VALDOSTA, Ga. – Defending Gulf South Conference champion Valdosta State women's basketball was picked third in the GSC Preseason Coaches' Poll, announced Wednesday by the league office.  Lady Blazer senior Victoria Ikenasio was named to the GSC All-Preseason Team.
 
Union was tabbed league favorite for the fifth time in the last six years as he registered eight, first-place votes and 118 total points.  Lee University was picked second with four, first-place nods and 114 points.  VSU was third with 89 points, followed by West Florida (87 points and Auburn Montgomery rounded out the top five with 78 points.  Delta State and GSC newcomer Trevecca Nazarene tied for sixth with 60 points, followed by Mississippi College rounded out the top-eight with 58 points.
 
Montevallo was picked ninth with 47 points, followed by Alabama Huntsville with 44 points.  West Alabama was 11^thwith 23 points and Christian Brothers checked in at 12^th with 14 points.  
 
Preseason poll points were awarded in an 11 through 1 scale, with first-place votes worth 11 points and an 11th-place selection worth one-point. Preseason all-conference was determined in a 5-4-3-2-1 scale. Coaches could note vote for their own team or student-athletes.

Ikenasio, a native of Melbourne, Australia, joins Lee's Mallory Hampton, Auburn Montgomery's Allasha Dudley, Union's Macey Lee and Mississippi College's Karly Ivy comprising the preseason all-conference team.   
 
This past season, Ikenasio helped lead VSU to a staggering 30-3 record overall and both the GSC regular season and tournament titles, while hosting the NCAA South Regional for the first time in program history.  She played in 30 games with 28 starts and averaged 8.6 points per game and a team-high 5.7 rebounds per game for the Lady Blazers.  Ikenasio went 112 of 231 from the field (.485).  She tallied 27 assists with 12 steals and a team-high 18 blocks.  She had 12 games in double figures and recorded one double-double with 12 points and 12 rebounds against Alabama Huntsville (Mar. 2).  
 
In addition, the 2024 GSC Women's Basketball Newcomer Watchlist was also announced, featuring 28 total names.  For the Lady Blazers, junior Aryana Hicks, Kiersten Nelson and Jillian Shenk were named to the watchlist.  Click here for the complete GSC All-Preseason release and watchlist.  
 
The 2024-25 campaign will be the 41st season of GSC women's basketball and the debut of Trevecca Nazarene in the Gulf South Conference. Teams will play a double-round robin conference schedule that will comprise of 20 matches over 12 weeks. 
 
For the second consecutive season, GSC basketball will be streamed exclusive on FloSports and will be featured on the brand's new platform, FloCollege. For subscription prices and how to sign-up for FloCollege, click here.

The Lady Blazers open the 2024-25 season under the direction of first year head coach Chandler Merkerson on Nov. 8, 2024, versus Palm Beach Atlantic University at Eckerd College.  The Lady Blazers are scheduled to play 13 home games at The Complex, beginning Tuesday, No. 12 at 6 p.m. versus Brewton-Parker College.