy for Jess and Katie, who will be two of our key leaders this year. Anytime individuals win awards or honors, the team wins, too.”
UNC Greensboro received five of the 10 possible first-place votes as the Spartans were picked to finish first. UNCG also placed two players on the preseason all-league team, including Kristen Boone who received the most points among the players picked.
Davidson opens up its season on Nov. 9 against Lander University in an exhibition contest before hosting UNC Asheville on Nov. 12 at 3 p.m. in Belk Arena.
2006-07 SoCon Coaches Poll
Rk Teams Points
1. UNC Greensboro (5) — 74
2. Chattanooga (4) — 73
3. Davidson (1) — 67
4. Western Carolina — 55
5. Georgia Southern — 44
6. College of Charleston — 37
7. Furman — 34
8. Appalachian State — 29
9. Elon — 19
10. Wofford — 18
2006-07 Preseason All-Conference Team
Player School
Kristen Boone — UNC Greensboro
Alex Anderson — Chattanooga
Katie Hamilton — Davidson
Whitney Tossie — Appalachian State
Jessica Mitchell — Davidson
Jade Hughes — College of Charleston
Lauren Powell — Western Carolina
Jasmine Byrd — UNC Greensboro
Tiffany Brown — Georgia Southern
Laura Hall — Chattanooga
“While I do appreciate my peers recognizing out team, preseason polls are just that ... preseason,” said head coach Annette Watts, who is entering her sixth season at the helm of the Wildcat program. “We will work just as hard as if we would have been picked to finish 10th. We will just continue on the path to be the best that we can be.”
Davidson concluded the 2005-06 season as yet another successful campaign under Watts. The Wildcats won 17 games, while notching 12 victories in the SoCon on their way to finishing second in the league. The second-place finish tied the highest in the program's 12 years in the conference.
The Wildcats return four of last season's five starters, including seniors Brynn Kelly (Spokane, Wash.), Tia Washington (Charlotte, N.C.), and All-SoCon performer Jessica Mitchell (Wilkesboro, N.C.), who averaged nearly 12 points and hit 36 percent of her three-pointers last year. In all, Davidson returns nine letterwinners from last year's team.
Mitchell and Hamilton are two of those key returners and will be looked upon to help carry the Wildcats. Mitchell, who finished the season scoring in double figures in seven of the last nine games, earned All-SoCon second-team honors last season in a career year. Hamilton will be looking to get back on track after missing all of the 2005-06 season due to a torn ACL suffered in the preseason. Just two years ago the junior shooting guard was second in the conference in scoring at 15.8 points per game, earning her All-SoCon honors.
“I'm most excited about two Davidson players being selected to the preseason all-conference team,” said Watts. “I felt I had at least three more who certainly deserve the honor, but I'm very happy for Jess and Katie, who will be two of our key leaders this year. Anytime individuals win awards or honors, the team wins, too.”
UNC Greensboro received five of the 10 possible first-place votes as the Spartans were picked to finish first. UNCG also placed two players on the preseason all-league team, including Kristen Boone who received the most points among the players picked.
Davidson opens up its season on Nov. 9 against Lander University in an exhibition contest before hosting UNC Asheville on Nov. 12 at 3 p.m. in Belk Arena.
2006-07 SoCon Coaches Poll
Rk Teams Points
1. UNC Greensboro (5) — 74
2. Chattanooga (4) — 73
3. Davidson (1) — 67
4. Western Carolina — 55
5. Georgia Southern — 44
6. College of Charleston — 37
7. Furman — 34
8. Appalachian State — 29
9. Elon — 19
10. Wofford — 18
2006-07 Preseason All-Conference Team
Player School
Kristen Boone — UNC Greensboro
Alex Anderson — Chattanooga
Katie Hamilton — Davidson
Whitney Tossie — Appalachian State
Jessica Mitchell — Davidson
Jade Hughes — College of Charleston
Lauren Powell — Western Carolina
Jasmine Byrd — UNC Greensboro
Tiffany Brown — Georgia Southern
Laura Hall — Chattanooga
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