Howard predicted to win the regular season women's basketball MEAC title

Saadia Doyle

NORFOLK, Virginia  --  Howard University senior Saadia Doyle was named the MEAC women's basketball Preseason Player of the Year for the second consecutive year the conference announced today. The Lady Bison of Howard were predicted to win the regular season title as voted on by the conference's head women's basketball coaches and sports information directors.

Doyle, the 2010-11 MEAC Player of the Year, averaged 17.1 points and 8.6 rebounds per game last year. The guard guided her team to the MEAC Tournament championship finale for the second straight year, earning All-MEAC and All-Tournament honors.

Howard totaled 637 points and received 15 out of 26 first place votes. Last year the Lady Bison finished with a 24-9 overall record and 14-2 mark in MEAC play. Howard welcomes back all of its starters from last year's team.

The three-time defending MEAC champion Hampton Lady Pirates were picked to finish second with 597points and seven (7) first-place votes. The Lady Pirates, who will open up their season on November 9^th against Southern Mississippi, concluded the 2011-12 campaign with a 15-1 conference record and 26-5 mark overall. Hampton was one of four MEAC teams to post 20-plus wins last season.

Coppin State was predicted to finish third while Florida A&M and North Carolina A&T round out the top five preseason predictions.

Maryland Eastern Shore was chosen to finish sixth, followed by South Carolina State (7^th), Bethune-Cookman (8^th), Norfolk State (9^th), Savannah State (10^th), Delaware State (11^th), Morgan State (12^th) and North Carolina Central (13^th).

Joining Doyle on the Preseason All-MEAC First Team is teammate Tamoria Holmes. Delaware State's Tierra Hawkins, Ezinne Kalu of Savannah State and Jaquayla Berry of North Carolina A&T round out the first team selections.

The 2012-13 MEAC women's basketball season tips off on Friday, Nov. 11 with eight MEAC teams in action.

The 2013 MEAC Basketball Tournament is slated for March 11-16 at the Norfolk Scope Arena in Norfolk, Va.

 

Preseason Honors

 

 

COURTESY MEAC MEDIA RELATIONS