The University of Arkansas at Little Rock women’s basketball team was picked first in the 2018-19 Sun Belt Conference Women’s Basketball Coaches’ Preseason Poll, receiving eight first-place votes. 

Little Rock senior Ronjanae DeGray was named Preseason Sun Belt Player of the Year, in addition to being selected to the conference’s First Team. Teammate Tori Lasker was elected to the All-Sun Belt Third Team as voted on by the conference’s coaches.

DeGray, coming off a season where she averaged 13.8 points, 5.6 boards, and .508 shooting from the floor, is the returning statistical leader for numerous categories. The Odessa, Texas, native was a Sun Belt Conference First Team selection for the regular season and conference tournament, started 11 contests and appeared in 32 games. She tallied her first career double-double by tying her season high with 23 points while putting up a career-high 13 rebounds in the Trojans’ overtime win at Louisiana on March 3.

Lasker saw the most playing time out of any freshman last season. She started 24 games and was one of only four Trojans to appear in all 33 contests. She drained a freshman record-setting 57 three-pointers, the sixth most in a single season, and dished out the second most assists, 89. Against Memphis, Lasker registered 21 points in her first collegiate game, a program record for a freshman debut

Little Rock’s Team, coming off its fifth NCAA tournament appearance in program history, starts the season Nov. 9 at Louisiana Tech and then hosts FAU at 6:30 p.m. Nov. 14 in the Jack Stephens Center. New season tickets and renewals are still being accepted and can be ordered by calling the Trojan ticket office at 565-8257. Fans can also purchase tickets by visiting LRTrojans.com.