WISE - - The South Atlantic Conference announced its Preseason All-Conference Teams along with its Preseason Women's Basketball Coaches' Poll Thursday. UVA Wise fifth-year Caitlyn Ross was named Second-Team Preseason All-SAC while the Cavaliers were picked ninth in the 13-team conference.
A 5-foot-6 guard, Ross has been one of the more accomplished players in program history during her career. The Kingston, Tenn. native already holds the single-season school record for assists with 221 last winter. Additionally, the former Midway High School star has the UVA Wise all-time assist record with 639 and enters this season 171 shy of tying the all-time SAC assist record of 810 currently held by former Wingate standout Cynthia Thomas.
A year ago, Ross led the nation in assists per game at 7.6 as she helped her team finish the season on a three-game winning streak. The strong play down the stretch allowed the Cavs to finish the year at 16-13, marking the program's second winning season in the last three years.
This year's UVA Wise squad returns a trio of starters; in addition to Ross, fellow fifth-year player Leah Kestner returns at forward along with junior forward Katlin Burger. Kaitlin Bailey is also back on the interior. Last winter, the 6-foot-1 Bailey led the conference in blocks with 58 as she added 5.6 rebounds per contest.
Junior Sable Burnside is looking to build off a breakout sophomore campaign. The Morristown, Tenn. native started 10 games a year ago and established new career highs in points per game (4.5) and rebounds per game (3.8). Junior Alexis Warren is back in the fold after shooting a team-high 61 percent from the floor as a sophomore as is sophomore Allyson Fleenor who saw action in 17 games as a freshman.
Sixth-year Head Coach Jamie Cluesman has added a group of six freshmen and a transfer to the roster. Sarah Burton returns after missing last season due to injury while fellow freshmen Macie Ridge, Jalie Ruehling, Mackenzie Bremer, Hailey Williams and Alicea Farmer will join University of Colorado Springs transfer Ines Latapia as newcomers looking to make their mark on the team.
UVA Wise opens the season on Friday, Nov. 10 in the South Atlantic Conference vs. Peach Belt Conference Challenge in Morrow, Ga. Cluesman's crew will play a pair of games in the event starting with host Clayton State at 3:30 p.m. before shifting attention to Flagler Saturday in a 1:30 p.m. tip.
A complete list of this year's Preseason All-SAC selections and the Preseason SAC Coaches' Poll may be found below:
First Team
Janiya Downs, Catawba
Blaikley Crooks, Lenoir-Rhyne
Emily Harman, Lenoir-Rhyne
Lindsey Taylor, Carson-Newman
Lyrik Thorne, Catawba
Braelyn Wykle, Carson-Newman
Second Team
Hannah Clark, Wingate
Emily Hege, Wingate
Diamond McDowell, Anderson
Sara McIntosh, Catawba
Alexa Smiddy, Lincoln Memorial
Caitlyn Ross, UVA Wise
Third Team
Lauren Flowers, Lincoln Memorial
Kalisha Hill, Limestone
Kristynn Knight, Coker
Campbell Penland, Carson-Newman
Brittney Stafford, Anderson
Breanna Yarber, Emory & Henry
Rank School (First Place Votes) Points
1 Catawba (10) 141
2 Carson-Newman (2) 124
3 Wingate 122
4 Anderson 106
5 Lenoir-Rhyne 105
6 Lincoln Memorial (1) 92
7 Limestone 71
8 Tusculum 63
9 UVA Wise 57
10 Coker 44
11 Newberry 37
12 Mars Hill 29
13 Emory & Henry 23
