COLUMBIA, Mo. – Sophomore guard Sophie Cunningham was voted First-Team Preseason All-Southeastern Conference by the league's coaches, it was announced Thursday. Mizzou was also selected to finish seventh in the SEC.
Each coach in the league voted for an All-SEC first-team, a second-team and Player of the Year. This is Cunningham's first career Preseason SEC honor. Cunningham became Mizzou's first SEC Freshman of the Year in program history after a stellar 2015-16 campaign in which she started all 32 games and averaged a team-high 14.0 points per game.
Cunningham set an SEC record with six Freshman of the Week awards. She reached double figures 21 times and scored 20 points or more in a game on 10 different occasions on her way to steering the Tigers to their first NCAA Tournament appearance since 2006 and first NCAA Tournament victory since 2001.
Mizzou wraps up exhibition play against Truman State on Monday, Nov. 7. The Tigers officially open the regular season on Friday, Nov. 11 in the opening round of the Preseason WNIT. Tip times for both contests are slated for 7 p.m.
For all the latest on Mizzou Women's Basketball, stay tuned to MUTigers.com and follow the team on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook.
2016-17 SEC Preseason Coaches' Poll
1. South Carolina
2. Mississippi State
3. Tennessee
4. Florida
5. Kentucky
6. Auburn
7. Mizzou
8. Texas A&M
9. Vanderbilt
10. Arkansas
11. LSU
12. Georgia
13. Alabama
14. Ole Miss
Player of the Year
A'ja Wilson, South Carolina
First Team All-SEC
Jessica Jackson, Arkansas
Ronni Williams, Florida
Makayla Epps, Kentucky
Victoria Vivians, Mississippi State
Sophie Cunningham, Missouri
A'ja Wilson, South Carolina
Alaina Coates, South Carolina
Diamond DeShields, Tennessee
Second Team All-SEC
Brandy Montgomery, Auburn
Eleanna Christinaki, Florida
Shandricka Sessom, Ole Miss
Dominique Dillingham, Mississippi State
Morgan William, Mississippi State
Mercedes Russell, Tennessee
Marqu'es Webb, Vanderbilt