UNC Pembroke Edges Barton, Francis Marion in Women's Basketball Preseason Coaches’ Poll

UNC Pembroke Edges Barton, Francis Marion in Women's Basketball Preseason Coaches’ Poll

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GREENVILLE, S.C. – Conference Carolinas released the 2022-23 Women’s Basketball Preseason Coaches’ Poll on Wednesday and UNC Pembroke was picked to win its sixth Conference Carolinas regular season title but first since rejoining the conference.

Last season, the Braves’ first in Conference Carolinas since 1992, UNC Pembroke went 17-7 in league play, 19-10 overall and was the five seed in the conference tournament. The Braves, who earned 125 points and three first-place votes, will be led by reigning Conference Carolinas Freshman of the Year Zaria Clark. The defending regular season and tournament champion Barton Bulldogs were picked a close second with 124 points and five first-place nods while 2022 tournament runner-up Francis Marion was picked third with 123 points and four first-place votes. 

Mount Olive was picked fourth with 110 points while Chowan rounded out the top five with 105 points. Emmanuel holds the sixth spot with 95 points and the remaining first-place vote. They were followed by Belmont Abbey and King at 78 points with North Greenville (52), Lees-McRae (46), Southern Wesleyan (34), Converse (30) and Erskine (14) rounding out the poll.

The 2023 Conference Carolinas Men’s and Women’s Basketball Championships will get underway on Sunday, Feb. 26 and Monday, Feb. 27. The fifth and sixth seeds in men’s and women’s basketball will play host to two games over the two days. The 10th-seeded team will battle the seventh-seeded team on Feb. 26 at the home of the sixth seed for the right to face the sixth seed on Feb. 27, while the ninth-seeded team will take on the eighth-seeded team at the home of the fifth seed on Feb. 26 for the chance to take on the fifth seed on Feb. 27.
 
The 2023 Conference Carolinas Men’s and Women’s Basketball Championships quarterfinals are set for Friday, March 3 at Jerry Richardson Indoor Stadium. The semifinals will be contested on Saturday, March 4, while the men’s and women’s basketball finals are scheduled for Sunday, March 5.

The poll was voted on by the conference head coaches.

2022-23 Conference Carolinas
Women’s Basketball Preseason Poll
 
School Total (First Place)
UNC Pembroke 125 (3)
Barton 124 (5)
Francis Marion 123 (4)
Mount Olive 110
Chowan 105
Emmanuel 95 (1)
Belmont Abbey 78
King 78
North Greenville 52
Lees-McRae 46
Southern Wesleyan 34
Converse 30
Erskine 14

2022-23 Conference Carolinas Women's Basketball
Players to Watch
 
Barton
  • Lauren Walker, Jr., Guard, Charlotte, North Carolina (2021-22 All-Conference Carolinas Second Team)
Belmont Abbey
  • Taylor Stelley, Sr., Guard, Kissimmee, Florida 
  • Abigail Crain, So., Forward, Windermere, Florida 
  • Ricky Lesenyego, R-Fr., Soweto, South Africa 
Chowan
  • Destiny Robinson, Gr., Forward, Hampton, Virginia (2021-22 All- Conference Carolinas Second Team, Conference Carolinas All-Tournament Team)
  • Aniah Patterson, Sr., Guard, Dover, Delaware
Converse
  • Jordan Brown, Jr., Guard/Forward, McCormick, South Carolina
  • Zahra Cross, Sr., Guard, Austin, Texas
  • Sydney Wilson, Sr., Center, Henderson, Tennessee
Emmanuel
  • Jazmin Allen, Sr., Forward, Jefferson, Georgia (2021-22 All-Conference Carolinas Second Team; 2020-21 All-Conference Carolinas Second Team)
  • Jeanetta Elder, Sr., Center, Athens, Georgia
  • Sydney Wyatt, Jr., Guard, Simpsonville, South Carolina 
Erskine
  • Anzya Cook, Jr., Guard, Simpsonville, South Carolina 
  • Shanece Mitchell, Jr., Guard, Charleston, South Carolina
  • Mariah Moody, So., Guard, Marion, South Carolina
Francis Marion
  • Lauryn Taylor, Jr., Center, Blythewood, South Carolina (2021-22 All-Conference Carolinas Second Team, D2CCA All-Region Second Team) 
  • Scarlett Gilmore, Sr., Guard, Rock Hill, South Carolina 
  • Aniyah Oliver, Jr., Guard, Goose Creek, South Carolina
King
  • Brianna Dunbar, Jr., Guard, Oak Ridge, Tennessee 
  • Alexa Gramann, So., Guard, Jefferson City, Tennessee 
  • Ashley Allen, So., Forward, Sterling, Virginia 
Lees-McRae
  •  Jala Holloman, Sr., Guard, Goldsboro, North Carolina 
  • Arriana Lizarraga, Sr., Forward, Lawrenceville, Georgia 
  • Aurora Roberts, Sr., Guard, St. Paul, Minnesota 
Mount Olive
  • Reagan Hune, Jr., Forward, Carmel, Indiana 
  • Laila Harris, Jr., Forward, Englewood, New Jersey 
  • Kaia Simpson, So., Forward, Wilmington, North Carolina 
North Greenville
  • Abi Oates, Jr., Guard, Register, Georgia
  • Jykya Bell, Jr., Guard, Dillon, South Carolina
  • Greyson Boone, Gr., Guard, Greenville, South Carolina
Southern Wesleyan
  • Brittany Mack, Jr., Point Guard, Spartanburg, South Carolina 
  • Tristen Berry, So., Guard, Brevard, North Carolina 
  • Shelby Glance, Jr., Guard/Forward, Clyde, North Carolina 
UNC Pembroke
  • Courtney Smith, Jr., Guard, Jonesboro, Georgia
  • Alcenia Purnell, Jr., Guard, Wake Forest, North Carolina (2021-22 All-Conference Carolinas Third Team) 
  • Zaria Clark, So., Guard, Stanley, North Carolina (2021-22 Conference Carolinas Freshman of the Year)