BIRMINGHAM, Ala. — University of Tennessee junior forward Rennia Davis has been named to the women’s preseason All-SEC Second Team, according to voting by a select panel of SEC and national media members.
Davis was one of 10 players chosen for preseason all-league honors, including five first-team picks and five second-team selections. The Lady Vol standout earned All-SEC Second Team recognition as a sophomore following her play during the 2018-19 campaign.
A 6-foot-2 product of Ribault High School in Jacksonville, Florida, Davis led UT in scoring (14.9), rebounding (7.7) and free throw percentage (.856) in her second season on Rocky Top. She ranked No. 1 in the SEC in free throw percentage, No. 8 in rebounding and No. 12 in scoring a year ago.
Davis’ scoring average tied for No. 5 all-time by a UT sophomore, while her rebound average was the ninth-best for a second-year performer at Tennessee. Her sophomore-year double-double total (9) was the sixth-most by an active player in the SEC last season and the second-most by an underclassman.
Texas A&M’s Chennedy Carter was the overwhelming choice for SEC Women’s Basketball Player of the Year. Arkansas’ Chelsea Dungee and Rhyne Howard of Kentucky also received votes.
Joining Carter, Dungee and Howard on the All-SEC First Team are LSU’s Ayana Mitchell and South Carolina’s Tyasha Harris. Other All-SEC Second Team members besides Davis include Unique Thompson, Auburn; Mikiah Herbert Harrigan, South Carolina; Ciera Johnson, Texas A&M; and Mariella Fasoula, Vanderbilt.
South Carolina was predicted to win the 2020 Southeastern Conference women’s basketball championship by the same panel of media members.
Following the Gamecocks, Texas A&M, Mississippi State, Kentucky, Arkansas, Tennessee and Auburn rounded out the top half of the league. LSU, Missouri, Georgia, Alabama, Florida, Ole Miss and Vanderbilt filled out the bottom half.
The Lady Vols were 19-13 overall and 7-9 in SEC play a year ago, tying for eighth place in the league standings. Tennessee enters the 2019-20 season led by new head coach Kellie Harper and returning two starters and six total letterwinners who saw action last year. UT welcomes five new players and another who sat out 2018-19 due to injury.
PREDICTED ORDER OF FINISH
1. South Carolina
2. Texas A&M
3. Mississippi State
4. Kentucky
5. Arkansas
6. Tennessee
7. Auburn
8. LSU
9. Missouri
10. Georgia
11. Alabama
12. Florida
13. Ole Miss
14. Vanderbilt
PRESEASON PLAYER OF THE YEAR
Chennedy Carter, Texas A&M
PRESEASON ALL-SEC FIRST TEAM
Chelsea Dungee, Arkansas
Rhyne Howard, Kentucky
Ayana Mitchell, LSU
Tyasha Harris, South Carolina
Chennedy Carter, Texas A&M
PRESEASON ALL-SEC SECOND TEAM
Unique Thompson, Auburn
Mikiah Herbert Harrigan, South Carolina
Rennia Davis, Tennessee
Ciera Johnson, Texas A&M
Mariella Fasoula, Vanderbilt
UT Athletics
