Oct. 6, 2011

CHARLOTTE, NC- The 2011-2012 CIAA Basketball season kicked off Thursday afternoon as the preseason All-CIAA team and predicted order of finish was released at the annual basketball press conference at the Charlotte Convention Center.

The predicted order of finish and preseason team was voted on by the CIAA women's basketball coaches association. Virginia State University (North) and Shaw University (South), last year's CIAA Champion, were picked to finish atop their respective divisions.

Junior guard Shatara Jackson receives the first preseason recognition of her career after helping guide the Lady Vikings to the CIAA Northern Division title last season. Last year she averaged just under 10 points per game and will be ECSU's top returner in the assist category. Joining Jackson on the Preseason team is guard DeAudra Brown, a senior transfer from Saint Paul's College. Last season Brown ranked 13th in the league in scoring at 11.8 points per game.

The Lady Vikings will open up the 2011-2012 season on November 7 in an exhibition against Norfolk State University in Elizabeth City, NC. For more information on ECSU Athletics, visit www.ecsuvikings.com and follow us on Twitter @ECSUVikings.

The complete CIAA preseason team and predicted order finish is listed below:

2011-2012 Preseason Women's Basketball Team Juliette Turner (Bowie State), Chanita Jordan(Bowie State), Talaya Lynch (Chowan), Ransheeda Jennings (Chowan), Shatara Jackson (ECSU), DeAudra Brown (ECSU), Terran Quattlebaum (Johnson C. Smith) LaQwesha Gamble (Johnson C. Smith), Rashida Elbourne (Livingstone), Umeka Benson (St. Augustine's), Courtney Medley Winston-Salem State), Jasmine Newkirk (Winston-Salem State)

Northern Division
Virginia State
Elizabeth City State
Chowan
Bowie State
Virginia Union
Lincoln (Pa.)

Southern Division
Shaw University
Johnson C. Smith
Winston-Salem State
Saint Augustine's
Livingstone
Fayetteville State