Troy University Athletics
Trojans Picked to Win Sun Belt Conference
10/18/2016 10:08:00 AM | Basketball (W)
Sun Belt Conference release
TROY, Alabama – The Troy women's basketball team has been selected to win the Sun Belt Conference in the league's preseason poll released Tuesday. It is the first time the program has been picked at the top of the standings since joining the league in 2005.
The Trojans received three first place votes and 125 points overall, finishing just ahead of Little Rock, the team Troy defeated in the Sun Belt Conference Tournament championship game last year.
"It's an honor to be the first women's basketball team at Troy to be picked first in a preseason poll," head coach Chanda Rigby said. "We want to keep the same hunger that we had when we were picked fifth last season. With the senior leadership we have, I feel that we are headed in the right direction."
Seniors Caitlyn Ramirez and ArJae' Saunders were selected to the Preseason All-Conference team. Ramirez was named First Team All-SBC while Saunders landed on the Third Team.
Ramirez was named Third Team All-SBC last season after averaging 11.9 points and seven rebounds in 33 games. The Shawnee, Okla., native scored in double figures 23 times and shot 50.7 percent from the floor, which ranked seventh in the Sun Belt.
Saunders averaged 12.4 points, which was 10th-best in the league. The Washington, D.C., product scored 20-plus points in seven games including a game-high 21 against Little Rock in the Sun Belt Conference Tournament championship game.
2016-17 Sun Belt Conference Women's Basketball Coaches' Preseason Poll
first-place votes in parentheses
1. Troy (3) - 125 pts
2. Little Rock (5) - 121 pts
3. UT Arlington (3) - 118 pts
4. South Alabama - 109 pts
5. UL Lafayette - 101 pts
6. Texas State - 81 pts
7. Arkansas State - 80 pts
8. Appalachian State (1) - 64 pts
9. Georgia State - 52 pts
10. Georgia Southern - 39 pts
11. Coastal Carolina - 26 pts
12. UL Monroe - 20 pts
Preseason First Team All-Conference
Kaitlyn Pratt (Little Rock, Senior, Forward)
Angel McGowan (Georgia Southern, Senior, Guard)
Marquita Daniels (South Alabama, Junior, Guard)
Rebekah VanDijk (UT Arlington, Junior, Center)
Caitlyn Ramirez (Troy, Senior, Forward)
Preseason Second Team All-Conference
Madi Story (Appalachian State, Junior, Guard)
Sharde' Collins (Little Rock, Senior, Guard)
Makeba Ponder (Georgia State, Junior, Guard)
Chyna Ellis (South Alabama, Junior, Center)
Cierra Johnson (UT Arlington, Junior, Guard)
Preseason Third Team All-Conference
Patrice Butler (Georgia Southern, Senior, Center)
Simone Fields (UL Lafayette, Junior, Forward)
Erin Peoples (Texas State, Senior, Guard)
Kaitlin Walla (Texas State, Junior, Guard)
ArJae' Saunders (Troy, Senior, Guard)
Preseason Player of the Year
Rebekah VanDijk (UT Arlington, Junior, Center)
Troy opens the 2016-17 season at Auburn on Nov. 11. The team plays its first home game on Nov. 16 against Belmont.
For more information on Troy women's basketball, visit TroyTrojans.com or follow the team on Twitter at @TroyTrojansWBB.
TROY, Alabama – The Troy women's basketball team has been selected to win the Sun Belt Conference in the league's preseason poll released Tuesday. It is the first time the program has been picked at the top of the standings since joining the league in 2005.
The Trojans received three first place votes and 125 points overall, finishing just ahead of Little Rock, the team Troy defeated in the Sun Belt Conference Tournament championship game last year.
"It's an honor to be the first women's basketball team at Troy to be picked first in a preseason poll," head coach Chanda Rigby said. "We want to keep the same hunger that we had when we were picked fifth last season. With the senior leadership we have, I feel that we are headed in the right direction."
Seniors Caitlyn Ramirez and ArJae' Saunders were selected to the Preseason All-Conference team. Ramirez was named First Team All-SBC while Saunders landed on the Third Team.
Ramirez was named Third Team All-SBC last season after averaging 11.9 points and seven rebounds in 33 games. The Shawnee, Okla., native scored in double figures 23 times and shot 50.7 percent from the floor, which ranked seventh in the Sun Belt.
Saunders averaged 12.4 points, which was 10th-best in the league. The Washington, D.C., product scored 20-plus points in seven games including a game-high 21 against Little Rock in the Sun Belt Conference Tournament championship game.
2016-17 Sun Belt Conference Women's Basketball Coaches' Preseason Poll
first-place votes in parentheses
1. Troy (3) - 125 pts
2. Little Rock (5) - 121 pts
3. UT Arlington (3) - 118 pts
4. South Alabama - 109 pts
5. UL Lafayette - 101 pts
6. Texas State - 81 pts
7. Arkansas State - 80 pts
8. Appalachian State (1) - 64 pts
9. Georgia State - 52 pts
10. Georgia Southern - 39 pts
11. Coastal Carolina - 26 pts
12. UL Monroe - 20 pts
Preseason First Team All-Conference
Kaitlyn Pratt (Little Rock, Senior, Forward)
Angel McGowan (Georgia Southern, Senior, Guard)
Marquita Daniels (South Alabama, Junior, Guard)
Rebekah VanDijk (UT Arlington, Junior, Center)
Caitlyn Ramirez (Troy, Senior, Forward)
Preseason Second Team All-Conference
Madi Story (Appalachian State, Junior, Guard)
Sharde' Collins (Little Rock, Senior, Guard)
Makeba Ponder (Georgia State, Junior, Guard)
Chyna Ellis (South Alabama, Junior, Center)
Cierra Johnson (UT Arlington, Junior, Guard)
Preseason Third Team All-Conference
Patrice Butler (Georgia Southern, Senior, Center)
Simone Fields (UL Lafayette, Junior, Forward)
Erin Peoples (Texas State, Senior, Guard)
Kaitlin Walla (Texas State, Junior, Guard)
ArJae' Saunders (Troy, Senior, Guard)
Preseason Player of the Year
Rebekah VanDijk (UT Arlington, Junior, Center)
Troy opens the 2016-17 season at Auburn on Nov. 11. The team plays its first home game on Nov. 16 against Belmont.
For more information on Troy women's basketball, visit TroyTrojans.com or follow the team on Twitter at @TroyTrojansWBB.
Players Mentioned
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/ Basketball (W)Tai'Sheka Porchia - Playing Professionally Overseas
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Chanda Rigby Postgame Press Conference - Mississippi Valley State
Thursday, November 06