2012-13 GAC WOMEN'S BASKETBALL PRESEASON POLL (PDF)

MONTICELLO – The University of Arkansas at Monticello women’s basketball team has been picked to finish in a tie for seventh place with East Central University in the second season of the Great American Conference.

The Cotton Blossoms went 11-16 last season overall and posted a sixth place finish in the league with a record of 7-9 against conference opponents. UAM suffered a 74-72 loss to Ouachita Baptist in the opening round of the 2012 GAC Championship Tournament.

Second year Head Coach Tanya Ray returns just three letter winners from last year’s squad and two starters, including the lone senior on the 2012-13 roster, Candace Virgadamo. The Conroe, Texas native led the team with an average of 36.4 minutes per game last season. She totaled 255 points in 27 appearances for an average of 9.4 points per game. She also led the team with 78 assists for an average of nearly three per contest.

Also returning is sophomore Catherine Puckett, who started 19 games last season and averaged 7.7 points and three rebounds per game.

Harding was selected as the preseason favorite after posting an 18-11 record last year. Following the Lady Bisons by just one poll point is defending regular season champion Arkansas Tech, which posted a 22-4 record in the 2011-12 campaign.

In third place is last year’s tournament champion, Southwestern Oklahoma State, followed by Henderson State, Ouachita Baptist, Southeastern Oklahoma State, UAM, East Central and Southern Arkansas.

The Cotton Blossoms open the 2012-13 season on November 5 with an exhibition contest against Arkansas State in Jonesboro. The first countable game of the season is November 13 at home against LeMoyne-Owen College.