Texas Southern Lady Tigers claim first place selection in SWAC Preseason Poll

BIRMINGHAM, Alabama -- On the heels of its first Southwestern Athletic Conference Women's Basketball Tournament Championship in program history, Texas Southern has been selected as the Preseason favorite to win the conference crown in the 2017-18 season in a poll of the league's Head Coaches and Sports Information Directors.

The announcement was made during the SWAC's annual tip-off media teleconference Wednesday morning.

The Lady Tigers, who earned a share of the regular-season crown -- for the second-straight season -- alongside Grambling State thanks to identical 14-4 records in league play, posted a 23-10 overall record on their way to the tournament championship.

Alabama State (120 points) was tabbed to finish third, with Southern (108 points) and Alcorn State (89 points) rounding out the top five. Slotted to finish sixth through 10th in the preseason prognostications were Prairie View A&M (73 points), Arkansas-Pine Bluff (66 points), Jackson State (63 points), Alabama A&M (34 points) Mississippi Valley State (32 points).

Texas Southern guard and 2017 SWAC Women's Basketball Tournament MVP Joyce Kennerson, who led the league in scoring at 18.3 points per game, was selected to the Preseason First Team along with fellow teammate Artavia Ford who was selected at the forward spot.

Texas Southern's Breasia McElrath was tabbed as a Second Team All-SWAC selection at forward after a solid campaign last season.

WOMEN'S 2017-18 PRESEASON AWARD WINNERS

PRESEASON PLAYER OF THE YEAR
Shakyla Hill, Grambling State

PRESEASON DEFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE YEAR
Alexus Freeman, Alcorn State

PRESEASON ALL-SWAC WOMEN'S BASKETBALL - FIRST TEAM
Guard - Shakyla Hill, Grambling State
Guard - Joyce Kennerson, Texas Southern
Forward - Brianna Green, Southern
Forward - Artavia Ford, Texas Southern
Center - Tatyana Calhoun, Alabama State

PRESEASON ALL-SWAC WOMEN'S BASKETBALL - SECOND TEAM
Guard - Jazmin Boyd, Grambling State
Guard - Monisha Neal, Grambling State
Forward - Breasia McElrath, Texas Southern
Forward - La'Sha Haynes, Prairie View A&M
Center - Shawntayla Harris, Arkansas-Pine Bluff

PREDICTED ORDER OF FINISH (points earned in parentheses):
1. Texas Southern (149)
2. Grambling State (146)
3. Alabama State (120)
4. Southern (108)
5. Alcorn State (89)
6. Prairie View A&M (73)
7. Arkansas-Pine Bluff (66)
8. Jackson State (63)
9. Alabama A&M (34)
10. Mississippi Valley State (32)

TEXAS SOUTHERN UNIVERSITY SPORTS INFORMATION