Lady Royals Voted to Finish 6th in Preseason Poll
KNOXVILLE, Tn.- The Lady Royals have been voted to finish 6th in the 2023-24 Appalachian Athletic Conference (AAC) Women's Basketball season, according to the AAC Coaches' Preseason Poll released on Friday.
The poll was voted on by the women's basketball coaches of the AAC.
Bryan and Pikeville both received 183 voting points to tie for the top spot with Bryan receiving seven first-place votes and Pikeville garnering five. Bryan won the 2022-23 regular-season with a 23-1 conference mark, while this is the first year Pikeville is a member of the AAC. Pikeville finished tied for third in the Mid-South Conference last season with a 16-6 league record.
Milligan (169 voting points), Reinhardt (142), and Tennessee Wesleyan (140 voting points) round out the top five. Tennessee Wesleyan received the remaining first-place vote cast.
The top 10 teams in the conference will advance to the 2024 AAC Tournament, which is set for Feb. 28-March 2.
The Lady Royals will look to push for a postseason berth and make some noise in the AAC this season.
The 2023-24 AAC Women's Basketball Preseason Poll
Team - Total Points (1st-Place Votes)
T1. Bryan - 183 (7)
T1. Pikeville - 183 (5)
3. Milligan - 169
4. Reinhardt - 142
5. Tennessee Wesleyan - 140 (1)
T6. Johnson - 116
T6. Montreat - 116
8. Bluefield - 110
9. Kentucky Christian - 85
10. Columbia International - 84
11. Columbia - 76
12. Truett McConnell - 56
13. Brenau - 44
14. Union - 39
15. St. Andrews - 17