University of Tennessee Athletics
October 21, 2008 | Women's Basketball
Oct. 21, 2008
KNOXVILLE, Tenn. - The University of Tennessee Lady Vol basketball team has been picked to finish second in the Southeastern Conference race with 261 points by a vote of conference and national media members. UT sophomore Angie Bjorklund and freshman Shekinna Stricklen were each selected to the All-SEC Second Team.
Vanderbilt was picked to finish first with 273 points, followed by UT, Auburn with 246 points, Georgia with 216 points and LSU rounded out the top-five at 183 points.
"The SEC is always a very tough conference and this year is no exception," said Head Coach Pat Summitt. "I guess the media is excited about the young, talented team we have in Knoxville, too."
Auburn's DeWanna Bonner was tabbed as Player of the Year. Joining her on the All-SEC First Team was Vanderbilt's Christina Wirth, Florida's Marshae Dotson, Georgia's Ashley Housts and Ole Miss' Shawn Goff. Bjorklund, the 2007-08 SEC Freshman of the Year and Stricklen, were joined on the second team by Whitney Boddie of Auburn, Sha Brooks of Florida, Angel Robinson of Georgia and Allison Hightower of LSU.
The Lady Vols will open the 2008-09 season with a pair of exhibition games against Carson-Newman and Love & Basketball on Nov. 6 and 9, respectively. The season officially begins when Coach Summitt and UT raise the 2008 NCAA Championship banner against former Lady Vol Tanya Haave and the San Francisco Dons on Nov. 15 at 1 p.m.
| Preseason Media Poll (First Place Votes) | |
| Vanderbilt (12) | 273 points |
| Tennessee (9) | 261 |
| Auburn | 246 |
| Georgia (4) | 216 |
| LSU | 183 |
| Florida | 174 |
| Kentucky | 129 |
| Ole Miss | 126 |
| Mississippi State | 87 |
| Arkansas | 81 |
| South Carolina | 72 |
| Alabama | 25 |
Player of the Year: DeWanna Bonner, Auburn
All-SEC First Team
DeWanna Bonner, Auburn
Marshae Dotson, Florida
Ashley Housts, Georgia
Shawn Goff, Ole Miss
Christina Wirth, Vanderbilt
All-SEC Second Team
Whitney Boddie, Auburn
Sha Brooks, Florida
Angel Robinson, Georgia
Allison Hightower, LSU
Angie Bjorklund, Tennessee
Shekinna Stricklen, Tennessee
