The Howard Payne and Louisiana College women’s basketball teams have been predicted to win the American Southwest Conference West and East Division titles, respectively, after a vote of each division’s head coaches, sports information directors and media members, the conference office announced on Thursday (Oct. 20). HPU’s Brittany Roberson and Ozarks’ Sabrina Goddard earned 2011-12 preseason player of the year honors.
?Defending ASC champion Howard Payne (22-8, 15-6 ASC) totaled 184 points and picked up 18 of the possible 24 first-place votes to be the West Division favorites in the annual poll. Head coach Joshua Prock’s Lady Jackets also shared the division title with Hardin-Simmons last year and advanced to the second round of the NCAA Division III Women’s Basketball Championship. HPU has won one national title (2008), five conference titles (also 2005 and 2007-2009) and three division crowns (also 2007-2008) in program history.
Seven-time conference champion Hardin-Simmons (19-7, 15-6 ASC) was predicted to finish in second place in the West with 144 points and two first-place votes. The Cowgirls have also won eight division crowns. 2006 ASC champion McMurry (16-10, 14-7 ASC) was the third-place pick with 139 points and two first-place votes. Concordia Texas (14-10, 13-8 ASC) garnered 124 points and the final two first-place votes to round out what would be the division’s four teams to qualify for the ASC Championship Tournament. Mary Hardin-Baylor (119 pts.) was picked to finish fifth, followed by Texas Lutheran (69 pts.), Schreiner (58 pts.) and Sul Ross State (27 pts.).
Louisiana College (25-4, 18-2 ASC) totaled 125 points and seven of the possible 21 first-place votes to be the favorites in the East Division. Head coach Jason Tinsley’s Lady Wildcats won their second straight division crown, reached the conference title game and advanced to the second round of the NCAA tournament last season. LC, which hoisted the ASC title trophy on its home floor in 2010, also led the league in scoring (77.9 points per game) and turnover margin (+8.97).
Texas-Dallas (21-6, 16-4 ASC) was predicted for a second place finish in the East by totaling just one point less than LC and garnering the most first-place votes with 10. The Comets led the division in defense last year, allowing only 57.6 points per game. Mississippi College (17-9, 12-8 ASC) landed in the third-place spot with 111 points and one first-place vote. Ozarks (14-12, 10-10 ASC) totaled 83 points and picked up the final three first-place votes to round out what would be the division’s four ASC tournament teams. Texas-Tyler (71 pts.) was predicted to finish fifth, followed by East Texas Baptist (45 pts.) and LeTourneau (29 pts.). First-year league member Centenary will compete in the East Division but is ineligible for the conference and division title as it continues to phase out its athletic scholarships. The Ladies’ games will not count toward conference standings.
Roberson (Lone Star, TX / Temple College), a 5-foot-5 senior point guard, was named ASC West Division Preseason Player of the Year. She averaged 14.4 points, 4.9 rebounds and a division-high 3.7 assists per game in 2010-11. Roberson also shot 50.7 percent from the field to guide conference and division titles. She was named Most Valuable Player of the conference tournament.
Goddard (Stroud, OK / SHS), a 6-foot-1 senior center, was named ASC East Division Preseason Player of the Year. She averaged 15.4 points, 7.9 rebounds and a division-high 2.8 blocked shots per game last season. Goddard also led the Lady Eagles to their first winning season since 2001-02 and back to the ASC tournament after a three-year absence.
Roberson was a first-team all-division pick in 2010-11 as well as a member of the five-player ASC All-Conference Team. Goddard was a second-team all-division selection.
The 2011-12 season – the 16th in league history – begins as early as November 15. The three-day, eight-team, single-elimination conference tournament is slated for February 24-26 at the site of the East Division’s top seed and an automatic berth into the NCAA Division III Women’s Basketball Championship will be on the line.
2011-12 ASC PRESEASON WOMEN’S BASKETBALL POLL
[Voted on by ASC Head Coaches, Sports Information Directors and Media Members]
WEST DIVISION
Team (first-place votes) Points 2010-11 Record
1. Howard Payne (18) 184 22-8, 15-6 ASC (T1st)
2. Hardin-Simmons (2) 144 19-7, 15-6 ASC (T1st)
3. McMurry (2) 139 16-10, 14-7 ASC (3rd)
4. Concordia Texas (2) 124 14-10, 13-8 ASC (T4th)
5. Mary Hardin-Baylor 119 16-10, 13-8 ASC (T4th)
6. Texas Lutheran 69 8-17, 7-14 ASC (6th)
7. Schreiner 58 5-20, 3-18 ASC (7th)
8. Sul Ross State 27 1-24, 1-20 ASC (8th)
EAST DIVISION
Team (first-place votes) Points 2010-11 Record
1. Louisiana College (7) 125 25-4, 18-2 ASC (1st)
2. Texas-Dallas (10) 124 21-6, 16-4 ASC (2nd)
3. Mississippi College (1) 111 17-9, 12-8 ASC (3rd)
4. Ozarks (3) 83 14-12, 10-10 ASC (4th)
5. Texas-Tyler 71 11-14, 9-11 ASC (5th)
6. East Texas Baptist 45 9-15, 7-13 ASC (6th)
7. LeTourneau 29 2-23, 1-19 ASC (7th)
*Centenary 1-24, 1-17 Summit League (10th)
*Ineligible for the conference and division title as it continues to phase out its athletic scholarships.
2011-12 ASC PRESEASON WOMEN’S BASKETBALL PLAYERS OF THE YEAR
WEST DIVISION: Brittany Roberson, PG, Sr., Howard Payne
EAST DIVISION: Sabrina Goddard, C, Sr., Ozarks
