Nov. 8, 2011
The Vanderbilt women’s basketball team picked-up a pair of preseason honors from the coaches in the Southeastern Conference, it was announced by the league on Tuesday, November 8. Redshirt sophomore center Stephanie Holzer was named First Team All-SEC, while junior forward Tiffany Clarke was named to the second team.
In addition, the league’s coaches picked the Commodores to finish sixth in the conference this season. Tennessee was picked to win the league, while the Lady Vols’ Shekinna Stricklen was named Preseason Player of the Year. The results are based on a poll of the SEC’s 12 coaches. Coaches were not permitted to vote for their own team or players.
Behind Tennessee, the coaches picked Kentucky, Georgia, LSU and Florida ahead of Vanderbilt. The Commodores were followed by South Carolina, Arkansas, Auburn, Alabama, Mississippi State and Ole Miss.
Holzer picks up first team honors after being named to the second team by media that covers the league. Last season, she averaged 11.1 points per game, while tying for the team lead in rebounding with 6.0 per game. She earned Honorable Mention All-SEC honors and was named the league’s Sixth Woman of the Year.
“Stephanie proved last year she is one of the most valuable players in the SEC when she is on the floor and the coaches have acknowledged that,” said Vanderbilt Head Coach Melanie Balcomb. “We’re expecting even more from her this year as she continues to develop her game.”
Holzer was joined on the first team by C’eira Ricketts (Arkansas), Jasmine James (Georgia), A’dia Mathies (Kentucky), LaSondra Barrett (LSU), Glory Johnson (Tennessee), Meighan Simmons (Tennessee) and Stricklen (Tennessee).
Clarke placed on the second team after having one of the strongest finishes in the conference in 2010-11. Clarke averaged 13.3 points and 9.0 rebounds over the final 12 games, while posting 20.5 points and 13.0 rebounds in the SEC Tournament to earn All-Tournament honors.
“Tiffany was one of the best players in the league down the stretch last year,” Balcomb said. “The show she put on at the SEC Tournament certainly earned the respect of the other coaches. We expect her to continue playing at that high level.”
Also on the second team were Ericka Russell of Alabama, Arkansas’ Sarah Watkins, Georgia’s Jasmine Hassell, Adrienne Webb of LSU, Valencia McFarland from Ole Miss and South Carolina’s La’Keisha Sutton and Ieasia Walker.
The Commodores return three starters from last year’s team that went 20-12 and reached the NCAA Tournament. It marked the 12th-consecutive 20-win season and 12th-straight NCAA bid for Vanderbilt. They posted a 10-6 mark in SEC play, good for third place.
Balcomb opens her 10th season at the helm of the program on Friday, November 11, when Vanderbilt hosts Alabama A&M. Tipoff is set for 6:00 p.m. at Memorial Gymnasium.
