Blossoms Picked Fifth

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   BIRMINGHAM, AL --- The University of Arkansas at Monticello Cotton Blossoms basketball team has been picked to finish fifth in the Gulf South ConferencePre-Season Coaches' Poll released Oct. 20.

Photo courtesy of Media Services

C Wendy Young

   Additionally, senior center Wendy Young has been named to the 2005 All-Gulf South Conference Preseason Basketball Team.

   The Blossoms collected one first-place vote, one third-place vote, one fourth-place vote, two fifth-place votes, one sixth-place vote, one seventh-place vote and one eighth-place vote; in addition to one vote for the
overall Gulf South Conference Tournament championship.

   In coach Bob Boldon's first year at the helm of the UAM basketball program, the Cotton Blossoms recovered from a 1-15 mark in 2003-04 to finish the 2004-05 season with a 15-14 record, including an 8-8 mark in Gulf South Conference play. The Blossoms qualified for their first Gulf South Conference tournament since the 1998-99 season, and topped Alabama-Huntsville in the opening round before dropping an overtime heartbreaker to eventual runner-up Valdosta State. .

   The 2005-06 Cotton Blossoms open exhibition play Monday, Nov. 7, traveling to Waco, Texas to face defending Division I National Champion Baylor before opening their 27-game regular season schedule on Wednesday, Nov. 16 at West Alabama. The Blossoms will play non-conference dates against in-region foes West Alabama, West Georgia, Montevallo, Florida Gulf Coast, Tuskegee and West Florida, as well as Division I opponents Lamar and Southeast Missouri before opening their conference slate Jan. 5 against Arkansas Tech.

2005 GSC WOMEN'S BASKETBALL PRE-SEASON COACHES POLLS

WEST DIVISION

1. Henderson State (58)
2. Central Arkansas (55)
3. Delta State (48)
4. Southern Arkansas (45)
5. Arkansas-Monticello (33)
6. Ouachita Baptist (30)
7. Arkansas Tech (29)
8. Christian Brothers (14)
9. Harding (12)

EAST DIVISION

1. Valdosta State (45)
2. West Florida (44)
3. West Georgia (40)
4. Lincoln Memorial (22)
5. West Alabama (22)
6. Alabama-Huntsville (21)
7. Montevallo (21)
8. North Alabama (9)

2005 GSC PRE-SEASON WOMEN'S BASKETBALL TEAM

WEST DIVISION

C - Wendy Young, Arkansas-Monticello
G - Caronica Randle, Central Arkansas
G - Jennifer Rushing, Delta State
C - Kim Davis, Southern Arkansas
F - Sharonda Davis, Southern Arkansas

EAST DIVISION

G - Lauren Qualls, North Alabama
F - Candice Ferrell, Valdosta State
G - Veronica Lee, West Alabama
F/G - Erin Vierling, West Florida
G - Michella Gibson, West Florida
G - Tai Ellis, West Georgia

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