Lubbock Christian was picked atop the Lone Star Conference in the league’s 2019-20 women’s basketball preseason poll announced on Wednesday.
The league’s preseason polls reflect the opinions of the LSC head coaches, sports information directors and various media representatives throughout the region.
Reigning NCAA Division II national champion LCU earned the top spot in the poll picking up 813 total points including 33 of 47 first-place votes. The Lady Chaps finished last season 32-5 and won their second DII national title in four years defeating Southwestern Oklahoma State in a double-overtime thriller.
Reigning LSC champion West Texas A&M was picked to finish second behind the Lady Chaps earning 787 total points and 12 first-place votes. The Lady Buffs went 29-4, claimed their second straight LSC tournament title and advanced to the South Central Regional semifinals in 2018-19.
Angelo State was picked third earning one first-place vote with 733 total points in the poll. The Rambelles finished last season 21-9 and made it to the South Central Regional final before falling to LCU.
Texas A&M-Commerce landed in fourth in the poll with 667 total points after a 20-11 mark and a NCAA Division II Tournament berth in 2018-19.
Tarleton rounded out the top five in the poll earning 659 points in the preseason poll. The Texans were 22-9 in 2018-19 and advanced to their third consecutive NCAA tournament.
Eastern New Mexico landed in sixth in the poll with 617 points. The Greyhounds were 19-11 in 2018-19 and made a second regional appearance in three years.
St. Mary’s (550 points), Midwestern State (456), St. Edward’s (448) and Texas Woman’s (407) rounded out the top 10 in the preseason poll.
West Texas A&M senior Lexy Hightower was named the LSC Preseason Player of the Year earning 34 of the 47 votes.
Hightower led the Lady Buffs in scoring last season averaging 16.2 points per game which ranked second in the LSC. The Amarillo native also led the league in three-point percentage hitting 46.4 percent from beyond the arc. That mark also ranked second in all of Division II.
The LSC division champions will be determined by regular season games within the division, while the postseason tournament winner will be named the LSC Champion and earn the conference’s automatic qualification to the NCAA Division II Tournament. Twelve teams will qualify for the postseason tournament with opening round games on campus followed by the final eight teams at the Comerica Center in Frisco, Texas.
2019-20 LSC Women's Basketball Preseason Poll
| Rank |
Team |
1st |
Total |
| 1 |
Lubbock Christian |
33 |
813 |
| 2 |
West Texas A&M |
14 |
787 |
| 3 |
Angelo State |
1 |
733 |
| 4 |
Texas A&M-Commerce |
2 |
667 |
| 5 |
Tarleton |
2 |
659 |
| 6 |
Eastern New Mexico |
1 |
617 |
| 7 |
St. Mary's |
|
550 |
| 8 |
Midwestern State |
|
456 |
| 9 |
St. Edward's |
|
448 |
| 10 |
Texas Woman's |
|
407 |
| 11 |
UAFS |
1 |
339 |
| 12 |
Oklahoma Christian |
|
301 |
| 13 |
Texas A&M-Kingsville |
|
288 |
| 14 |
Cameron |
|
284 |
| 15 |
Western New Mexico |
|
222 |
| 16 |
UT Permian Basin |
|
172 |
| 17 |
UT Tyler |
|
171 |
| 18 |
Texas A&M International |
|
76 |