Lady Tigers Picked To Win SIAC East

BIRMINGHAM, Ala. (Benedict) – Rachel Brownlee of Tuskegee was voted the 2016 Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (SIAC) Preseason Women’s Basketball Player of the Year and Destiny Betts of Benedict was selected as the Preseason Defensive Player of the Year, announced on Thursday during Media Day at Bill Harris Arena in Birmingham, Ala.

The preseason honors and predicted order of finish are voted on by the league’s head coaches and sports information directors.

The Benedict College Lady Tigers, who finished the 2015-16 season ranked No. 10 nationally after advancing to the championship game of the South Region Tournament, were picked to repeat as SIAC East Division champions. Benedict received 65 total votes and seven first-place votes.

Brownlee, a 5-8 senior guard from Whately, Ala., averaged 17.0 points a game last season and returns as the league’s top scorer from the previous season. Last year she scored in double figures in 23 consecutive games to close the season. Brownlee finished in the top 10 in the SIAC in both scoring and rebounding (6.3 rpg). She is one of four players who ranked in the top 20 in both scoring and rebounding in the conference. Brownlee scored 20 or more points nine times, including six times in conference play. She recorded 46 assists and 36 steals during the 2015-16 campaign.

Betts, the reigning SIAC Defensive Player of the Year, averaged 6.5 rebounds a game last season and was a key member of the 2015-16 SIAC Women’s Basketball Championship team that led the NCAA in field goal percentage defense (31.3) and rebound margin (14.7). The 6-2 senior from Halifax, Va., averaged 7.8 points a game and shot 47.5 percent from the field last year. Betts also recorded four double-doubles last season.

Joining Brownlee and Betts on the 2016 SIAC Women’s Basketball Preseason Team are Logan Powell (Kentucky State), Jamesha Mosely (Kentucky State), Morgan Hardy (Miles), Larian Scott (Miles), Joclyn Ramos (Claflin), Carnique Marks (Claflin), Janisha Wilkerson (Paine), Tashara Jones (Lane), Leah Washington (Spring Hill), and Teresa Mays (LeMoyne-Owen).

Following Benedict, Claflin (58) was picked second and garnered three first place votes. Albany State followed in third with 46 points and one first place vote. Fort Valley (34), Paine (26), and Clark Atlanta (23) rounded out the east division.

Kentucky State led the west division with 68 points and six first place votes. Central State was picked second with 65 points and four first place votes. With 64 points and a pair of first place votes, Miles followed in third. Spring Hill (51) was fourth ahead of LeMoyne-Owen (33), Tuskegee (28), and Lane (26).

2016 SIAC Women’s Basketball Preseason Team

Preseason Player of the Year
Rachel Brownlee, Tuskegee

Preseason Defensive Player of the Year
Destiny Betts, Benedict

* Indicates returner from the 2015-16 SIAC All-Conference Team

Predicted Order of Finish
East
1. Benedict (65) – 7 first place votes
2. Claflin (58) – 3 first place votes
3. Albany State (46) 1 first place vote
4. Fort Valley (34)
5. Paine (26)
6. Clark Atlanta (23)

West
1. Kentucky State (68) – 6 first place votes
2. Central State (65) – 4 first place votes
3, Miles (64) – 2 first place votes
4. Spring Hill (51)
5. LeMoyne-Owen (33)
6. Tuskegee (28)
7. Lane (26)
(Points in parenthesis)