Harris Named to SoCon Preseason Women’s Basketball Team; Elon Selected Fifth

SPARTANBURG, S.C. – The Southern Conference released its 2013-14 Women’s Basketball Preseason Coaches and Media Polls, today, Oct. 23, as well as its Preseason All-Conference Team. The Elon women’s basketball team has been selected to finish the season fifth out of the 10 conference teams in both polls, while senior Kelsey Harris garnered all-league preseason honors by the coaches.

This is the second straight year that the Elon has been picked to finish fifth in the league. Last season, the Phoenix bested that notion and finished third in the conference after a program-best 14-6 SoCon record.

Harris averaged nine points and 6.2 rebounds per game last year, which ranked 26th and 13th (fourth among returners) in the conference, respectively. The Gastonia, N.C., native started all 33 games for the Phoenix last season and is the highest scoring returning player from last year’s squad.

In the coaches poll, Elon received 59 points to be slated fifth. Reigning SoCon Champion Chattanooga was selected first with 90 points and nine first place votes. The Bulldogs of Samford were selected second with 77 points and one first place vote. Davidson claimed the third spot with 70 points, while Appalachian State was picked just ahead of the Phoenix with 60 points. Harris and nine others were named to the preseason all-conference team by the coaches, while Chattanooga’s Ashlen Dewart was named the SoCon Preseason Player of the Year.

The media picked Elon fifth as well with 94 points. The top four teams in the media poll reflected the coaches poll with Chattanooga in first (159 points and 15 first place votes), Samford second (131 points and one first place vote), Davidson in third (120 points) and Appalachian State in fourth (116 points).

Elon opens the 2013-14 season on Friday, Nov. 8, in Alumni Gym at 5 p.m. against Winston-Salem State. Fans can get their first look at the Phoenix in an exhibition game on Saturday, Nov. 2, at 1:30 p.m. against Pfeiffer in Alumni Gym.

The 2014 Southern Conference Women’s Basketball Tournament will be held March 7-10 in Asheville, N.C.

2013-14 SoCon Women’s Basketball Coaches Preseason Poll
Team (first place votes) – Total Points
1. Chattanooga (9) – 90
2. Samford (1) – 77
3. Davidson – 70
4. Appalachian State – 60
5. Elon – 59
6. Furman – 50
7. UNCG – 42
8. Georgia Southern – 40
9. Western Carolina – 33
10. Wofford – 19

2013-14 SoCon Women’s Basketball Preseason All-Conference Team
Maryah Sydnor, Appalachian State
Laura Murray, Davidson
Kelsey Harris, Elon
Brittany Hodges, Furman
MiMi Dubose, Georgia Southern
Lucy Mason, UNCG
Shelby Campbell, Samford
Taylor Reece, Samford
Ashlen Dewart, Chattanooga (Preseason Player of the Year)
Taylor Hall, Chattanooga

2013-14 SoCon Women’s Basketball Media Preseason Poll
Team (first place votes) – Points
1. Chattanooga (15) – 159
2. Samford (1) – 131
3. Davidson – 120
4. Appalachian State – 116
5. Elon – 94
6. Furman – 76
7. Georgia Southern – 63
8. Western Carolina – 52
9. UNCG – 48
10. Wofford – 20