ATLANTA, Ga. (October 25, 2022) – Defending champion Rhodes is a unanimous pick to repeat in 2022-23, topping the Southern Athletic Association women’s basketball preseason poll. Oglethorpe garnered 46 points and came in at No. 2 while Berry with 41 points rounded out the top-three. Just nine points separated the second-through-fifth ranked teams.

The poll was conducted among the SAA’s eight head coaches.

2022-23 SAA Women’s Basketball Preseason Poll
1. Rhodes - 64 pts. (8)
2. Oglethorpe - 46 pts.
3. Berry - 41 pts.
4. BSC - 38 pts.
5. Centre - 37 pts.
6. Millsaps - 32 pts.
7. Hendrix - 21 pts.
8. Sewanee - 9 pts.

The Lynx ran the table in the SAA last season, going 12-0 in league play and winning the conference tournament for a second consecutive season. Rhodes hosted the first round of the NCAA Tournament, falling to East Texas Baptist. The Lynx finished the year ranked No. 25 in the WBCA Division III National Poll. Three all-conference performers return for reigning SAA Coach of the Year Rodney Rogan, highlighted by 2021-22 first teamers Catherine Althoff and A’niya Lagarde.

Oglethorpe is coming off a 10-18 season, finishing sixth in the SAA standings. The Stormy Petrels got hot at the right time last year with a run to the conference tournament championships game. Berry won eight of its last 10 to close the regular season a year ago and finished second in the standings.

The 2022-23 season begins on Tuesday, November 8 with Millsaps, Oglethorpe, and Hendrix opening up on the road. Berry and Birmingham-Southern host the following day while Rhodes, Sewanee and Centre tip off their seasons Nov. 12-13.

Fans can follow the SAA women’s basketball season with live links at SAA-Sports.com