MELBOURNE, Fla. – The Nova Southeastern University women's basketball team has been selected to finish tied for fourth in the Sunshine State Conference, as voted on by the league's coaches and announced by the conference office on Wednesday afternoon.
 
The Sharks collected 66 points, tied with Embry-Riddle in the poll. The Florida Southern Moccasins are favored to win its second consecutive regular-season championship, garnering 100 total votes and 10 first-place votes, while Eckerd and Tampa round out the Top-3, earning 88 and 73 points, respectively.
 
Nova Southeastern finished 2017-18 with an overall record of 13-14 and 9-11 against conference opponents. This season, the Sharks return nine and welcome five newcomers, including four NCAA Div. I transfers.   
 
Among the returners are starting guard Alison Hughes, an All-SSC Second Team and All-SSC Newcomer Team honoree, who led the Shark squad with 13.1 points per game, ranking her in the Top-10 in the league. Also returning is Skyla Osceola who posted a 3.33 assist-turnover ratio in 2017-18, which not only led the SSC but ranked her second in the nation.
 
The Sharks will kick off their 2018-19 slate on Nov. 9 on the road, competing in the 2018 GSC/SSC Crossover Challenge hosted by Barry. NSU will begin play against Delta State on Nov. 9 at 5:30 p.m. before taking on Union on Nov. 10 at 4:00 p.m.
 
Below are the full results of the 2018-19 SSC preseason coaches' poll. Coaches are not allowed to vote for their own teams (points: 11-10-9-8-7-6-5-4-3-2-1, first-place votes in parentheses).
 
 
2018 - 19 SSC WOMEN'S BASKETBALL PRESEASON POLL

Rank 1 2 3 T4 T4 6 7 8 9 10 11

School (FPV) Florida Southern (10) Eckerd (1) Tampa Embry-Riddle Nova Southeastern Barry Rollins Florida Tech Saint Leo Lynn Palm Beach Atlantic

Total Votes 100 88 73 66 66 65 45 37 31 24 10