TENNESSEE TECH PICKED TO WIN TIGHT RACE; FOUR TEAMS EXPECTED TO BE IN THE RUNNING

Tennessee Tech is favored to win the Ohio Valley Conference women's basketball title this season -- but several other teams figure to be in the hunt.

In one of the closest votings in recent history, four teams earned first-place votes in preseason balloting by the league's head coaches and sports information directors.

Tennessee Tech, which earned a share of its 11th regular-season crown last year, nabbed nine first-place votes and 147 points to claim the top spot.

Close behind Tech was defending OVC Tournament champion Middle Tennessee, with four first-place votes and 142 points.

Tennessee-Martin, last year's tourney runnerup, also grabbed four first-place votes to come in third with 133 points.

Eastern Kentucky, last year's other regular-season co-champion, nabbed the last three first-place votes to finish fourth with 119 points.

Tennessee State was ranked fifth, followed by Austin Peay, Eastern Illinois, Southeast Missouri, Murray State and Morehead State.

Following is a brief look at the OVC squads, in the order of how they were picked to finish. Last year's overall and conference records are in parentheses.

Tennessee Tech (22-7, 15-13)

With eight returning letterwinners, including four starters, it's no wonder coach Bill Worrell's squad is picked to win another OVC title.

Center Diane Seng (17.7 ppg), last year's OVC Female Athlete of the Year, led the league in field-goal shooting a year ago at 62.5 percent.

Also back up front is part-time starting center Collin Carmichael (8.0 ppg, 6.8 rpg), along with starting forwards Amber Clark (12.5 ppg, 5.3 rpg) and Andrea Baldwin (7.6 ppg, 4.2 rpg).

Forward Leah Bird (6.1 ppg) also saw plenty of action last season.

Returning at guard are Rachael Gobble (4.1 ppg) and Ann Parks (5.8 ppg).

"As far as being picked (to win the league), we have an opportunity to be successful and that's all it is, an opportunity," said Worrell. "We're not taking anything for granted."

Middle Tennessee (18-12, 11-7)

Coach Stephany Smith welcomes back eight letterwinners, including three starters, from a team that was seeded fourth but won its sixth OVC Tournament title.

Anchoring the front line are OVC tourney MVP Bama Burrell (11.8 ppg, 6.1 rpg) at forward and center Jonelda Buck (7.2 ppg, 4.0 rpg).

Four-year starter Cortney Neeley (9.3 ppg) will lead the backcourt, where she'll be joined by Kelly Chastain (9.1 ppg) and Carlita Elder (9.7 ppg).

"We have a lot of seniors, a lot of returning experience," said Smith. "But there is so much parity in this league."

Tennessee-Martin (18-11, 13-5)

The Skyhawks were the surprise of the league last year as they posted their most successful season ever since moving to Division I.

Co-coaches Gary and Kim Van Atta were named OVC Coaches of the Year as UTM was the conference tourney runnerup after being picked to finish eighth in the league.

UTM returns eight letterwinners, including all five starters, led by all-OVC point guard Tessa Fields (14.4 ppg), who led the league in assists (5.8 apg) and steals (3.5 spg). Also in the backcourt is Nichole Lockridge (13.3 ppg).

Back up front are centers Zabrina Harris (12.4 ppg, 5.1 rpg) and Chastity Bohannan (8.4 ppg, 5.7 rpg), along with forwards Jody Miller (6.1 ppg, 4.8 rpg) and Beth Wheeler (3.6 ppg).

"We've come a long way in two years at Tennessee-Martin," said Gary Van Atta. "To go from 10th in the (preseason) poll two years ago, to eighth last year, now to third...it's exciting. But we know it's going to be tough."

Eastern Kentucky (20-8, 15-3)

Coach Larry Joe Inman's squad lost OVC Player of the Year Chrissy Roberts, along with standout Laphelia Doss, but 11 letterwinners return to make the Lady Colonels title contenders.

Inman will be counting on several players who were key contributors last season, including guard Marla Gearhart (10.3 ppg) and forwards Charlotte Sizemore (8.9 ppg), Shannon Browning (5.8 ppg) and Jennifer King (3.6 ppg, 4.1 rpg).

Gearhart's 40.5 shooting percentage from 3-point range makes her the league's top returning 3-point threat.

Seven other returnees all saw limited action last season.

