Oct. 12, 2005

NASHVILLE, Tenn. - The Ohio Valley Conference held its 2005-06 preseason women's basketball media day on Wednesday in which all 11 head coaches discussed the upcoming season with members of the local and regional media.

Samford came in as the fifth-place squad in the preseason standings and sophomore Alex Munday was named to the league's second team.

The Bulldogs return three of five starters from last year's team that posted the second-best record in program history. Also returning to the team are Munday and Chelsee Insell, the team's top two scorers and rebounders in 2003-04, who each received a medical redshirt last season. The team also welcomes six newcomers to this year's squad.

"We have an interesting combination with the six new freshmen, along with Chelsee Insell and Alex Munday who were injured last year, so that is basically eight new people," said Samford head coach Mike Morris. "But Chelsee and Alex were starters the year before, so it's almost like we have five starters coming back. So, we have some experience, and also a lot of new players."

Munday, a sophomore forward, was selected as a Second-Team All-OVC performer on Wednesday. Munday, who was the 2003-04 OVC Freshman of the Year, led the team in scoring (14.2 ppg.) and rebounding (5.6 rpg.) in 2003-04.

For the second straight year, Tennessee Tech was selected to win the 2005-06 OVC women's basketball title in a preseason poll of the league's head coaches.

The Golden Eaglettes received six first-place votes and 95 points to edge out second-place pick Southeast Missouri, which collected four first-place nods and 93 points. Defending OVC regular-season champion Eastern Kentucky received the final first-place vote and 80 points for a third-place finish. Jacksonville State, which racked up 80 points, is predicted to finish fourth as Samford is expected to place fifth with 58 points.

The Samford University women's basketball team will begin practice in its 2005-06 season on Saturday in Seibert Hall.

2005-06 OVC Women's Basketball Predicted Order of Finish
(Selected by Head Basketball Coaches)

1. Tennessee Tech (6 first-place votes) - 95
2. Southeast Missouri (4 first-place votes) - 93
3. Eastern Kentucky (1 first-place vote) - 80
4. Jacksonville State - 67
5. Samford - 58
6. Tennessee State - 46
7. UT Martin - 44
8. Murray State - 42
9. Morehead State - 31
10. Eastern Illinois - 28
11. Austin Peay - 21

(*Schools were not allowed to rank their own team. Ten points awarded for first-place vote, nine for second, etc.)

2005-06 Preseason All-OVC Women's Basketball Team
(Selected by OVC Head Basketball Coaches)

FIRST TEAM
Player, School, Pos., Cl., Ht., Hometown
Tatiana Conceicao, Southeast Missouri*, F, Sr., 6-2, Sao Paulo, Brazil
Andreika Jackson, UT Martin*, F, Jr., 5-8, Decater, Ga.
Emily Christian, Tennessee Tech*, C, Sr., 6-1, Baxter, Tenn.
Ashley Haynes, Austin Peay#, G/F, Sr., 5-10, Clarksville, Tenn.
Ashley Cazee, Eastern Kentucky, G, So., 5-8, Martinsville, Ind.

OVC PRESEASON PLAYER OF THE YEAR: Tatiana Conceicao, Southeast Missouri

SECOND TEAM
Player, School, Pos., Cl., Ht., Hometown
Kendall Cavin, Tennessee Tech#, G, Jr., 5-9, Martin, Tenn.
Rebecca Haynes, Jacksonville State, F, Sr., 6-2, Birkdale, Australia
Alex Munday, Samford, G, So., 5-9, Knoxville, Tenn.
Anitha Smith-Williams, Morehead State, G, So., 5-7, Louisville, Ky.
Megan Sparks, Eastern Illinois, G, Sr., 5-9, Matoon, Ill.
Shaleea Petty, Murray State, G, So., 5-5, Hopkinsville, Ky.

* - 1st team All-OVC in 2004-05
# - 2nd team All-OVC in 2004-05

(Six players appear on the second team due to a tie)