ROCK HILL, S.C. --- The Tusculum University women's basketball team has been picked to finish fourth in the South Atlantic Conference preseason coaches poll, which was released Wednesday.

The Pioneers return four starters from last year's team, which finished 16-11 overall and in sixth place in the SAC with an 11-9 conference record. Tusculum improved 9 1/2 games from its 2016-17 record, and earned a SAC Championship tournament berth for the first time since 2013.

Defending SAC champion Carson-Newman (32-3, 18-2 SAC) earned 10 of 11 first-place votes and took the top spot in the poll with 110 points. Wingate (26-6, 17-3 SAC) had the other first-place vote and was second with 99 points, followed by Anderson (20-11, 13-7 SAC) at 88 points and Tusculum with 79 points.

Lincoln Memorial (18-11, 12-8 SAC) took fifth in the poll with 77 points, with Newberry (16-12, 11-9 SAC) in sixth with 61 points. Lenoir-Rhyne (15-14, 9-11 SAC) was seventh with 56 points, trailed by Catawba (14-14, 12-8 SAC) with 54 points in eighth place.

The rest of the poll consists of Coker (8-18, 5-15 SAC) in ninth place with 37 points, Queens (4-22, 1-19 SAC) in 10th with 34 points and Mars Hill (2-26, 1-19 SAC) with 20 points for 11th place.

The Pioneers will open their 2018-19 season on Friday, Nov. 9 at Belmont Abbey beginning at 7:30 p.m. as part of the SAC/Conference Carolinas Challenge. The first home game will be Monday, Nov. 19 against Virginia State at 5:30 p.m. at Pioneer Arena.

2018-19 South Atlantic Conference
Women's Basketball Preseason Coaches Poll
Rk Team (1st), Pts
1. Carson-Newman (10), 110
2. Wingate (1), 99
3. Anderson, 88
4. TUSCULUM, 79
5. Lincoln Memorial, 77
6. Newberry, 61
7. Lenoir-Rhyne, 56
8. Catawba, 54
9. Coker, 37
10.Queens, 34
11.Mars Hill, 20