Atkinson Selected to Preseason All-Conference Team

Despite the Lady Bulldogs' basketball team being picked to finish last in this season's preseason poll, Atkinson was selected to the Preseason All-Conference Team. The Gulf Coast Athletic Conference announced on Wednesday the five-player team voted on by the conference coaches.

Atkinson, a junior forward from Jackson, MS was selected to the team based on her performance last season. In the 2015-16 season, Atkinson averaged 13.4 points per game and 8.7 rebounds a game. She is a two-time GCAC Second Team All-Conference selection. In Atkinson's career at Tougaloo, she has managed to score 669 points and grab 465 rebound for a career average of 13.9 ppg and 9.7 rpg. During the 2014-15 season, Atkinson was selected as the GCAC Freshman of the Year.

Atkinson was joined by Talladega's Tajanee Wells, Edward Waters' Kyeshia Dawkins, Dillard's Shaelynn Moore and SUNO's Micah Brooks. Wells was also selected Preseason Player of the Year and Talladega was picked to win the conference crown this season.

GCAC 2016-17 Preseason Poll (First-place votes in parenthesis)
Team Points
1. Talladega (4) 45
2. Edward Waters (1) 38
3. Xavier (2) 37
4. Dillard 24
5. SUNO 23
6. Philander Smith 22
7. Tougaloo 7

2016-17 Preseason All-GCAC Team
Shaelynn Moore, Dillard
Kyeshia Dawkins, Edward Waters
Micah Brooks, SUNO
Tajanee Wells, Talladega
Montoria Atkinson, Tougaloo
Others receiving votes: Alyssa Washington, Dillard; Shantrell Lumar, Dillard; Keona Favis, Dillard; Jermisha Collins, Edward Waters; Terralyn Dominick, Philander Smith

GCAC Preseason Player of the Year
Tajanee Wells, Talladega