AU WOMEN’S HOOPS: Tigers picked eighth in SEC

BIRMINGHAM — The Auburn women’s basketball team was picked to finish eighth in the SEC in the league’s preseason coaches poll, the league announced Thursday.

Junior guard Alli Smalley, the lone returning starter from last year’s team, was named to the Preseason All-SEC Second Team.

“Of all the Auburn teams I have coached, this one has the most energy and hunger, and they are ready to get out there to defend their SEC title this season,” said Auburn head coach Nell Fortner. “We have an unknown group of players, but they are a tremendous group of athletes that I am excited to have the opportunity to coach.”

Tennessee was tabbed as the preseason favorite, picking up 112 points to beat out LSU (111) by one point. Mississippi State followed in third with 100 points, followed by Georgia with 91 and Vanderbilt with 86.

South Carolina rounded out the top half of the league with 56 points, followed by Florida in seventh (55) and Auburn in eighth (51).

Rounding out the league was Arkansas (49), Ole Miss (39), Kentucky (27) and Alabama (13).

Smalley, a native of Arab, was the lone Tiger to appear on the preseason All-SEC team. She led the team in 3-point shooting last season, connecting on 68-of-171 for a 39.8 percentage. She averaged 11.1 points per game, ranking fourth on the team.

The Tigers are set to open their season with an exhibition game against Georgia State College and University at 2 p.m. Nov. 8 in Beard-Eaves-Memorial Coliseum.

The regular season is slated to open on Nov. 13 as the Tigers take on Troy at 6 p.m.