The Florida Atlantic women's basketball team was picked to finish 4th in the Eastern Division by the Sun Belt Conference coaches in the preseason poll released today. The Owls finished 5th in the Eastern Division last season with a 9-9 conference record.

Middle Tennessee, last year's regular season and conference tournament champion, was picked first in the East garnering 11.5 out of 13 first place votes. The Owls will face the Blue Raiders twice this season, once in Murfreesboro, TN on January 16 and then once at home on February 27 in FAU's regular season finale. That final game against Middle Tennessee will be televised on the Sun Belt Network and will be the Owls only televised regular season game this season.

"Being picked fourth is an honor for our program," said head coach Chancellor Dugan. "We've come a long way in three short years in the Sun Belt and we are looking forward to making a statement in the league this year." Also earning preseason honors for FAU was senior guard Brittany Bowe, who was selected to the third team all conference. Bowe averaged 10.9 points per game last year and led the team in assists per game (3.7) and steals per game (2.11). The Ocala, FL started all 29 games for FAU in 2008-09.

Bowe's selection to the third team marks the first Owl to be selected to a Sun Belt Preseason All-Conference Team in school history. The Owls have had a player selected to the post-season all conference team back in the 2007-08 season when Carla Stubbs was also selected to the third team. Stubbs led FAU last season with 11.7 points per game and is one of seven seniors, along with Bowe, that will be returning this year for the Owls.

"Having Brittany on the third team is a testament to where our program is," Dugan said. "However I know that she would trade the individual honor for our team to get better and make the jump that we want to make in this league. She's a team player and our goal as a team this year is to improve everyday and she's a big part of that."

The Owls will begin their fourth season in Sun Belt Conference play and their 11th under head coach Chancellor Dugan on November 13 against Webber International at FAU Arena in Boca Raton.

"We're really excited to open up the season," said Dugan. "We've got a lot of veterans on the team that got a little taste of success last year and are hungry for more."

Source: FAU Media Relations



SUN BELT PRESEASON ALL-CONFERENCE TEAMS

PRESEASON PLAYER-OF-THE-YEAR: Alysha Clark (Middle Tennessee, R-Sr., F)

First Team
Chastity Reed (UALR, Jr., F)
Brandi Brown (Middle Tennessee, Sr., F)
Alysha Clark (Middle Tennessee, R-Sr., F)
Shakira Nettles (South Alabama, Sr., G)
Arnika Brown (WKU, Sr., F)

Second Team
Kim Sitzmann (UALR, Sr., G)
Monika Bosilj (FIU, Sr., G)
Chelsia Lymon (Middle Tennessee, Sr., G)
Kaetlyn Murdoch (Denver, So., F)
Dominique Duck (WKU, Sr., F)

Third Team
Ebonie Jefferson (Arkansas State, Sr., G)
Brittany Bowe (Florida Atlantic, Sr., G)
Brittany Helm (New Orleans, Sr. G)
Brittney James (North Texas, Sr., G)
Kenzie Rich (WKU, Sr., G)

SUN BELT CONFERENCE PRESEASON COACHES' POLL


East Division Points
Middle Tennessee State (11.5) 76.5
Western Kentucky (1) 62
South Alabama 48
Florida Atlantic (0.5) 38.5
FIU 26
Troy 22

West Division Points
Arkansas-Little Rock (13) 90
Denver 73
Arkansas St. 66
New Orleans 43
North Texas 43
Louisiana-Monroe 34
Louisiana-Lafayette 15