Golden Eaglettes tabbed for a fourth-place finish in 2002-2003 OVC race

By TTU Sports Information

October 31, 2002

COOKEVILLE, Tenn.-- Winning a sixth consecutive Ohio Valley Conference championship is not expected of the Tennessee Tech Golden Eaglette basketball team, according to the annual preseason forecast of the league by conference coaches and sports information directors. That 18-person voting panel has tabbed coach Bill Worrell's team for fourth place in 2002-2003, with Austin Peay picked for first place.

The Lady Govs, winners of the OVC tournament title a year ago, received 13 of the 18 first-place votes and 119 points to earn the top spot in the poll, announced Tuesday at the annual OVC Media Day at Gaylord Entertainment Center in Nashville. Eastern Kentucky and Morehead State tied for second in the poll with 104 points each, with EKU getting three first-place nods and Morehead receiving two first-place ballots.

The Golden Eaglettes, who must replace all five starters from a 22-8 team which won its fifth straight regular season crown, garnered 91 points for a solid fourth-place showing in the poll. Southeast Missouri (76 points) is picked for fifth place while Murray State, Eastern Illinois and UT Martin are tied for sixth with 44 points each. Tennessee State received 22 points and is picked last in the nine-team league.

Tech, which enters the year three wins shy of a milestone 700 all-time victories, didn't place a single player on the preseason all-OVC squads.

Austin Peay senior Brooke Armistead was voted the preseason Player of the Year, and was one of two Lady Govs named first-team along with junior center Gerlonda Hardin. Morehead State had two players named first-team in seniors Tasha Gales and Travece Turner. Also named first-team were Pam O'Connor of Eastern Illinois and Lori Chase of Southeast Missouri.

The second-team included Teresa McNair and Katie Kelly of Eastern Kentucky, Rebecca Remington of Murray State, Amy Watson of UT Martin and Kandi Brown of Morehead State.

The Golden Eaglettes open the season Nov. 14 with an exhibition game against Hungary. The regular season begins on Friday, Nov. 22, when East Tennessee State visits Eblen Center for a 7 p.m. contest.

First Team All-Ohio Valley Conference

Brooke Armistead Austin Peay
Tasha Gales Morehead State
Gerlonda Hardin Austin Peay
Travece Turner Morehead State
Lori Chase Southeast Missouri
Pam O'Connor Eastern Illinois

Second Team All-Ohio Valley Conference

Teresa McNair Eastern Kentucky
Katie Kelly Eastern Kentucky
Rebecca Remington Murray State
Amy Watson UT Martin
Kandi Brown Morehead State

The Predicted Order of Finish

1. Austin Peay 13 first place votes 119 points
2. Eastern Kentucky 3 first place votes 104 points
-- Morehead State 2 first place votes 104 points
4. Tennessee Tech -- 91 points
5. Southeast Missouri -- 76 points
6. Eastern Illinois -- 44 points
-- Murray State -- 44 points
-- UT Martin -- 44 points
9. Tennessee State -- 22 points