Mizzou Women’s Basketball’s Smith Named to Preseason All-SEC First Team
10/29/2019 10:05:00 AM | Women's Basketball
Mizzou selected to finish ninth in the SEC Preseason Coaches Poll
COLUMBIA, Mo. – Mizzou Women's Basketball was selected to finish ninth in the Southeastern Conference Tuesday by the league's coaches, as the league office announced its 2019-20 SEC Preseason Coaches' Poll. Senior guard Amber Smith (Shreveport, La.) garnered All-SEC Preseason honors for the second consecutive season, as she was named to the Preseason All-SEC First Team.
The league's coaches picked Texas A&M to win the conference, followed by South Carolina, Mississippi State, Kentucky, Arkansas, LSU and Tennessee in the top half of the poll. In the second half of the poll was Auburn at eighth and Mizzou at ninth. Mizzou was one of seven SEC programs to make the NCAA Tournament last season.
Smith has improved in each season at Mizzou, as she averaged 12.4 points and 6.9 rebounds per game, while recording 28 blocks and 31 steals in 2018-19, all career-highs. Smith posted eight double-doubles on the season, as she became the fourth Mizzou player since 2010 (fifth occurrence) to record at eight or more double-doubles in a season. Mizzou is an impressive 30-8 in Smith's career when she scores in double figures.
Smith was a 2018-19 All-SEC Preseason Second Team selection by the league's coaches, and was named the 2016-17 SEC Co-Freshman of the Year.
Last season, Mizzou earned its fourth consecutive NCAA Tournament berth of the first time since 1983-86. Head Coach Robin Pingeton notched her 150th win at Mizzou and her 500th career victory, as the Tigers went 24-11 overall and 10-6 in conference play. Mizzou has played especially well at home for the last four seasons, as the Tigers are 52-9 at Mizzou Arena since 2015-16, including a 7-1 mark in SEC games in 2018-19.
For all the latest on Mizzou Women's Basketball, stay tuned to MUTigers.com and follow the team @MizzouWBB (Twitter, Instagram, Facebook).
PRESEASON COACHES POLL
Order of Finish
1. Texas A&M
2. South Carolina
3. Mississippi State
4. Kentucky
5. Arkansas
6. LSU
7. Tennessee
8. Auburn
9. Mizzou
10. Georgia
11. Alabama
12. Vanderbilt
13. Ole Miss
14. Florida
Player of the Year
Chennedy Carter, Texas A&M
First Team All-SEC
Chelsea Dungee, Arkansas
Rhyne Howard, Kentucky
Ayana Mitchell, LSU
Jordan Danberry, Mississippi State
Amber Smith, Mizzou
Tyasha Harris, South Carolina
Rennia Davis, Tennessee
Chennedy Carter, Texas A&M
Second Team All-SEC
Cierra Johnson, Alabama
Daisa Alexander, Auburn
Unique Thompson, Auburn
Gabby Connally, Georgia
Chloe Bibby, Mississippi State
Mikaiah Herbert Harrigan, South Carolina
Ciera Johnson, Texas A&M
Kayla Wells, Texas A&M
Mariella Fasoula, Vanderbilt
