ATLANTA — MiKeisha Moore of Benedict was voted the 2017 Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (SIAC) Preseason Women’s Basketball Player of the Year and Lauren Turner of Clark Atlanta was selected as the Preseason Defensive Player of the Year, announced on Saturday by the league office.

The preseason honors and predicted order of finish is voted on by the league’s head coaches and sports information directors.

MiKeisha Moore, a 6-foot senior forward from Los Angeles, Calif., averaged 15.4 points and 3.8 rebounds per game in her first season with Benedict (22-8, 14-1). In conference games, Moore was fifth the SIAC in scoring (15.8 ppg). She led the SIAC in 3-pointers made (105 overall, 55 SIAC) and 3-point percentage (.420 overall, .433 SIAC). She scored a season-high 26 points against Miles College on Nov. 25 and had 11 games with 20 or more points. She made a season-high seven 3-pointers against Paine on Feb. 20. She was named to the All-SIAC team while adding 22 assists, 19 steals, and 11 blocks.

Lauren Turner, a 6’0 senior guard-forward from Atlanta, Ga., averaged 12.9 points and 8.2 rebounds per game last season at Clark Atlanta University (10-17, 4-11). Turner, an-All-SIAC pick last season, was the SIAC’s fourth-leading rebounder, finishing third in the conference in defensive rebounds with 5.7 per game, and 13^th in offensive rebounds with 2.5 per game.  Turner led the Lady Panthers in scoring six times last season and was the team’s top rebounder in 15 games last season. Eclipsing the 20-point mark twice last season, Turner had two double-doubles, occurring in two of the Lady Panthers last three games last season. She scored a season-high 24 points against Kentucky State last season and had a 14-rebound game against Lynn College. Turner had nine double-digit rebounding games last season and added 34 steals, 19 assists, and 16 blocks to finish the season.

Joining Moore and Turner on the 2017 SIAC Women’s Basketball Preseason Team are Marissa Madeldove (Clark Atlanta), Elise Reilly (Spring Hill), Brittani Rizzi (Kentucky State), Tania Ward (Paine), Sierra Harley (Central State), Tenesha Wright (LeMoyne-Owen), Dominique Williams (Claflin), Shirvel Luke (Benedict), Ashley McCrear (Miles), and Brooke Wallace (Kentucky State).

Benedict finished first in the east division preseason poll receiving 12 first-place votes. Claflin was picked second and Fort Valley is anticipated as third with one first-place vote. Albany State followed with two first-place votes. Clark Atlanta was fifth with one first-place vote ahead of Paine who rounded out the east division.

Central State led the west division preseason poll received ten first-place votes. Kentucky State was chosen second with two first-place votes ahead of Lane who was chosen for third place. With two first-place votes, Miles is anticipated to finished fourth. Spring Hill is anticipated to place fifth with one first-place vote. Tuskegee was chosen to finish sixth place with one first-place vote ahead of LeMoyne-Owen who rounds out the west division.

 
2017 SIAC Women’s Basketball Preseason Honors
Preseason Player of the Year: MiKeisha Moore, Benedict
Preseason Defensive Player of the Year: Lauren Turner, Clark Atlanta

*Indicates returner from the 2016-17 SIAC All-Conference Team

PREDICTED ORDER OF FINISH
(First Place Votes in parenthesis)

• East Division
  1. Benedict College (12)
  2. Claflin University
  3. Fort Valley State University (1)
  4. Albany State University (2)
  5. Clark Atlanta University (1)
  6. Paine College
• West Division
  1. Central State University – (10)
  2. Kentucky State University – (2)
  3. Lane College
  4. Miles College – (2)
  5. Spring Hill College – (1)
  6. Tuskegee University – (1)
  7. LeMoyne-Owen College