ATLANTA -- Austin Peay State University women's basketball was picked fourth in the Atlantic Sun Conference Coaches Poll and Shamarre Hale was a unanimous Preseason All-ASUN Team selection, the ASUN announced, Monday.
The Chicago, Illinois native was named the ASUN Sixth Player of the Year and a Second Team All-Conference selection last season during her first year as a Governor.
During her 2022-23 campaign, Hale was a two-time ASUN Newcomer of the Week and averaged 12.3 points, 6.8 rebounds and a program-record 69.1 percent from the field.
She also helped APSU advance to the semifinals to the ASUN Women's Basketball Championship and averaged 18.5 points, 9.0 rebounds and over 70 percent from the field, earning ASUN Championship All-Tournament Team honors.
"What a great honor for Shamarre Hale and APSU women's basketball as she was named Preseason All-Conference," said head coach Brittany Young. "The resume that she was able to build last season put her in a position to be recognized for the award. Now as we look to shift gears to the upcoming season, she is no longer a secret. The consistency of her offseason work, and the consistent work she will put in day in and day out throughout the duration of the season will define the final year of her collegiate career. We are looking forward to her rising to the occasion and ultimately becoming the player and person that she was created to be!"
The Governors were picked to finish fourth in the coaches poll with 107 points. Last year's regular-season and tournament champions, Florida Gulf Coast was picked to repeat by the league's coaches with 142 points and was followed by Lipscomb (128 points) and Eastern Kentucky (121).
When asked about her team being selected fourth, Young said, "Being voted to finish in the top half of the conference means that our program is moving in the right direction. However, pre-season rankings don't mean anything unless we are playing our best basketball of the year during the months of January, February, and March. That is our ultimate goal, and it is what we are working towards each day we step onto the floor."
The Govs also were tied with Eastern Kentucky for third in the media poll, and were preceded by FGCU and Lipscomb.
2023-24 Atlantic Sun Conference Women's Basketball Preseason Honors
Preseason Player of the Year: Antwainette Walker, Eastern Kentucky
Preseason Defensive Player of the Year: Gracie Merkle, Bellarmine
ASUN Women's Basketball Preseason All-ASUN Team
*Antwainette Walker, EKU
*Gracie Merkle, Bellarmine
*Shamarre Hale, Austin Peay
*Bella Winson, Lipscomb
Alice Recanati, EKU
Uju Ezeudu, FGCU
Aleah Sorrentino, Lipscomb
Jalyn Holcomb, Lipscomb
Lyric Swann, North Florida
Khamya McNeal, Stetson
*Denotes unanimous selection
2023-24 Atlantic Sun Conference Women's Basketball Preseason Polls
ASUN Women's Basketball Preseason Coaches Poll
Place Team (1st Place Votes) Points
1 Florida Gulf Coast (10) 142
2 Lipscomb (2) 128
3 Eastern Kentucky 121
4 Austin Peay 107
5 Kennesaw State 84
6 Stetson 78
7 North Alabama 72
8 Bellarmine 65
9 Jacksonville 48
10 Queens 35
11 Central Arkansas 33
12 Queens 23
ASUN Women's Basketball Preseason Media Poll
Place Team (1st Place Votes) Points
1 Florida Gulf Coast (38) 500
2 Lipscomb (2) 434
3 Eastern Kentucky 368
3 Austin Peay 368
5 Kennesaw State 278
6 North Alabama 276
7 North Florida (2) 234
7 Stetson 234
9 Jacksonville 214
10 Bellarmine 186
11 Central Arkansas 106
12 Queens 78
