BIRMINGHAM, Ala. – Samford senior guard
Hannah Nichols was named to the preseason All-Southern Conference team, released by the league Wednesday morning.
In addition to the preseason All-SoCon team, the league released its preseason polls. Samford was picked to finish sixth in the league by both the coaches and the media. Mercer was picked to win the league in both polls, with Chattanooga coming in second.
Following the top two in the coaches poll were UNCG, ETSU, Furman, Samford, Wofford and Western Carolina. The coaches also selected Mercer's Kahlia Lawrence as the preseason Player of the Year. The rest of the media poll was ETSU, UNCG, Furman, Samford, Wofford and Western Carolina.
Nichols returns after leading the team in scoring last season, averaging 13.3 points per game. She was also second on the team in rebounding, grabbing 3.8 boards per contest.
For her career, Nichols ranks sixth in school history with 1,079 points. She also ranks fourth in program history with 194 three-pointers made in her Samford career.
Samford returns two starters from last year's squad. Nichols and sophomore forward
Samantha Fitzgerald both return to the starting lineup. Also returning are junior
Cassidy Williams, sophomores
Katie Allen,
Charity Brown,
Olivia Crozier and
Paige Serup, and redshirt freshman
Leslie Golden. Sophomore
Ta'Naisha Hill, who transferred from UT Martin last December, will be eligible to play at the end of the fall semester.
Newcomers to this year's team are freshmen
Natalie Armstrong,
Shauntai Battle,
Raven Omar and
Makaila Woolard.
The team will host its annual Red-Blue Scrimmage this Saturday from 10-11 a.m. in the Pete Hanna Center. Admission is free to the scrimmage, and players and coaches will be available for a meet-and-greet following the action.
Samford will host Montevallo in an exhibition game on Nov. 6 at 6 p.m. The Bulldogs will open the regular season by hosting Colorado on Nov. 10, also at 6 p.m. in the Pete Hanna Center. Admission to all home women's basketball games is free.
2017-18 Preseason Southern Conference Coaches Poll
Team (1st-Place Votes) Total
1. Mercer (7) 49
2. Chattanooga 40
3. UNCG (1) 34
4. ETSU 33
5. Furman 28
6. Samford 20
7. Wofford 12
8. Western Carolina 8
2017-18 Preseason Player of the Year
Kahlia Lawrence, Sr., G, Mercer
2017-18 Preseason All-Southern Conference Team
Tianna Tarter, Sr., G, ETSU
Cierra Carter, Sr., G/F, Furman
KeKe Calloway, Jr., G, Mercer
Kahlia Lawrence, Sr., G, Mercer
Sydni Means, Sr., G, Mercer
Nadine Soliman, So, G, UNCG
Hannah Nichols, Sr., G, Samford
Lakelyn Bouldin, So., G, Chattanooga
Keiana Gilbert, Sr., G, Chattanooga
Chloe Wanink, Jr., G, Wofford
2017-18 Preseason Southern Conference Media Poll
Team (1st-Place Votes) Total
1. Mercer (9) 100
2. Chattanooga (4) 94
3. ETSU 67
4. UNCG 65
5. Furman 56
6. Samford 35
7. Wofford 27
8. Western Carolina 24
