LSU, Tennessee expected to challenge again in SEC

HUNTINGTON -- LSU won last season's Southeastern Conference women's regular-season championship, but Tennessee did the Tigers one better.

Tennessee rolled to the SEC tournament crown on its way to head coach Pat Summitt getting her eighth national championship. But, this season Summitt has the youngest and most inexperienced squad in her 35 years at the helm of the winningest program in college history.

Expect both teams to challenge again.

Following is an SEC breakdown based on the 2008 finish:

LSU (31-6, 14-0)

Head coach Van Chancellor and the Tigers are gunning for their fifth consecutive NCAA Final Four appearance with all five starters back including Kodak All-American Sylvia Fowles, a 6-foot-6 senior who averaged 16.9 points, 12.6 rebounds and 2.1 assists for the SEC regular-season champions.

Senior guard Quianna Chaney scored 11.8 points a game. Guard Allison Hightower (6.2 ppg) was on the SEC All-Freshman Team.

Tennessee (36-2, 13-1)

A young, inexperienced team takes the court for the defending national champions.

Sophomore guard Angie Bjorklund (8.4 ppg) was the 2008 SEC Rookie of the Year and one of this preseason's all-conference second team selections.

Shekinna Stricklen, a 6-2 freshman, was a preseason all-conference second team pick before playing in a game.

Six-foot-six freshman Kelley Cain is one of the tallest Vols ever.

Vanderbuilt (25-9, 11-3)

The Commodores are coming off their 13th trip to the NCAA tournament and open as the media pick to win the conference championship.

Christina Wirth received one vote for preseason player of the year. The 6-1 senior has started 67 consecutive games. She averaged 12.1 points and 5.0 rebounds while shooting 47.3 percent from the field.

Senior guards Jennifer Risper (9.5 ppg) and Meridth Marsh (9.0 ppg) also return.

Kentucky (17-16, 8-6)

Senior point guard Carly Ormerod has averaged 8.8 points, 3.2 rebounds and 3.0 assists during her career. She averaged five points last season when she missed 17 games injured.

Amber Smith is a sophomore guard who averaged 6.7 points, 3.4 rebounds and 2.8 assists.

Georgia (23-10, 8-6)

Junior guard Ashley Houts is an All-SEC player. Houts led the SEC in minutes per game (36.6) and scored 11.7 points per contest.

Sophomore guard Angela Puleo (8.2 ppg) and 6-5 junior Angel Robinson (9.9 ppg, 8.4 rpg) are returning starters.

Auburn (20-12, 7-7)

DeWanna Bonner was a landslide choice in media voting for preseason SEC player of the year.

Bonner, a 6-4 senior, earned All-American honorable mention honors when she averaged 18.4 points and 10.0 rebounds per game.

Other returning starters are 5-11 senior guard Sherell Hobbs (13.1 ppg, 5.7 rpg), sophomore guard Alli Smalley (10.7 ppg) and senior guard Whitney Boddie (10.6 ppg).

Florida (19-14, 6-8)

Marshae Dotson, a 5-11 senior, is a returning all-conference player for the Gators. Dotson averaged 13.1 points and 7.9 rebounds while making 53.1 percent of her shots. She has career totals of 1,082 points and 634 rebounds.

Sha Brooks (12.3 ppg) is a senior guard on the preseason all-conference second team who has started 91 consecutive games. She is also in the Gators 1,000-point club.

Mississippi (13-16, 6-8)

Shawn Goff for the Rebels, a 6-3 senior, is one of the leading shot blockers in the nation (2.3 per game). She also put up 13.0 points and pulled down 6.8 rebounds.

Alliesha Easley, a sophomore guard, also scored 13.0 per game. Junior guard Shantell Black averaged 9.3 points.

Mississippi State (16-15, 4-10)

Junior guards Alexis Rack (11.5 ppg) and Tysheka Grimes (11.0 ppg) and senior guard Marneshia Richard (9.8) were the scoring leaders last season.

the 6-foot Grimes led the Rebels with 6.6 rebounds a game. Richard has 335 career assists and 174 career steals.

South Carolina (16-16, 4-10)

Three-time Olympic gold medalist Dawn Staley is the new head coach of the Gamecocks, after going 172-80 in eight seasons at Temple.

Six-foot-four senior Demetress Adams was second on last season's team in scoring (10.9) and first in rebounding (8.9) with 55 blocked shots and 65 steals. Senior guard Brionna Dickerson scored 10.4 points.

Arkansas (17-13, 2-12)

Head coach Tom Collen is hoping for better things after injuries left the Razorbacks with only eight healthy scholarship players at the end of the season.

Seniors Ayana Brereton (11.5 ppg) and Whitney Jones (10.6 ppg, 7.0 rpg) along with junior Charity Ford (8.0 ppg) lead the returning players.

Alabama (8-22, 1-13)

Tierney Jenkins (11.8 ppg) is the only returning player who scored in double figures. The 6-foot sophomore also had 6.7 rebounds a game.

Talisha Chandler, a 6-2 junior, averaged 6.3 points and 7.2 rebounds.