Posted: Mar 31, 2009
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LILBURN, Ga. --- The Tusculum College women's basketball
team is ranked 21st in the final USA TODAY ESPN Division II Top 25
Coaches' Poll of the season after posting a 26-6 record en route to
its second straight South Atlantic Conference title. This marks the
first time in school history that the Pioneers are ranked in the
final poll of the season, coming on the heels of the program's
first ever NCAA Tournament win against Lander University in the
Southeast Regional.Tusculum set or tied 10 individual and team program marks in its historic 2008-09 campaign, including a school-record 73.6% team free throw percentage. The Pioneers as a team set a new program record in blocked shots (157), as well as a pair of Pioneer Arena marks for points in a single game (107) and margin of victory (54) in TC's 107-53 win over North Greenville on Jan. 13.
Junior Stephany Neptune wrote her name in the Tusculum record books this season, becoming the program's all-time leader in blocked shots with 141 career rejections. The two-time All-SAC First Team honoree also set a Tusculum and SAC Tournament record with 24 rebounds against Lincoln Memorial on Mar. 4; she also tied the program's single-game mark for blocked shots with six rejections against Newberry on Jan. 21.
WBCA All-American Jasmine Gunn set a pair of single-game program records against Augusta State on Nov. 28 with 22 made free throws and 26 attempts. The sophomore guard's 22 FT's against Augusta State are also a new SAC record. Gunn also dished out at least 180 assists for the second straight season, climbing to fourth on the program's all-time list while taking possession of the top spot in assists per game with six helpers per contest in her career.
The Pioneers are expected to return eight letter-winners next season, including All-SAC First Team selections Gunn and Neptune, after capturing their second consecutive conference title.
- TC
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Rank Institution - First Place Votes
1. Minnesota State University-Mankato (27)
2. Franklin Pierce University (N.H.)
3. University of Alaska-Anchorage
4. California University of Pennsylvania
5. West Texas A&M University
6. Delta State University (Miss.)
7. Seattle Pacific University (Wash.)
8. Michigan Technological University
9. Fort Lewis College (Colo.)
10. Northern Kentucky University
11. Clayton State University (Ga.)
12. University of Central Oklahoma
13. Washburn University (Kan.)
14. Francis Marion University (S.C.)
15. Hillsdale College (Mich.)
16. University of California - San Diego
17. Emporia State University (Kan.)
18. Quincy University (Ill.)
19. Indiana University of Pennsylvania
20. Gannon University (Pa.)
21. Tusculum College (Tenn.)
22. Stonehill College (Mass.)
23. Lenoir-Rhyne University (N.C.)
24. University of Indianapolis (Ind.)
25. Ouachita Baptist University (Ark.)
2008-09 Tusculum Opponents in Italics
