NORFOLK, Va. – Norfolk State women's basketball was picked to finish fourth in the conference, while
Kayla Roberts and
Jordan Strode were named preseason All-MEAC, the conference office announced on Wednesday.
Roberts was selected to the preseason All-MEAC first team, while Strode was voted third team preseason All-MEAC.
The preseason honor is the third in Roberts' career. The senior garnered second team honors last year while earning first team distinctions as a sophomore in 2014. In addition, the Miami, Fla. native is a two-time postseason All-MEAC honoree, having earned first team honors last season and second-team accolades in 2014-15.
Roberts ranked in the top 15 of the MEAC in eight statistical categories last season. She paced the conference with 6.5 defensive rebounds per game and ranked fourth in total rebounds per game (9.0). Roberts accumulated the second-most double-doubles in the conference with 12, registered the fifth most blocks per game (1.97) and ranked ninth in per-game scoring (12.1).
Strode collects her first preseason All-MEAC mention after garnering postseason All-MEAC third team honors in 2016-17. The Charlotte, N.C. native shot 75.8 percent from the free-throw line last season – the fourth-highest mark in the conference. In addition, her 2.6 assists per game ranked eighth in the MEAC. Strode also ranked in the top 15 in per-game scoring at 11.9 points per game.
The head coaches and sports information directors of the MEAC tabbed Delaware State's NaJai Pollard as the conference's Preseason Player of the Year.
The Spartans finished fourth in the predicted order of finish with 232 points. Reigning MEAC Tournament champion Hampton was named the preseason favorite with 320 points and 13-first place votes. Bethune-Cookman (7) and North Carolina A&T (5) were picked to finish second and third, respectively, while also garnering first-place votes.
Howard was picked fifth followed by Florida A&M. Seventh-place Maryland Eastern Shore received the final first-place vote in the poll. Morgan State, Coppin State and Savannah State ranked eighth through 10
th, respectively.
Delaware State, South Carolina State and North Carolina Central rounded out the predicted order of finish.
Norfolk State opens its season with a two-game road swing against VCU on Nov. 12 and Navy on Nov. 17. The Spartans home opener against Loyola (Md.) is set for Nov. 21 at 11 a.m.
2017 MEAC Women's Basketball Predicted Order of Finish
| 1. Hampton (13) |
320 points |
| 2. Bethune-Cookman (7) |
292 points |
| 3. North Carolina A&T (5) |
271 points |
| 4. Norfolk State |
232 points |
| 5. Howard |
223 points |
| 6. Florida A&M |
185 points |
| 7. Maryland Eastern Shore (1) |
184 points |
| 8. Morgan State |
166 points |
| 9. Coppin State |
155 points |
| 10. Savannah State |
97 points |
| 11. Delaware State |
93 points |
| 12. South Carolina State |
78 points |
| 13. North Carolina Central |
70 points |
2017-18 Women's Basketball Preseason All-MEAC Teams
| First Team |
| Name |
School |
Pos. |
Ht. |
Cl. |
Hometown |
| NaJai Pollard |
Delaware State |
F |
5-11 |
Jr. |
Richmond, Va. |
| Genesis Lucas |
Coppin State |
G |
5-7 |
R-Sr. |
Brandywine, Md. |
| Kayla Roberts |
Norfolk State |
G/F |
6-1 |
Sr. |
Miami, Fla. |
| Ashanti Hunt |
Bethune-Cookman |
G |
5-11 |
Jr. |
Washington, D.C. |
| Monnazjea Finney-Smith |
Hampton |
G/F |
6-1 |
Sr. |
Portsmouth, Va. |
| Second Team |
| Name |
School |
Pos. |
Ht. |
Cl. |
Hometown |
| Braennan Farrar |
Morgan State |
G |
5-6 |
Sr. |
St. Louis, Mo. |
| Bryaesha Blair |
S.C. State |
G |
5-4 |
Jr. |
Chicago, Ill. |
| Jephany Brown |
Hampton |
G/F |
6-0 |
Sr. |
Washington, D.C. |
| Alexus Lessears |
N.C. A&T |
C |
6-3 |
So. |
Cleveland, Ohio |
| Shakerrya Morrison |
Florida A&M |
G/F |
6-0 |
Sr. |
Zebulon, N.C. |
| Third Team |
| Name |
School |
Pos. |
Ht. |
Cl. |
Hometown |
| Jordan Strode |
Norfolk State |
G |
5-8 |
R-Sr. |
Charlotte, N.C. |
| K'lynn Willis |
Hampton |
G |
5-3 |
Jr. |
Detroit, Mich. |
| Keyera Eaton |
MDES |
G |
5-8 |
Jr. |
Winston-Salem, N.C. |
| Chance Graham |
Coppin State |
C |
5-11 |
So. |
Upper Marlboro, Md. |
| Tykyrah Williams |
Morgan State |
F |
5-10 |
Sr. |
Durham, N.C. |
Preseason Player of the Year: Najai Pollard, Delaware State
