Published: 2:02 PM, 11/06/2009

Last updated: 12:52 PM, 11/17/2009

By: Steve Behr Sports Editor

SPARTANBURG, S.C. - Appalachian State's women's basketball team was picked to finish tied for eighth in the SoCon preseason coaches' poll the league office Friday morning.
Appalachian was selected to finish tied for eighth with familiar foe Furman. The two teams met three times during the 2008-09, with ASU grabbing wins in the last two meetings, including a three point victory over the Paladins at the first round of the 2009 SoCon Tournament.
Chattanooga was the heavy favorite to win the SoCon regular season title for the third consecutive year. Chattanooga tallied 98 points overall, while Samford, who was tabbed to finish second received the other two first-place votes.
College of Charleston, the 2009 SoCon Tournament runner-up, was picked to finish third with 84 points and Davidson was selected to finish fourth.
Defending 2009 SoCon Tournament champion Western Carolina was selected to place fifth, with Georgia Southern and UNC Greensboro picked to finish in the sixth and seventh place spots.
Elon and Wofford rounded out the poll, selected to finish in the 10th and 11th place spots.
Chattanooga's Shanara Hollinquest was once again selected as the SoCon Preseason Player of the Year. Hollinquest was named the Player of the Year in 2008-09 and returns as the league's leading scorer.
Appalachian State did not have any players on the preseason all-conference team.
ASU hosts a final preseason tune-up Sunday November 8 as the Mountaineers welcome Lees-McRae to the Holmes Center at 1 p.m. Their first game of the regular season is Friday at Marshall, with the tip scheduled for 7 p.m.

SoCon Women's Basketball Coaches Preseason Poll
Team (1st Place Votes) Total Points
1. Chattanooga (9) 98
2. Samford (2) 91
3. College of Charleston 84
4. Davidson 64
5. Western Carolina 58
6. Georgia Southern 56
7. UNC Greensboro 54
T8. Appalachian State 31
T8. Furman 31
10. Elon 26
11. Wofford 12

SoCon Women's Basketball Preseason All-Conference Team
Emily Clarke, Western Carolina
Tonia Gerty, College of Charleston
Savannah Hill, Samford
Shanara Hollinquest, Chattanooga
Jade Hughes, College of Charleston
Ashley Lax, Davidson
Emily London, Samford
Lee Stephens, Furman
Alex Thompson, Davidson
Jenaya Wade-Fray, Chattanooga

SoCon Women's Basketball Preseason Player of the Year
Shanara Hollinquest, Chattanooga

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