Catawba women's basketball is leading the pack as the top contender for the 2023-24 South Atlantic Conference Women's Basketball Championship, according to the votes of the league's head coaches. With an impressive 10 first-place votes and a total of 141 points in the poll, the Catawba Indians are clearly in the spotlight.

In the previous season, the Catawba Indians made history, finishing the 2022-23 season at No. 6 with a remarkable program record of 29 wins. They clinched their first regional title, made their inaugural appearance in a regional final, and advanced to both the Elite Eight and Final Four. Notably, they also matched the program's longest home winning streak at 20 games. Their outstanding performance translated into an overall record of 29-6, including an impressive 16-2 record in conference play.

2023-24 SAC Women’s Basketball Preseason Poll

Rank School (First Place Votes) Points

1 Catawba (10) 141

2 Carson-Newman (2) 124

3 Wingate 122

4 Anderson 106

5 Lenoir-Rhyne 105

6 Lincoln Memorial (1) 92

7 Limestone 71

8 Tusculum 63

9 UVA Wise 57

10 Coker 44

11 Newberry 37

12 Mars Hill 29

13 Emory & Henry 23

2023-24 South Atlantic Conference Women’s Basketball Preseason All-Conference

First Team

Janiya Downs, Catawba

Blaikley Crooks, Lenoir-Rhyne

Emily Harman, Lenoir-Rhyne

Lindsey Taylor, Carson-Newman

Lyrik Thorne, Catawba

Braelyn Wykle, Carson-Newman

Second Team

Hannah Clark, Wingate

Emily Hege, Wingate

Diamond McDowell, Anderson

Sara McIntosh, Catawba

Alexa Smiddy, Lincoln Memorial

Caitlyn Ross, Virginia-Wise

Third Team

Lauren Flowers, Lincoln Memorial

Kalisha Hill, Limestone

Kristynn Knight, Coker

Campbell Penland, Carson-Newman

Brittney Stafford, Anderson

Breanna Yarber, Emory & Henry