SWAC champs picked to repeat

BIRMINGHAM, Ala. — Southern was predicted to win the 2011 Southwestern Athletic Conference women’s basketball title in voting from the league’s coaches and sports information directors.
However, head coach Sandy Pugh said during Wednesday’s SWAC conference call that she is not putting too much stock into preseason predictions.
“At practice, we won’t talk about first-place votes. We’re going to talk about getting ready for the University of Iowa (in the season opener Nov. 12),” Pugh said. “That’s just how we are and how we do things at Southern.”
The Southern women’s basketball team returns 10 players after going 23-9 and winning both the 2010 SWAC regular season and tournament championships last year.  They earned 19 of 20 first-place votes.
“I’m sure that’s probably why we got the nod,” Pugh said. “It is what it is, and one way or the other we have to go out and compete hard. All it did was put a tag on our backs.”
Southern tops the order of finish with 199 points, with Prairie View (151), Alabama A&M (142), Grambling State (134) and Texas Southern (117) rounding out the top half of the league.  Alabama State (108), Alcorn State (88), Mississippi Valley State (70) and Arkansas-Pine Bluff (64) were next while Jackson State (31) rounds out the predicted order of finish.
“I think this league is going to be extremely tough and difficult,” Pugh said. “I was really surprised at how some of the schools landed (in the preseason polls). I just think that shows the parity of the league. We’ve got our hands full if we are going to repeat. I’m looking forward to the challenge.”
Prairie View’s Dominique Smith was picked as SWAC preseason player of the year. Smith, a senior guard who was also named to the preseason first-team, averaged 13.8 points, 3.8 rebounds and 2.2 steals per game last season.  She garnered All-SWAC second team honors in 2010 for her efforts.
Southern’s Freda Allen was named preseason defensive player of the year. Allen joins Smith on the preseason first team after leading the team in rebounds (5.7 rpg) and blocked shots (34).
“She’s the heart and soul of this team,” Pugh said. “She’s our toughness meter. I tell her all the time I have the utmost respect for her. I’m looking forward to a great senior year from her.”
Joining Smith and Allen on the preseason All-SWAC first team are Southern’s Hannah Kador, Alabama State’s Tanika Jackson and Texas Southern’s Gabrielle Rosiji.  Second team consists of Alcorn State’s Kiara Ruffin, Alabama A&M’s Whiquitta Tobar and Gabrielle Williams, Grambling State’s Secrett Anderson and Arkansas-Pine Bluff’s Jasmine Abrams.