Lakers picked a preseason favorite in preseason Peach Belt Conference poll
MORROW, GA – The Clayton State women's basketball team has gone 64-5 over the last two years, winning a Peach Belt Conference championship in the 2011-12 season and a National Championship in 2010-11, and if the league coaches are correct, the squad may be on its way to another championship this season.
The Lakers were picked to finish tied for first in the Peach Belt Conference coach's poll released by the league office. Clayton State tied with rival USC Aiken as the preseason favorite, followed by Columbus State third, Lander fourth and UNC Pembroke rounding out the top five.
"It's an honor to be held in such high esteem with the rest of the coaches in the Peach Belt," said head coach Dennis Cox, entering his ninth season at Clayton State. "I truly believe that top to bottom we are the best Division II conference in the country, and to be considered one of the best in it means a lot to us. We will be working hard every day to prove up to the challenge of finishing at the top, but it won't be easy. The league is very, very strong this year."
Clayton State won the 2011 NCAA Division II National Championship and returned to the NCAA Tournament in 2012 for the eighth straight time, reaching the round of 32. The Lakers are the defending PBC regular-season champions after going 16-1 in league play last year and reaching the finals of the PBC Tournament.
Seven players return from last year's team that went 29-4 overall. Four seniors highlight the roster, including guards Keona Dixon and Drameka Griggs, who was named PBC All-Conference a year ago. Also returning are senior forward Kayla Mobley and senior center Shannon Smith.
The Lakers tipped off their exhibition season on Saturday defeating Emory 59-57, and will return to the hardwood on Friday, hosting Southern Poly in 7:30 p.m. exhibition game.
Clayton State opens the regular season on the road in Jackson, TN, in the Union University Lady Bulldog Classic, facing two of the toughest teams that NCAA Division II and the NAIA has to offer. The Lakers will play perennial Division II women's basketball powerhouse Delta State on Friday, November 16th, followed by facing the host Union, who has captured multiple NAIA National Championships over the last few years the next day.
Clayton State's home schedule will begin on Saturday, December 1st, hosting the Loch Shop Classic. The Classic will feature Clayton State, league opponent North Georgia, regional opponent Lenoir-Rhyne and Chowan. Clayton State will play Chowan and Lenoir-Rhyne in the two-day event.
The 2012-13 preseason coach's poll is below. Teams were given 13 points for a first-place vote, 12 for a second and so on. Coaches were not permitted to rank their own team.
|
Rank |
Team |
1st |
2nd |
3rd |
4th |
5th |
6th |
7th |
8th |
9th |
10th |
11th |
12th |
13th |
Total |
|
t1. |
Clayton State |
6 |
6 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
150 |
|
t1. |
USC Aiken |
7 |
4 |
1 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
150 |
|
3. |
Columbus State |
0 |
2 |
4 |
4 |
0 |
2 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
124 |
|
4. |
Lander |
0 |
1 |
4 |
3 |
2 |
0 |
0 |
1 |
1 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
115 |
|
5. |
UNC Pembroke |
0 |
0 |
3 |
2 |
3 |
2 |
0 |
0 |
2 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
106 |
|
6. |
North Georgia |
0 |
0 |
1 |
2 |
5 |
1 |
1 |
1 |
1 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
102 |
|
7. |
Georgia Southwestern |
0 |
0 |
0 |
1 |
0 |
4 |
2 |
1 |
0 |
2 |
1 |
1 |
0 |
75 |
|
8. |
Young Harris |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
2 |
1 |
1 |
3 |
2 |
2 |
0 |
1 |
1 |
72 |
|
9. |
Augusta State |
0 |
0 |
0 |
1 |
1 |
0 |
2 |
1 |
0 |
5 |
1 |
1 |
0 |
64 |
|
10. |
Armstrong |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
2 |
2 |
3 |
1 |
0 |
1 |
3 |
0 |
62 |
|
11. |
Montevallo |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
1 |
2 |
1 |
3 |
1 |
2 |
2 |
0 |
57 |
|
12. |
Georgia College |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
2 |
2 |
0 |
3 |
3 |
1 |
1 |
50 |
|
13. |
Francis Marion |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
1 |
3 |
0 |
4 |
3 |
1 |
40 |
|
14. |
Flagler |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
1 |
1 |
10 |
15 |
