Ragin' Cajuns pull out 12-10 victory over Cowboys

LAFAYETTE — The UL Lafayette women’s basketball team has been picked to finish near the bottom of the Sun Belt Conference.

The SBC released its 2018-19 Coaches’ Preseason Poll and Preseason All-Conference teams on Wednesday. The Ragin’ Cajuns, who went 17-16 overall last season but advanced to the SBC Women’s Tournament semifinals in New Orleans, were selected to finish seventh out of 12 teams by the league’s coaches.

The defending regular season and tournament champion Little Rock edged out Troy to earn the top spot in the preseason poll, followed by Texas State and UT-Arlington who were tied for third. Arkansas State and South Alabama were selected to finish fifth and sixth.

Below UL Lafayette is Coastal Carolina, Appalachian State, Georgia Southern and Georgia State (tied for 10th) and lastly UL Monroe.

Sophomore guard Skyler Goodwin was the lone player from the Ragin’ Cajuns to be named to a preseason team with the Baton Rouge native being selected the preseason third team. Goodwin led the Cajuns in scoring and minutes played last season as she averaged 9.6 points and 32.0 minutes per game. Goodwin also was named to the SBC All-Tournament Team after she averaged 17.7 points, 2.3 steals and 5.7 rebounds during the tournament.

The Ragin’ Cajuns tip off the regular season on Thursday, Nov. 1 with an exhibition contest against LSU-Shreveport. Tip is set for 6:30 p.m. The team will then open up the regular season at home in the Cajundome on Tuesday, Nov. 6 against Lamar. Tip is set for 5 p.m.

 

2018-19 Sun Belt Women’s Basketball Coaches’ Preseason Poll

(first-place votes in parentheses)

1. Little Rock – 133 pts. (8)

2. Troy – 131 pts. (4)

3. Texas State – 97 pts.

3. UTA – 97 pts.

5. Arkansas State – 95 pts.

6. South Alabama – 78 pts.

7. Louisiana – 75 pts.

8. Coastal Carolina – 72 pts.

9. Appalachian State – 67 pts.

10. Georgia Southern – 39 pts.

10. Georgia State – 39 pts.

12. ULM – 13 pts.

 

Preseason All-Sun Belt First Team

Ronjanae DeGray (Little Rock, Forward, Sr.)

Akasha Westbrook (Arkansas State, Guard, RS-Sr.)

Savannah Jones (South Alabama, Guard, RS-So.)

Toshua Leavitt (Texas State, Guard, Sr.)

Kayla Robinson (Troy, Guard, Jr.)

 

Preseason All-Sun Belt Second Team

Bayley Plummer (Appalachian State, Center, Jr.)

Madi Story (Appalachian State, Guard, RS-Sr.)

Naheria Hamilton (Coastal Carolina, Center, Jr.)

Sky’Lynn Holmes (Troy, Forward, Sr.)

Amber Rivers (Troy, Forward, Jr.)

 

Preseason All-Sun Belt Third Team

Arsula Clark (ULM, Guard, So.)

Lapresha Stanley (Appalachian State, Guard, So.)

Tori Lasker (Little Rock, Guard, So.)

Skyler Goodwin (Louisiana, Guard/Forward, So.)

Brooke Holle (Texas State, Guard, Jr.)

 

Preseason Sun Belt Player of the Year

Ronjanae DeGray (Little Rock, Forward, Sr.)