Senior Forward Mercedes Robinson nailed 51.7 percent of her shots from the field last year.
Robinson Tabbed Preseason League Player of the Year; Wildcats Picked Third
10/30/2008 5:46:28 PM | Women's Basketball
Gavin McFarlin - Assistant SID
2008-09 Schedule
DAVIDSON, N.C. -- Looking to make it six straight winning campaigns under head coach Annette Watts, the Davidson women's basketball team was picked to finish third in both the media and coaches preseason polls, while senior Mercedes Robinson (Baltimore, Md.) was tabbed the league's Player of the Year by the coaches as announced by the Southern Conference at its Tip-Off Luncheon today.
Coming off a third place finish with a 13-5 year in conference play, the Wildcats return seven of its 11 letterwinners from a season ago, including three of their five starters. One of those starters is Robinson, who is the top returning scorer and rebounder in the SoCon after averaging team bests of 12.7 points and 8.4 rebounds a game.
Robinson had a break-out junior campaign that saw her set career highs in nearly every offensive and defensive category. She led the league in double doubles with a career-high 14, while ranking in the top-five in the conference in points, rebounds and field goal percentage. Robinson's stellar season landed her on both the media and coaches All-SoCon First Team as well as a spot on the NCCSIA All-State First Team.
Despite losing three starters and five letterwinners from last season's team that went undefeated through the SoCon, Chattanooga topped the league's coaches and media preseason poll with 162 and 98 points, respectively. Western Carolina was picked to finish second with 152 points in the media poll and 92 in the coaches.
League newcomer Samford was tabbed to place fourth in both polls after returning three starters from a 2007-08 squad that went 15-5 and tied for second place during the regular season in the Ohio Valley Conference.
Davidson was one of nine teams that had at least one representative on the 11-member all-conference team with just two squads, Western Carolina and Wofford, having multiple players selected.
Coaches were not permitted to vote for their own team or players in the voting process.
The Wildcats, who were 19-11 overall last season, will be tested early as their first six games are on the road. To get things rolling for the 2008-09 season, Davidson first heads to Rock Hill, S.C., to participate in the Winthrop Tournament, Nov. 15-16. It will face Winthrop in the first game and then either North Carolina A&T or Mississippi in the second game.
The SoCon Tournament, Mar. 5-9, will be held this year at McKenzie Arena in Chattanooga, Tenn.
Coaches Preseason Poll
1) Chattanooga (8) – 98
2) Western Carolina (3) – 92
3) Davidson – 77
4) Samford – 70
5) Georgia Southern – 62
6) College of Charleston – 52
7) UNC Greensboro – 42
8) Furman – 35
9) Wofford – 34
10) Appalachian State – 22
11) Elon – 21
Media Preseason Poll
1) Chattanooga (12) – 162
2) Western Carolina (3) – 152
3) Davidson – 132
4) Samford – 117
5) Georgia Southern – 101
6) College of Charleston – 87
7) UNC Greensboro – 77
8) Furman – 54
9) Wofford – 49
10) Appalachian State – 35
11) Elon – 24
Preseason All-SoCon Team
Mercedes Robinson, Davidson – Preseason Player of the Year
Shanara Hollinquest, Chattanooga
Brooke Johnson, Western Carolina
Kristen Boone, UNC Greensboro
Emily London, Samford
Jade Hughes, College of Charleston
Liz Miller, Wofford
Ashley Melson, Georgia Southern
Lauren Powell, Western Carolina
Mahagony Williams, Wofford
Brittany Mixon, Appalachian State
DAVIDSON, N.C. -- Looking to make it six straight winning campaigns under head coach Annette Watts, the Davidson women's basketball team was picked to finish third in both the media and coaches preseason polls, while senior Mercedes Robinson (Baltimore, Md.) was tabbed the league's Player of the Year by the coaches as announced by the Southern Conference at its Tip-Off Luncheon today.
Coming off a third place finish with a 13-5 year in conference play, the Wildcats return seven of its 11 letterwinners from a season ago, including three of their five starters. One of those starters is Robinson, who is the top returning scorer and rebounder in the SoCon after averaging team bests of 12.7 points and 8.4 rebounds a game.
Robinson had a break-out junior campaign that saw her set career highs in nearly every offensive and defensive category. She led the league in double doubles with a career-high 14, while ranking in the top-five in the conference in points, rebounds and field goal percentage. Robinson's stellar season landed her on both the media and coaches All-SoCon First Team as well as a spot on the NCCSIA All-State First Team.
Despite losing three starters and five letterwinners from last season's team that went undefeated through the SoCon, Chattanooga topped the league's coaches and media preseason poll with 162 and 98 points, respectively. Western Carolina was picked to finish second with 152 points in the media poll and 92 in the coaches.
League newcomer Samford was tabbed to place fourth in both polls after returning three starters from a 2007-08 squad that went 15-5 and tied for second place during the regular season in the Ohio Valley Conference.
Davidson was one of nine teams that had at least one representative on the 11-member all-conference team with just two squads, Western Carolina and Wofford, having multiple players selected.
Coaches were not permitted to vote for their own team or players in the voting process.
The Wildcats, who were 19-11 overall last season, will be tested early as their first six games are on the road. To get things rolling for the 2008-09 season, Davidson first heads to Rock Hill, S.C., to participate in the Winthrop Tournament, Nov. 15-16. It will face Winthrop in the first game and then either North Carolina A&T or Mississippi in the second game.
The SoCon Tournament, Mar. 5-9, will be held this year at McKenzie Arena in Chattanooga, Tenn.
Coaches Preseason Poll
1) Chattanooga (8) – 98
2) Western Carolina (3) – 92
3) Davidson – 77
4) Samford – 70
5) Georgia Southern – 62
6) College of Charleston – 52
7) UNC Greensboro – 42
8) Furman – 35
9) Wofford – 34
10) Appalachian State – 22
11) Elon – 21
Media Preseason Poll
1) Chattanooga (12) – 162
2) Western Carolina (3) – 152
3) Davidson – 132
4) Samford – 117
5) Georgia Southern – 101
6) College of Charleston – 87
7) UNC Greensboro – 77
8) Furman – 54
9) Wofford – 49
10) Appalachian State – 35
11) Elon – 24
Preseason All-SoCon Team
Mercedes Robinson, Davidson – Preseason Player of the Year
Shanara Hollinquest, Chattanooga
Brooke Johnson, Western Carolina
Kristen Boone, UNC Greensboro
Emily London, Samford
Jade Hughes, College of Charleston
Liz Miller, Wofford
Ashley Melson, Georgia Southern
Lauren Powell, Western Carolina
Mahagony Williams, Wofford
Brittany Mixon, Appalachian State
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