HOT SPRINGS, Ark. (10/13/08) ? The Arkansas State Red Wolves finished in a first-place tie with Arkansas-Little Rock in the Sun Belt Conference preseason West Division poll, released Monday afternoon at the SBC Basketball Tip-Off in Hot Springs. The poll is voted on by the 13 head coaches throughout the league. Arkansas State junior guard Veronica Smith was named to the All-Sun Belt Conference first team, while sophomore forward Shay Scott was named third team All-Sun Belt Conference.

“It's exciting and I think it's a great motivator for this team,” said ASU Head Coach Brian Boyer when asked about the preseason poll. “It is a nice reward for our team for their hard work as we get ready to start the season.”

A third-team All-Sun Belt Conference selection a year ago, Smith led ASU in scoring last year, averaging 9.6 points per game and 12.1 points per game in SBC play. As a true freshman, Scott finished the 2007-08 regular season averaging a double-double in SBC play, putting up 10.6 points and 10 rebounds per game. In league play, Scott led the league in offensive rebounding at 4.33 per game and was second overall in rebounding at 9.7 per game.

“Veronica and Shay are both very deserving,” said Boyer. “Based on last year, we were so balanced that it is hard to pick a preseason all-conference team. Certainly Veronica's numbers and the way she improved and played during the conference season last year have allowed her to become recognized. Shay had a great freshman year last year, then made the all-tournament team, so I think they both are natural picks to be preseason all-conference.”

The Red Wolves received eight first-place votes and 83 total points in the poll while UALR finished with 83 points and five first-place votes. ASU and UALR were followed by Louisiana-Monroe, North Texas, New Orleans, Denver, and Louisiana-Lafayette. Middle Tennessee topped the East Division poll with 71 points and six first-place votes, followed by Western Kentucky, South Alabama, Florida International, Troy and Florida Atlantic.

Western Kentucky's Dominique Duck was named the league's Preseason Player of the Year.

Arkansas State returns all five starters, seven of the top eight scorers, and the top five rebounders from last year's 20-win team.

All-Sun Belt Conference First Team

Veronica Smith (Arkansas State, Jr., G)

Anshel Cooper (UALR, Jr., G)

Kim Sitzmann (UALR, Jr., G)

Amber Jackson (North Texas, Sr., F)

Dominique Duck (WKU, Sr., F)

All-Sun Belt Conference Second Team

Monika Bosilj (FIU, Jr., G)

Chelsia Lymon (Middle Tennessee, Jr., G)

Brittany Helm (New Orleans, Jr., G)

Brittney James (North Texas, Jr., G)

Arnika Brown (WKU, So., F)

All-Sun Belt Conference Third Team

Shay Scott (Arkansas State, So., F)

Lottie Moore (ULM, Sr., G)

Shakira Nettles (South Alabama, Jr., G)

Kylie Morrissy (Troy, Sr., G/F)

Kenzie Rich (WKU, Jr., G)

Preseason Coaches Poll

First place votes in parenthesis

West Division

T-1. Arkansas State (8) 83

T-1. UALR (5) 83

3. North Texas 57

4. ULM 50

5. New Orleans 38

6. Denver 34

7. Louisiana-Lafayette 19

East Division

1. Middle Tennessee (6) 71

2. WKU (6) 68

3. South Alabama 48

4. FIU (1) 43

5. Troy 24

6. Florida Atlantic 19