ORLANDO, Fla.— Tampa has been tabbed the preseason favorite to win the 2009-10 Sunshine State Conference women’s basketball championship. The Buccaneers placed eighth in the poll.
Reigning co-champions of the conference, the Spartans received 121 points and 10 first-place votes in the preseason poll conducted among the league's women's basketball coaches and sports information directors. Rollins, which shared the title with the Spartans a year ago, was not far behind, tallying 113 points.
Nova Southeastern amassed 104 points to place third in the poll. Florida Tech and Florida Southern were separated by the narrowest of margins. The Panthers totaled 74 points to rank fourth, while the Moccasins gathered 73 points to place fifth.
Eckerd's 55 points placed the Tritons in the sixth slot, while Lynn came in seventh with 44 points. Barry earned 40 points for the eighth spot, followed by Saint Leo (24) in the final spot.
The Bucs started last season well, getting out to a 6-1 start, falling only to Division I Air Force. The Bucs earned their highest ranking ever in the USA TODAY ESPN Division II Top 25 Coaches’ Poll, earning 12th. Yet the second half of SSC play proved difficult for the Bucs as they finished with a 15-13 overall record and a 6-8 conference record.
The Bucs return six players from last year’s roster, including Shana Suttington and Mariesa Greene who earned Second Team All-SSC Honors last season. In addition to Suttington and Greene, Christina Thompson is back for her senior season after redshirting last season.
|
|
| School |
Points
|
(1st Place Votes)
|
| Tampa |
121
|
(10)
|
| Rollins |
113
|
(5)
|
| Nova Southeastern |
104
|
(3)
|
| Florida Tech |
74
|
|
| Florida Southern |
73
|
|
| Eckerd |
55
|
|
| Lynn |
44
|
|
| Barry |
40
|
|
| Saint Leo |
24
|
|
