Nov. 6, 2009

GREENVILLE, S.C. -- The Furman Paladins women's basketball team has been picked to finish eighth in the Southern Conference this year according to a poll of league head coaches, it was announced today.

In addition, Paladin guard Lee Stephens was named to the coaches preseason all-conlrference team.

Furman, which went 12-18 overall and finished ninth in the SoCon last year, collected 31 points in the poll to finished in a tie for eighth along with Appalachian State.

Defending regular season champion Chattanooga (98 points), the preseason No. 1 pick, garnered nine of 11 first place votes followed by Samford (91), which collected the two remaining first place votes. The College of Charleston (84), Davidson (64), and Western Carolian (58) rounded out the top five. Georgia Southern (56) was picked sixth followed by UNC Greensboro (54) and both Furman (31) and Appalachian State (31). Elon (26) and Wofford (12) were picked 10th and 11th, respectively.

Stephens, a senior from Cincinnati, was a consensus first team All-SoCon selection a year ago after averaging 15.5 points and 4.3 rebounds per game.

Under the direction of head coach Sam Dixon, now in his eighth year, Furman, which returns two starters and eight letterwinners from a year ago, tips off the 2009-10 season on Saturday with an exhibition game against Emory. Game time at Carolina First Court at Timmons Arena is set for noon.