Women's Basketball Picked Second in KIAC Preseason Poll

BEREA, Ky. – Asbury women’s basketball was picked to finish second in the Kentucky Intercollegiate Athletic Conference by league coaches on Thursday.  The Eagles finished the 2011-12 season with their first KIAC Regular Season title, sharing the crown with Indiana Southeast.  The Eagles also completed their first winning season and set a record for wins at 18.

Asbury posted an 18-13 overall record and a 9-2 mark in the KIAC a season ago.  The Eagles defeated Indiana Southeast for the first time in school history, upsetting the then #25 Grenadiers on January 14 at home and beat them again later in the season in New Albany.  The third time was not the charm as IUS turned away Asbury’s bid for their first appearance in the NAIA National Tournament in the KIAC Championship game. 

The Eagles return five of their top six scorers from a year ago including Senior Trenia Barbee who led the team with 17 points a game and was named KIAC Newcomer of the Year.  Fellow senior Laura Carroll also returns after scoring 12.8 points per game a year ago and leading the team with 3.9 assists per game.  Carroll became the eighth player to score 1,000 points in their career a year ago and will become the all-time leader with 248 points this year.

In addition to the five-deep senior class, Coach Bart Flener welcomes a very talented freshman class that is expected to contribute early.  Asbury ranked third in the NAIA DII a year ago in three-point percentage at 36.8% and also in free throw percentage at 75.4%.  The team scored 78 points per game, good for fourth in the NAIA. 

Indiana Southeast was picked to win the conference by league coaches with 78 total points and seven of nine first-place votes.  Asbury followed with 64 points and one first-place vote.  KIAC newcomer Point Park was narrowly behind the Eagles with 61 points and one first-place vote.  Alice Lloyd and Brescia followed with 50 and 47 points respectively.  Berea was sixth with 38 points followed by another newcomer in Carlow with 33 points.  Midway and St. Louis Pharmacy wrapped up the poll with 24 and 10 points.

Asbury will get the season started on Friday, October 26 at 7 pm as they host Mid-Continent.  Live video and live stats will be available for the game through asburyeagles.com.