NEW ORLEANS – University of South Alabama women's basketball player Ronneka Robertson was rewarded for her strong play last season as the senior forward earned preseason second-team all-conference honors as announced by the Sun Belt Conference office Tuesday morning. The honor is the first for Robertson. The three-team, 15-member all-conference squad was chosen by coaches from around the rest of the league.
Robertson enters the 2013-14 season after having her best year in a South Alabama uniform a year ago. As a junior, Robertson started 20 of the 30 games in which she competed, and averaged 4.6 points and 7.2 rebounds per game – both career best.
The Kentwood, La., native ranked seventh in the Sun Belt in rebounding, seventh in defensive rebounding (4.6) and ninth in offensive rebounding (2.6) during the 2012-13 season. She ranks third in the conference in rebounding among returning players.
Robertson led South Alabama in rebounding 17 times last season and posted double-figure tallies on six occasions, twice pulling down 11 rebounds. She also shot 45.9 percent from the field, connecting on 51 of her 111 shot attempts, and had 27 assists, 20 steals and two blocks a year ago.
Robertson recorded the game-winning put back at Troy (3/2) with 4.9 seconds remaining in regular-season finale on the road at Troy.
Western Kentucky's Alexis Govan was selected as the preseason player of the year, while the Lady Toppers also led all teams with three selections – Govan and Chastity Gooch (First Team) and Bianca McGee (Third Team). Arkansas-Little Rock, Arkansas State, Louisiana-Monroe and Troy each had two all-conference selections as well.
Arkansas-Little Rock edged out WKU as the early favorite to win the conference title. The Trojans received 95 points and six first-place votes, while the Lady Toppers had 92 points and four first-place votes. South Alabama tied with Louisiana-Monroe for fifth in the preseason poll with 46 points.
South Alabama head coach Terry Fowler is scheduled to speak via teleconference to members of the media from around the league next week on Tuesday (Nov. 5) at 10:50 a.m. as part of the league's annual Media Day event.
2013-14 Sun Belt Conference Women's Basketball Coaches Preseason Poll
(first place votes)
1. Arkansas-Little Rock (6) - 95 points
2. Western Kentucky (4) - 92 points
3. Arkansas State - 82 points
4. Troy - 52 points
T5. South Alabama - 46 points
T5. Louisiana-Monroe - 46 points
7. Louisiana-Lafayette - 43 points
8. Georgia State - 41 points
9. Texas State - 39 points
10. Texas-Arlington - 14 points
Sun Belt Women's Basketball Preseason All-Conference First Team
Taylor Ford (Arkansas-Little Rock, Sr., G)
Taylor Gault (Arkansas-Little Rock, Jr., G)
Chastity Gooch (Western Kentucky, Jr., F)
Alexis Govan (Western Kentucky, Jr., G/F)
Jane Morrill (Arkansas State, Sr., F)
Sun Belt Women's Basketball Preseason All-Conference Second Team
Ashley Ezeh (Texas State, Sr., C)
Joanna Harden (Troy, Sr., G)
Ronneka Robertson (South Alabama, Sr., F)
Ashleigh Simmons (Louisiana -Monroe, Sr., F)
Keke Veal (Louisiana -Lafayette, So., G)
Sun Belt Women's Basketball Preseason All-Conference Third Team
Ashley Beverly-Kelley (Troy, So., G)
Kendra Long (Georgia State, Sr., G)
Bianca McGee (Western Kentucky, Sr., G)
Jalen O'Bannon (Arkansas State, So., F)
Alexar Tugler (Louisiana -Monroe, Sr., G)
Sun Belt Conference Women's Basketball Preseason Player of the Year
Alexis Govan (Western Kentucky, Jr., G/F)
For more information about South Alabama athletics, check back with www.usajaguars.com, and follow the Jaguars at www.twitter.com/USAJaguarSports. Season tickets for all Jaguar athletic events can be purchased by calling (251) 461-1USA (1872).
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