The University of North Georgia women's basketball team has been voted to finish sixth out of 14 teams in the Peach Belt Conference preseason coaches poll released from the conference office on Thursday.
Lander captured seven first-place votes and 152 total points, edging out second-place Francis Marion by three. Augusta University was third with Columbus State fourth and Clayton State fifth. North Georgia, Armstrong State, Georgia College, Young Harris, USC Aiken, Flagler, UNC Pembroke, Georgia Southwestern and Montevallo rounded out the voting.
North Georgia received 107 total votes including one first place vote.
Teams were awarded 13 points for a first-place vote, 12 for a second and so on. Coaches were not permitted to rank their own teams.
Head coach Buffie Burson's team is on the heels of a 17-12 season and fourth consecutive PBC Tournament appearance last season.
The Nighthawks open the 2016-17 season on Nov. 11-12 at the Peach Belt/Conference Carolinas Challenge at Erskine in Due West, S.C.
