SBC women’s poll puts UALR 5th, ASU 10th

The Sun Belt Conference released its preseason women’s basketball coaches poll Wednesday morning, with the University of Arkansas-Little Rock projected to finish fifth among the league’s 12 teams.

The Trojans received 92 points, just three behind fourth-place Texas State, as Troy topped the poll with 142 points and 11 of the 12 first-place votes.

Arkansas State came in 10th, earning 47 points — the Red Wolves were predicted to finish ahead of only Coastal Carolina and Louisiana-Monroe after going 4-10 in conference play last season.

Both ASU and UALR will begin their 2021-22 campaigns Nov. 9 at home. The Red Wolves open at 11 a.m. against Central Baptist College and the Trojans will play the latter half of a doubleheader that evening against Missouri State, which reached the Sweet 16 of last year’s NCAA tournament.