Clayton State Tabbed as Women's Basketball Preseason Favorite

 AUGUSTA, GA -- The Clayton State have been favored to win the 2007-08 PBC Women’s Basketball Championship in a poll of the league’s head coaches released on Thursday. The Lakers received eight of a possible 10 first-place votes for 98 points, seven ahead of Lander with 91. Columbus State was third in the voting with USC Aiken fourth, Augusta State fifth and Georgia College & State University sixth. Coaches were not permitted to rank their own team.

Clayton State is coming off of a historical season that saw the Lakers win the PBC Championship and PBC Tournament, host the NCAA South Atlantic Regional for the first time, make their first Elite Eight appearance and win a game to advance to the final four. To repeat those feats will require blending the new with the old. All-Conference standout Shantel Ragin is back for her senior season after averaging 9.9 ppg last year. She will be joined by seniors Roberta Phillips and Lynette Jackson and junior guard Marie St. Fort.

Lander struggled with injuries in 2006-07 but may have the most talented three players in the entire Peach Belt. Returning is PBC Player of the Year Tiara Good returns after leading the PBC in scoring with 21.9 ppg last season. Also back is All-Conference center Stephanie Ponds who averaged 16.4 points and 9.0 rebounds per game. LaShonda Chiles is also back at guard after playing in only three games last year, but averaging 26.3 ppg in those contests. Add in transfer Kianna Smith from USC Upstate, who averaged 17.5 ppg, and the Bearcats are ready to roll.

Columbus State advanced to the second round of the NCAA Tournament last year but will feature a new-look roster this season as Monica Sicka is the only returning starter from last year. Ashleigh Beverly, Ashley Stafford, and Chauntel Ferdinand also return after seeing substantial playing time for the Lady Cougars. However, coach Jay Sparks has added three Division I transfers to the mix.

For the 2007-08 season, the Peach Belt returns to its 20-game league schedule and abandons its divisions. USC Upstate left the conference following last year for Division I, leaving 11 teams in the league. Two new coaches will also make their debuts. Heather Macy takes over at Francis Marion while Kelly Britsky steps in at Georgia Southwestern. The women’s basketball season begins on Nov. 2 with Lander at the Disney Tip-Off Classic and rolls through to the PBC Tournament March 5-9 at the USC Aiken Convocation Center.

The preseason poll is listed below. Teams were given 11 points for a first-place vote, 10 for second and so on. To see a team-by-team preview, click here.

2007-08 Women's Basketball Preseason Poll