Oct. 20, 2015
Birmingham, Ala. – The Vanderbilt women were projected for an 11th-place SEC finish in the annual preseason media poll.
The Commodores, coming off an injured-marred 2014-15 campaign, enter this season with an abundance of experience and talent. Head coach Melanie Balcomb’s roster features seven upperclassmen — including veteran leaders Morgan Batey and Jasmine Jenkins — along with rising stars Rebekah Dahlman, a member of last year’s SEC’s All-Freshman team, and Marqu’es Webb.
Vanderbilt (15-16 overall, 5-11 SEC last season) will host an exhibition game against Clayton State on Nov. 7 and will then host Mississippi Valley State in the season opener on Nov. 15.
South Carolina was predicted to win the SEC championship in the voting done by a select panel of both SEC and national media members.
The Gamecocks earned the first NCAA Final Four appearance in program history last season, posting a school-record 34 wins and falling just one point shy of a spot in the national championship game. They return their top three scorers and top three rebounders from last season in senior Tiffany Mitchell, junior Alaina Coates and sophomore A’ja Wilson. The Gamecocks’ top two 3-point shooters are back (Mitchell, Tina Roy) as are their top two assist producers (Mitchell, Khadijah Sessions) and top two shot blockers (Wilson, Coates).
South Carolina tops the order of finish with 265 points, with Tennessee (248), Mississippi State (215), Texas A&M (207), Kentucky (205), Ole Miss (169), and Missouri (165) rounding out the top half the league. Arkansas (138), Georgia (128), LSU (128), Vanderbilt (80), Florida (78), Auburn (65) and Alabama (34) round out the bottom half.
South Carolina’s Tiffany Mitchell was the overwhelming choice for SEC Women’s Basketball Player of the Year with 11 votes, Mitchell’s teammates A’ja Wilson and Alaina Coates also received votes, as did Tennessee’s newcomer Diamond DeShields.
Joining Mitchell, Wilson, Coates and DeShields on the All-SEC Team are Victoria Vivians, Mississippi State and Mykala Epps, Kentucky. A tie pushed the team to six members this year.
Points were compiled on a 14-13-12-11-10-9-8-7-6-5-4-3-2-1 basis. Each media member also voted for a five-player All-SEC Team and the Preseason SEC Player of the Year.
The SEC Women’s Basketball Coaches Poll will be released the Wednesday prior to the season.
Preseason Media Poll
Order of Finish
1. South Carolina 265
2. Tennessee 248
3. Mississippi State 215
4. Texas A&M 207
5. Kentucky 205
6. Ole Miss 169
7. Missouri 165
8. Arkansas 138
T9. Georgia 128
T9. LSU 128
11. Vanderbilt 80
12. Florida 78
13. Auburn 65
14. Alabama 34
Player of the Year: Tiffany Mitchell, South Carolina
Preseason All-SEC
Mykala Epps, Kentucky
Victoria Vivians, Mississippi State
Alaina Coates, South Carolina
Tiffany Mitchell, South Carolina
A’ja Wilson, South Carolina
Diamond DeShields, Tennessee