Clayton State women preseason pick in
Peach Belt Conference women’s basketball

Lakers selected conference favorite for the first time in program history

AUGUSTA, Ga. --- OCTOBER 19, 2006 --- For the first time in program history, the Clayton State Lakers have been selected as the preseason favorite to win the 2006-07 Peach Belt Conference women’s basketball championship, based on the preseason poll. The poll, conducted by the conference’s head coaches, was released by the conference on Thursday.

The Lakers garnered five of 11 possible first-place votes and 112 points overall to finish ahead of Georgia College, who was selected second with 107 points. North Georgia was selected third with 89 points, followed by Columbus State in fourth with 82 points. Lander (71), USC-Upstate (69), Armstrong Atlantic (64), Francis Marion (62), USC-Aiken (46), UNC-Pembroke (44), Augusta State (34) and Peach Belt newcomer Georgia Southwestern (12) rounded out the voting.

“We're flattered that the PBC coaches would regard us as highly as they have in this preseason poll,” said Clayton State head coach Dennis Cox, who is 50-13 entering his third season at the Laker helm. “I think this recognition is a tribute to the hard work that so many people have put into bringing recent success to this program.  It's very rewarding to have earned this kind of respect from our fellow coaches in the league, and we will continue to work hard every day to deserve it.”

Clayton State was selected second in last year’s preseason poll, but break through to the top for the first time after finishing 25-6 overall last season and 17-3 in the Peach Belt. In Cox’s two seasons at Clayton State, the Lakers have posted records of 25-7 and 25-6 with the 2004-05 Peach Belt regular season and tournament championship and back-to-back trips to the NCAA Division II National Tournament.

The Lakers return eight veteran players from last season, headlined by senior guard Sharon Wiles, who was an All-Peach Belt selection last season and one of the nation’s leaders in steals with 113. Wiles is one of six seniors on this veteran Clayton State squad with is comprised mostly of junior and seniors.

Four Florida junior college standouts, led by 6-foot-4 center Lynette Jackson, make up the Clayton State recruiting class.

The Lakers open the season on Nov. 2 with an exhibition game at neighboring NCAA Division I Georgia State at 6 p.m. Clayton State opens the regular season at the Sleep Inn Classic at St. Leo on Nov. 17-18.