By: Sebastian Burke, Sports Information Intern
NORFOLK, Va. – La'Deja James of the Norfolk State women's basketball team has been selected to the All-MEAC Preseason second Team. In addition, the head coaches and sports information directors of the conference picked Norfolk State to finish fourth in the standings.
James was named the team's most valuable player last season, averaging 13.3 points, 4.7 rebounds, 1.6 assists, and 2.3 steals per game while shooting 45% from the floor. She led the Spartans in scoring average, steal average and free throw percentage (.802) while ranking second in total steals (49) and points (280) and third in field goal percentage. James was named to the All-MEAC Tournament team after leading the Spartans to the conference tournament championship game.
Conference voters placed the Spartans fourth in the predicted order of finish behind North Carolina A&T, Bethune-Cookman and Howard.
The Aggies earned 229 points and 12 first-place votes, while The Lady Wildcats enter the 2019-20 season as the reigning MEAC Tournament champions with 215 points and eight first-place votes. The Bison earned 197 points, just one spot ahead of the Spartans 162 points.
Just behind NSU is Maryland Eastern Shore in fifth place, followed by Morgan State and North Carolina Central. Delaware State, Coppin State, and Florida A&M round out the 11-team poll.
Norfolk State women's basketball opens the season against Liberty at Joseph G. Echols Memorial Hall on Tuesday, Nov. 5 at 6 p.m.
2019-20 Predicted Order of Finish
As voted on by the league's head coaches and sports information directors; first-place votes are in parentheses
| School |
Points |
| North Carolina A&T State (12) |
229 |
| Bethune-Cookman (8) |
215 |
| Howard |
197 |
| Norfolk State |
162 |
| Maryland Eastern Shore (1) |
135 |
| South Carolina State |
110 |
| Morgan State |
100 |
| North Carolina Central |
94 |
| Delaware State |
88 |
| Coppin State |
78 |
| Florida A&M* |
44 |
*ineligible for MEAC title and postseason play
2019-20 Preseason All-MEAC Teams
As voted on by the league's head coaches and sports information directors
FIRST TEAM
| Name |
Pos. |
Ht. |
Class |
School |
Hometown |
| Ashanti Hunt |
G |
5-11 |
Gr. |
Bethune-Cookman |
Washington, D.C. |
| Chance Graham |
F |
6-1 |
Sr. |
Coppin State |
Upper Marlboro, Md. |
| Sarah Edmond |
G |
5-9 |
Sr. |
Howard |
Freeport, N.Y. |
| C'coriea Foy |
G |
6-0 |
Sr. |
North Carolina A&T State |
Fayetteville, N.C. |
| Taylor Brown |
F |
6-0 |
Sr. |
South Carolina State |
Paterson, N.J. |
SECOND TEAM
| Name |
Pos. |
Ht. |
Class |
School |
Hometown |
| Jayla Thornton |
G |
5-9 |
Jr. |
Howard |
Newark, N.J. |
| Ayonna Williams |
G |
5-4 |
Sr. |
Howard |
Washington, D.C. |
| La'Deja James |
G |
5-8 |
r-Sr. |
Norfolk State |
Virginia Beach, Va. |
| Cinia McCray |
G |
5-9 |
Sr. |
North Carolina A&T State |
Broadview, Ill. |
| Paulina Afriyie |
F |
5-11 |
Sr. |
North Carolina Central |
Bronx, N.Y. |
THIRD TEAM
| Name |
Pos. |
Ht. |
Class |
School |
Hometown |
| Amaya Scott |
F |
6-1 |
Jr. |
Bethune-Cookman |
Sunrise, Fla. |
| Lanayjha Ashe |
G |
5-7 |
Sr. |
Delaware State |
Roanoke Rapids, N.C. |
| Imani Bryant |
F |
6-1 |
Sr. |
Howard |
Berkeley, Calif. |
| Bairesha Gill-Miles |
F |
6-0 |
Jr. |
Maryland Eastern Shore |
Lexington, Ky. |
| Alexus Lessears |
C |
6-3 |
Sr. |
North Carolina A&T State |
Cleveland, Ohio |
