Nov. 4, 2009

BEAUMONT, Texas -- The Lamar University Lady Cardinals are the preseason pick to capture the Southland Conference West Division women's basketball championship in polls of the conference's coaches and sports information directors released Wednesday.

In the coaches poll, Lamar collected six of a possible 12 first-place votes, garnering 59 points. UT Arlington collected 53 points and three first-place votes. UTSA had 50 points and two first-place votes.

In the poll of sports information directors, Lamar had 56 points and five first-place votes to edge out UT Arlington, which ended up with 55 points and five first-place votes. UTSA was third with 49 points and one first-place vote.

"To receive this kind of recognition is very humbling," said third-year Lamar coach Larry Tidwell, who is 39-24 at Lamar. "But we all know it's not where you start, but where you finish."

In the East Division, Stephen F. Austin, Southeastern Louisiana and Northwestern State were picked to finish 1-2-3 in both polls.

Individually, Lamar led all teams with three players chosen as preseason all-conference performers. Senior forwards Brittney Williams and Darika Hill were named to the first team, while junior guard Jenna Plumley was named to the second team.

Williams started all 31 games for Lamar last season, ranking 10th in scoring (12.0) and 14th in rebounds (6.0), to help the Lady Cardinals post a 20-11 record. Hill was seventh in blocks (30), 11th in rebounds (7.1) and 15th in scoring (11.0), earning the conference's Newcomer of the Year Award along the way.

Plumley, who sat out last season after transferring from the University of Oklahoma, averaged 6.5 points and 2.7 assists in 63 games over two seasons as a Sooner, starting 41of those games. In 2007-08, she started all 31 games for Oklahoma, handing out 107 assists, and shooting 64-of-202 from 3-point range.

Lamar opens the 2009-10 season at Minnesota on Nov. 15. The Cardinals' first home game is set for 2:05 p.m. Nov. 21 against Alcorn State at the Montagne Center, where Lamar was an impressive 14-2 last year.

Season tickets for Lady Cardinals basketball are on sale now. For more information on season tickets, visit the Montagne Center box office, call (409) 880-1715 or check out Lamar's athletic Web site at www.lamarcardinals.com.

COACHES POLL (First-Place Votes)

West Division

Lamar (6) 59

UT Arlington (3) 53

UTSA (2) 50

Texas A&M-Corpus Christi (1) 34

Texas State 30

Sam Houston State 20

East Division

Stephen F. Austin (9) 63

Southeastern Louisiana (2) 52

Northwestern State 47

McNeese State 37

Central Arkansas (1) 31

Nicholls 16

SPORTS INFORMATION DIRECTORS POLL (Firsts-Place Votes)

West Division

Lamar (5) 56

UT Arlington (5) 55

UTSA (1) 49

Texas State 35

Texas A&M-Corpus Christi (1) 31

Sam Houston State 19

East Division

Stephen F. Austin (10) 65

Southeastern Louisiana (1) 52

Northwestern State (1) 50

McNeese State 35

Central Arkansas 26

Nicholls 16

PRESEASON ALL-SOUTHLAND CONFERENCE WOMEN'S BASKETBALL TEAMS

First Team

Brittney Williams (Lamar)*

Darika Hill (Lamar)*

Whitney Cormier (Stephen F. Austin)*

Tamara Simmons (UT Arlington)*

Jade Davis (Texas A&M-Corpus Christi)*

Second Team

Jenna Plumley (Lamar)

Shalyn Martin (UT Arlington)*

Amber Gregg (UTSA)

Elisa Beagle (Texas A&M-Corpus Christi)

Victoria Davis (Texas State)

* 2008-09 Southland Conference Selection