Newberry Women’s Basketball Team Picked To Win 2007-08 Championship

ROCK HILL, SC -- Newberry College has two trophies in their case signifying their women's basketball team as Food Lion South Atlantic Conference tournament champions for 2006 and 2007. But the one trophy that still eludes Newberry is the one that belongs to the regular season champion.

The Lady Indians are the league's favorite to win the regular season title for 2007-08, in a vote of the conference head coaches. Newberry received five first-place votes and 56 total points.

Newberry, which finished tied for second in the league standings last season, brings back some key players who have led Newberry to three consecutive NCAA Tournament appearances.

Senior forward Tonique Frasier, a Daktronics South Atlantic All-Region Second Team member last season as well as a First Team All-SAC member leads the way for Newberry and is a preseason All-Conference first team selection. Joining Frasier on the preseason team is senior guard Ashlee Wright, the Most Valuable Player from the 2007 Food Lion SAC Tournament.

Carson-Newman College, which lost to Newberry in last year's tournament finals, is picked to finish second. The Lady Eagles received two first-place votes and 53 total points.

Shari Buford, a member of the All-Freshman and All-Tournament teams last season, is a preseason All-Conference second team selection.

Lenoir-Rhyne College is the pick to finish in third. The Bears received one first-place vote and 46 total points.

Lenoir-Rhyne placed a league-high three on the preseason All-Conference teams. Amber Holt, the 2007 SAC Freshman of the Year and forward Denise Moore were named to the first team, while point guard Jami Safrit was named to the second team. Safrit joined Holt on the All-Freshman team last year, while Moore was an All-Conference second-team selection last season.

Tusculum is picked to finish fourth The Pioneers received 42 points. Ashli Oliver, who is on pace to break the conference record for career 3-pointers, was a preseason first-team selection. Stephany Neptune, who was one of the league's top freshmen two years ago, is back after missing last season with an injury and was named to the preseason All-Conference second team.

Catawba College garnered 40 points and is fifth in the preseason poll. The Catawba Indians placed Ne'Keithia Howard on the preseason first team. She led Catawba in scoring last season and was second on the team in rebounding.

Mars Hill College is the pick to finish sixth with 22 points. Allison Schafer, who was second on the team in scoring last season, is a preseason All-Conference first team selection.

Wingate University is the pick to finish seventh. Wingate has won or shared the regular-season title for the past four years, but graduated three-time conference player of the year Tanetra Barrett. First-year coach Barbara Nelson will have to count on junior guard Anna Atkinson, who was named to the preseason All-Conference second team, to lead the team in the new era.

Rounding out the poll is Lincoln Memorial. The Railsplitters also are under the direction of a new coach as Larry Just takes over a team with two returning starters.

2007-08 Women's Coaches Preseason Poll

Team (first-place) Total
1. Newberry (5) 56
2. Carson-Newman (2) 53
3. Lenoir-Rhyne (1) 46
4. Tusculum 42
5. Catawba 40
6. Mars Hill 22
7. Wingate 16
8. Lincoln Memorial 13

Women's Preseason All-Conference

First Team
Ne'Keithia Howard, Catawba
Amber Holt, Lenoir-Rhyne
Denise Moore, Lenoir-Rhyne
Allison Schafer, Mars Hill
Tonique Frasier, Newberry
Ashli Oliver, Tusculum

Second Team
Shari Buford, Carson-Newman
Jami Safrit, Lenoir-Rhyne
Jessica Blanford, Mars Hill
Ashlee Wright, Newberry
Stephany Neptune, Tusculum
Anna Atkinson, Wingate