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

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

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GREENVILLE, S.C. – Conference Carolinas released the 2023-24 Women’s Basketball Preseason Coaches’ Poll on Thursday, Nov. 2, 2023 and UNC Pembroke was picked to win its first Conference Carolinas regular season title since rejoining the conference.

The Braves were also picked atop the poll last season but finished third overall with a 16-4 league mark but went on to win the Atlantic Casualty Conference Carolinas Women’s Basketball tournament championship and earned a bid to the NCAA Southeast Regional. UNC Pembroke finished 22-10 overall. The Braves earned 161 points and eight-of-14 first-place votes to edge the 2022-23 regular season champions, Belmont Abbey, who garnered 156 points and four first-place votes. Francis Marion was selected third with 154 points and the final two first-place nods.

Emmanuel was picked fourth with 127 points while Chowan rounded out the top five with 113 points. Mount Olive holds the sixth spot with 104 points and were followed by conference newcomer Young Harris (94), Barton (87), Southern Wesleyan (72), King (71), North Greenville (54), Converse (31), Erskine (26) and Lees-McRae (24).

The 2024 Atlantic Casualty Conference Carolinas Men’s and Women’s Basketball Championships will get underway on Sunday, Mar. 3 and Monday, Mar. 4. The fourth, fifth and sixth seeds in men’s and women’s basketball will host two games over the two days. The 12th-seeded team will battle the seventh-seeded team on Mar. 3 at the sixth seed for the right to face the sixth seed on Mar. 4. The 11th-seeded team will battle the eighth-seeded team on Mar. 3 at the home of the fifth seed for the right to face the fifth seed on Mar. 4, while the 10th-seeded team will take on the ninth-seeded team at the home of the fourth seed on Mar. 3 for the chance to take on the fourth seed on Mar. 4.
 
The 2024 Atlantic Casualty Conference Carolinas Men’s and Women’s Basketball Championships quarterfinals are set for Friday, March 8 at Jerry Richardson Indoor Stadium. The semifinals will be contested on Saturday, March 9, while the men’s and women’s basketball finals are scheduled for Sunday, March 10.

The poll was voted on by the conference head coaches.

2023-24 Conference Carolinas
Women’s Basketball Preseason Poll
 
School Total (First Place)
UNC Pembroke 161 (8)
Belmont Abbey 156 (4)
Francis Marion 154 (2)
Emmanuel 127
Chowan 113
Mount Olive 104
Young Harris 94
Barton 87
Southern Wesleyan 72
King 71
North Greenville 54
Converse 31
Erskine 26
Lees-McRae 24

2023-24 Conference Carolinas Women's Basketball
Players to Watch
 
Barton
  • Lauren Walker, G, Sr., Charlotte, North Carolina (2022-23 All-Conference Carolinas First Team; 2021-22 All-Conference Carolinas Second Team) 
Belmont Abbey
  • Abigail Crain, F, Jr., Windermere, Florida (2022-23 All-Conference Carolinas First Team, Conference Carolinas All-Tournament Team)
  • Cate Schieber, G, So., New Albany, Ohio
  • Catherine Hendershott, G, Jr., Knoxville, Tennessee 
Chowan
  • Imani Hickman, F, So., Huntington, West Virginia
  • Yasmine Brown, G, So., Suffolk, Virginia
Converse
  • Jordan Brown, G/F, Sr., McCormick, South Carolina
  • Zariyah Washington, G, Jr., West Palm Beach, Florida
  • Sydney Wilson, C, Gr., Henderson, Tennessee
Emmanuel
  • Sydney Wyatt, G, Sr., Simpsonville, South Carolina (2022-23 All-Conference Carolinas Third Team)
  • Abby Crawford, G, Jr., Villa Rica, Georgia
  • Tyasia Freeman, C, Sr., Waynesboro Georgia 
Erskine
  • Anzya Cook, G, Gr., Simpsonville, South Carolina
  • Shanece Mitchell, G, Gr., Charleston, South Carolina
  • Janelle Carter, F, Sr., Clover, South Carolina
Francis Marion
  • Lauryn Taylor, C, Sr., Blythewood, South Carolina (2022-23 D2CCA All-Region, All-Conference Carolinas First Team, Conference Carolinas Player of the Year, Conference Carolinas Women’s Basketball Scholar-Athlete of the Year; 2021-22 D2CCA All-Region, All-Conference Carolinas Second Team)
  • Aniyah Oliver, G, Sr., Goose Creek, South Carolina (2021-22 Conference Carolinas All-Tournament Team)
  • Kiana Lee, G/F, Jr., North Augusta, South Carolina (2022-23 All-Conference Carolinas Second Team) 
King
  • Brianna Dunbar, G, Sr., Oak Ridge, Tennessee
  • Le’Aije Ellington, G, So., Indianapolis, Indiana
  • Ashley Allen, G/F, Jr., Sterling, Virginia 
Lees-McRae
  • Leah Barringer, G, Jr., Charlotte, North Carolina
  • Sandra Mason, G, So., Chesapeake, Virginia
  • Dianna Spence, G, So., Saltville, Virginia
Mount Olive
  • Laila Anderson, G, So., Burlington, North Carolina (2022-23 Freshman of the Year, All-Conference Carolinas Third Team)
  • Reagan Hune, F, Sr., Carmel, Indiana (2022-23 All-Conference Carolinas Third Team)
  • Asia Smith, F, Sr., Washington, District of Columbia
North Greenville
  • Amaijah Smith, G, Jr, Gulfport, Mississippi
  • Abi Oates, G, Sr, Register, Georgia
Southern Wesleyan
  • Tristen Berry, G, Jr., Brevard, North Carolina
  • Lexi Greffen, G, Sr., Portsmouth, Rhode Island
  • Shelby Glance, G/F, Sr., Clyde, North Carolina
UNC Pembroke
  • Kalaya Hall, G, Sr., Beulaville, North Carolina (2022-23 Conference Carolinas Tournament Most Valuable Player)
  • Zaria Clark, G, Jr., Stanley, North Carolina (2022-23 All-Conference Carolinas Second Team, Conference Carolinas All-Tournament Team; 2021-22 Conference Carolinas Freshman of the Year)
  • Courtney Smith, G, Sr., Jonesboro, Georgia (2022-23 All-Conference Carolinas Second Team)
Young Harris
  • Trinity Edwards, G, Sr., Brookhaven, Georgia 
  • Dustie Obah, G/F, Sr., Woombye, Queensland, Australia 
  • JaMari Frederick, G, Jr., Blythewood, South Carolina