Georgia Southern women's basketball senior Terren Ward has been named to the Preseason All-Sun Belt Conference first team, announced this week by league officials. In addition, the Eagles have been picked to finish fifth in a preseason poll of the league's coaches.
A two-time All-Sun Belt Conference selection and the 2020-21 Sun Belt Freshman of the Year, Ward led the Sun Belt conference in scoring a year ago (18.5 ppg) and was also named the 2022-23 Georgia Women's Basketball Player of the Year as awarded by the Atlanta TipOff Club. The Jesup, Ga., native became the 25th Eagle to pass 1,000 career points during the 2022-23 campaign and she enters the 2023-24 season trying to become the first three-time All-Conference honoree since Sharon Mitchell was a three-time All-SoCon selection from 1998-2001.
As a team, the Eagles were picked to finish fifth in the preseason poll of the league's coaches, earning 131 points and one first-place vote. Last year, Georgia Southern went 21-10 overall and 12-6 in the Sun Belt, tying for fourth in the overall standings. James Madison is the preseason favorite in 2023-24, garnering 186 points and nine first-place votes. Troy was picked second with 177 points and three first-place votes, followed by Southern Miss, which notched 159 points and the last first-place vote.
Old Dominion (149) was picked fourth ahead of the Eagles, with Louisiana (117) picked sixth. Texas State (116), Arkansas State (87), Marshall (85), Coastal Carolina (72), UL Monroe (71), Appalachian State (54), Georgia State (46) and South Alabama (20) round out the preseason coaches' poll.
Georgia Southern opens up the 2023-24 campaign on Tuesday, Nov. 7, hosting Allen University in a 6 p.m. contest at Hanner Fieldhouse.
2023-24 Women's Basketball Preseason Awards
Preseason Player of the Year
Domonique Davis, Southern Miss
Preseason All-Sun Belt First Team
Domonique Davis, Southern Miss
Terren Ward, Georgia Southern [SR | G | Jesup, Ga.]
Izzy Higginbottom, Arkansas State [JR | G | Batesville, Ark.]
Makayia Hallmon, Troy [SR | G | Coushatta, La.]
Roshala Scott, Marshall
Preseason All-Sun Belt Second Team
Peyton McDaniel, James Madison [R-SO | G | Birdsboro, Pa.]
Ja'Mia Hollings, Troy [SR | F | West Point, Miss.]
Lanay Wheaton, Louisiana
Kseniia Kozlova, James Madison [R-JR | C | Moscow, Russia]
Tai'Sheka Porchia, Troy [SR | F | Camden, Ark.]
Preseason All-Sun Belt Third Team
Deja Richardson, Coastal Carolina [GR | G | Kernersville, N.C.]
Emily Carver, App State [JR | G | Asheville, N.C]
Daisha Bradford, ULM [SR | G | Mobile, Ala.]
Mikyla Tolivert, Georgia State [JR | G | Melbourne, Fla.]
Kelsey Thompson, South Alabama [SO | G | Mobile, Ala.]
2023-24 Women's Basketball Preseason Coaches Poll
1. James Madison (9) - 186
2. Troy (3) - 177
3. Southern Miss (1) - 159
4. Old Dominion - 149
5. Georgia Southern (1) - 131
6. Louisiana - 117
7. Texas State - 116
8. Arkansas State - 87
9. Marshall - 85
10. Coastal Carolina - 72
11. ULM - 71
12. App State - 54
13. Georgia State - 46
14. South Alabama - 20
