NEW ORLEANS, La. - Appalachian State University women's basketball was picked to finish eighth in the Sun Belt standings for the upcoming 2014-15 season, as chosen by the league's coaches on Wednesday.

Maryah Sydnor was named to the All-SBC preseason first team as the Apps are predicted to finish in the bottom half of the conference.

"If there is one thing I have learned since stepping in as head coach it is that this team is great in the face of adversity," said head coach Angel Elderkin. "We look forward to giving full effort everyday and coming together as a family a little more each day.

I expect this group to be extremely competitive in non-conference play and in the Sun Belt this season."

The Mountaineers begin their inaugural Sun Belt campaign after finishing fourth in the Southern Conference last year with a league record of 10-8.

The Apps return all five starters and have four newcomers to the squad this season. Sydnor is back for her senior campaign after averaging 19.4 points and 8.7 rebounds per game last season. Sydnor is currently eighth on the all-time Appalachian career scoring list.

Appalachian recieved 47 votes to follow South Alabama in the preseason standings. Arkansas State recieved eight first-place votes and was picked to finish first in the Sun Belt this season, while the Red Wolves' Aundrea Gamble was voted preseason player of the year.

Predicted Order of Finish (first-place votes in parentheses)
1. Arkansas State (8) - 118 pts
2. UALR (2) - 112 pts
3. Texas State - 93 pts
4. Georgia State - 82 pts
5. Troy - 70 pts
6. UL Lafayette - 64 pts
7. South Alabama - 49 pts
8. Appalachian State - 47 pts
9. UT Arlington - 44 pts
10. Georgia Southern - 27 pts
11. UL Monroe - 20 pts

All-SBC Preseason First Team
Aundrea Gamble (Arkansas State, RS-Junior, Guard)
Taylor Gault (UALR, Senior, Guard)
Ashley Beverly-Kelley (Troy, Junior, Guard)
Maryah Sydnor (Appalachian State, Senior, Forward)
Erin Peoples (Texas State, Junior, Guard)

All-SBC Preseason Second Team
Hanna Qedan (Arkansas State, RS-Senior, Guard)
Keke Veal (UL Lafayette, Junior, Guard)
Brittany Logan (Georgia State, Senior, Center)
Anna Claire Knight (Georgia Southern, Senior, Guard)
Kiera Clark (UALR, Senior, Forward)

All-SBC Preseason Third Team
Breanna Hall (South Alabama, Senior, Guard)
Alisha Andrews (Georgia State, Senior, Guard)
Ayriel Anderson (Texas State, Junior, Guard)
Kia Wilridge (UL Lafayette, Junior, Guard)
Rachel Cumbo (South Alabama, Junior, Guard)

Preseason Player of the Year
Aundrea Gamble (Arkansas State, RS-Junior, Guard)