BIRMINGHAM, Ala. --- With the start of the 2023-24 women's basketball season less than two weeks away, the Gulf South Conference released its preseason coaches' poll, preseason all-conference team and the newcomer watch list on Wednesday, Nov. 1.
 
Mississippi College was tabbed 10th in a vote by the conference's head coaches. It is the second-highest predicted order of finish under head coach Greg Long's stint and only surpassed by the sixth-place nod heading into the 2022-23 campaign. Last year's squad finished with a 6-21 overall mark, posted a 5-19 conference record and finished 12th in the league.
 
Long enters his fourth season at the helm of the program. He guided the program to the GSC Tournament in his second season and looks to return with a core group of youth and experience. He returns three true freshmen from the 2022-23 squad that saw significant playing time and starts in their debut seasons, along with redshirt sophomore, Amelia Bell, who led the team in field-goal percentage, rebounds and blocked shots during her freshman campaign in 2021-22.
 
The 2023-24 edition of the Choctaws features 11 players who were on the squad last season, including seniors Kyiah Julian and Taylor Ben. Joining them are nine newcomers that include a pair of Division I transfers, Cortney Gardner (Coppin State University) and Kennedy Ransom (Jackson State University), along with JUCO transfer, Jaliscia Florence (Pearl River CC). The base of the new class are six true freshmen. Ransom along with Nia Coleman (San Ramon, Calif.) and Lillie Gates (Brookhaven, Miss.) represented the Blue and Gold on the conference's watch list.
 
Julian returns for her fourth season in the Blue and Gold and her fifth career campaign. The Greenwood, Ark., native is in pursuit of two school records, the 3-point field goal and the free-throw percentage leader. She stands second in both categories as she enters the season. She is four 3-pointers away from tying the all-time mark, held by Anna Patterson (2007-10). She has posted an 85.2 clip from the free-throw line during her time in Clinton and seeks to surpass Valeri Stewart (2009-13), who holds the record with an 86.2 percentage.
 
The Choctaw have a dress rehearsal on Wednesday, Nov. 1 in Hattiesburg, Miss., against the University of Southern Mississippi. Tip at Reed Green Coliseum is at 6 p.m.
 
Mississippi College opens the 2023-24 regular season on Friday, Nov. 10 as it travels to Memphis, Tenn., for the GSC-SIAC Crossover on the campus of LeMoyne-Owen College. The Choctaws face Lane College in the Crossover opener. Tip at J F Lane Gymnasium is 5 p.m.