"We lost some great players, but you have to move forward," Inman said. "We're so young. Out of our 15 players, 11 are freshmen and sophomores. I have no idea how good we'll be."

Tennessee State (13-14, 7-11)

The Lady Tigers of coach Teresa Lawrence Phillips will hope to duplicate the first half of last season but not the second.

TSU posted an 11-3 mark in its first 14 contests a year ago but won just two more games the rest of the way.

Eight letterwinners, including three starters, are back to try and make sure that second-half collapse doesn't repeat itself.

Leading the way are guard Cari Hassell (14.1 ppg), a second-team all-OVC pick last year, forward Schronda Moore (14.7 ppg) and center Tamara Washington (9.7 ppg, 5.9 rpg).

Also back are guard Angela Hassell (7.6 ppg), center April Bennett (4.6 ppg) and forward K.K. Brunson (3.1 ppg, 6.0 rpg).

"I feel good about our team, but there is so much parity in our league," said Phillips.

Austin Peay (11-16, 6-12)

Coach Susie Gardner has plenty of question marks as the Lady Governors enter the season.

A host of newcomers will join four returnees in search of some answers.

Heading up the list of returnees is guard Angelica Suffren (13.4 ppg, 6.8 rpg), one of the OVC's better female athletes.

Others back from last year are forwards Rhonda Neely (6.8 ppg), Julie Virta (6.2 ppg) and Tiffany McCarley (2.3 ppg). However, Neely is not expected to play until at least December after suffering a knee injury in the offseason.

Several newcomers will be expected to fill starting spots.

Eastern Illinois (12-15, 10-8)

Only one full-time starter returns for coach John Klein's Lady Panthers, who led the conference at last year's halfway point before struggling down the stretch.

The key player for EIU figures to be center Leah Aldrich (14.9 ppg, 7.3 rpg), a second-team all-OVC pick last season.

Seven other letterwinners return, including forwards Kate Atkinson (4.4 ppg) and Amanda Garretson (2.0 ppg).

Southeast Missouri (8-19, 5-13)

With four starters back, plus a touted recruiting class, coach Ed Arnzen's Otahkians hope to bounce back from consecutive dismal seasons.

Guards Rusty Sowers (10.5 ppg) and Moneik Campbell (7.8 ppg), forward Tajuana White (7.8 ppg, 5.2 rpg) and center Annie Struve (6.5 ppg) are the key returnees.

Also back are twin guards Shauna (3.9 ppg) and Sherry Cook (1.2 ppg), along with forward Kim Nicholson (1.4 ppg).

Arnzen will be counting heavily on six newcomers: junior-college All-Americans Paula Corder and Liea Toedte at guard/forward, sisters Pam and Allison Iverson up front, Reagan Hughston up front and Tiffany Melis at guard.

"Like everybody, we're excited," Arnzen said. "I think we have a chance to be a good basketball team."

Murray State (6-20, 5-13)

Coach Eddie Fields' Lady Racers won three of their final six games last season and they'll try to build on that momentum this year with the return of four starters.

Two of the players Fields will be especially counting on are guard/forwards Bobbi Coltharp (13.0 ppg) and Sarah Higgins (12.4 ppg).

Center/forward Danelle Watts (9.0 ppg, 6.6 rpg) is another key returning player, as is guard Farrah Beach, who averaged less than a point per game but was third on the squad in assists.

Among the others back is Monika Gadson (7.1 ppg, 5.0 rpg).

Morehead State (7-19, 3-15)

Six returning letterwinners, including three starters, will be joined by 12 newcomers as coach Laura Litter's Lady Eagles try to improve on last year's record.

Guards Marcisha Brazley (9.1 ppg, 5.1 rpg), Domonique Mitchell (7.8 ppg, 4.8 rpg) and Kim Elliott (5.5 ppg) will all be counted on. Mitchell ranked among the league leaders in assists last year with almost five per game.

Up front, the returnees are led by Megan Kellough (8.5 ppg. 4.7 rpg) and Vette Robinson (7.5 ppg, 4.1 rpg).

Predicted order of finish

1. Tennessee Tech

2. Middle Tennessee

3. Tennessee-Martin

4. Eastern Kentucky

5. Tennessee State

6. Austin Peay

7. Eastern Illinois

8. Southeast Missouri

9. Murray State

10. Morehead State