October 7, 2002

FURMAN LADY PALADINS PICKED THIRD BY COACHES, MEDIA AT SOUTHERN CONFERENCE BASKETBALL TIP-OFF

GREENVILLE, South Carolina -- Southern Conference women's basketball coaches and media both voted the Furman Lady Paladins third in preseason polls released Monday at the Southern Conference Basketball Tip-Off in Charleston, S.C.

The Lady Paladins, 17-12 overall and 11-7 in the SoCon a year ago, return three starters including All-SoCon performers Orion Wake and Deshara Shealey. Both Shealey and Wake, along with sophomore Kim Lawrence (9.8 points/game in 2001-02) were tabbed preseason all-league by the Southern Conference's coaches.

Wake, a senior from Woodbridge, Va., averaged a league leading nine rebounds per contest, while contributing 10.6 points per game in 2001-02. Shealey who played the point last season, averaged 12.0 points per game as a junior.

Chattanooga, last season's Southern Conference Tournament champions, were preseason favorites in both polls, while UNC Greensboro was the unanimous choice for second place. Both the coaches and media selected Furman and Georgia Southern to tie for third in the regular season race.

Coaches Poll
1) Chattanooga (7) 71
2) UNCG (2) 66
T3) Furman 49
T3) Georgia Southern 49
5) Western Carolina 48
T6) Coll. of Charleston 32
T6) Davidson 32
8) Appalachian State 31
9) East Tennessee State 17
10) Wofford 10

Media Poll
1) Chattanooga (16) 214
2) UNCG (6) 197
T3) Furman 164
T3) Georgia Southern 164
5) Western Carolina 131
6) Coll. of Charleston 109
7) Davidson 85
8) Appalachian State 61
9) East Tennessee State 53
10) Wofford 32

Preseason All-Southern Conference

Wilma Simpson, CofC
Miranda Warfield, Chattanooga
Jennifer Wilson, Chattanooga
Meghan Bryant, Davidson
Lauren Trantham, ETSU
Kim Lawrence, Furman
Deshara Shealey, Furman
Orion Wake, Furman
Tiffany Lanier, Georgia Southern
Jacinda Lambert, UNCG
Tiffany Hamm, Western Carolina

Preseason Player of the Year: Jacinda Lambert, UNCG