AMERICUS, Ga. -- First-year head coach Justin Payne and the Georgia Southwestern women's basketball team are locked in and ready to begin their 2019-20 campaign. The Lady Hurricanes received 26 points as they were picked 11th in the Peach Belt Conference Preseason Coaches Poll, released Wednesday by the league. 

"I'm excited about this upcoming year," head coach Payne said. "We're continuing to work hard and compete at a high level as we are looking forward to becoming a better team in all facets."

GSW finished last season 8-20, going 5-17 in PBC play. The Lady Hurricanes return three of their top scoring players including seniors Mariya Trimble and Morgan Towells followed by sophomore Lex Chatman as they all averaged over nine points per game last season. Both Trimble and Chatman led the team, averaging 5.4 rebounds per game last season as Chatman also led the team with 36 3-pointers. Towells led the team with 69 assists and 42 steals, as she also picked up 11 blocks last year. 

The Lady Hurricanes will open their season on Nov. 11 as they will host Birmingham Southern at home. They then will compete in the PBC/SIAC Challenge Nov. 15-16 with games against Fort Valley State and Albany State before returning back home to host their last home game of the fall against Middle Georgia State on Nov. 19. GSW will then compete in the Valdosta State Thanksgiving Tournament Nov. 29-30 against host Valdosta State and Eckerd College. 

GSW opens up Peach Belt Conference play in December on the road with games at Augusta and USC Aiken on Dec. 19 and Dec. 21. 

Coming right into the new year, the Lady Hurricanes host Lander University and North Georgia on Jan. 4 and 8 before heading to the beach to play Flagler College on Jan. 11. GSW picks up a midweek home game against Clayton State on Jan. 15 as they will hit the road on Jan. 18 to play Georgia College. GSW closes our their January schedule with four games in nine days, as they will play host to Francis Marion Jan. 20 before hitting the road two days later to play Young Harris. GSW then returns back to Americus for a pair of games against UNC Pembroke on Jan. 25 and conference foe Columbus State Jan. 29. 

The Lady Hurricanes open up February on the road as they will take on Francis Marion Feb. 1 and North Georgia Feb. 5. GSW returns home Feb. 8 to play USC Aiken but will hit the road for a midweek battle with Clayton State on Feb. 12 before returning home for a slue of home games. Coach Payne invites Georgia College and Young Harris Feb. 15 and 19 to the Storm Dome before hosting Flagler College as their final home opponent of the year on Feb. 22. A short trip out to Columbus on Feb. 26 caps the February slate while GSW will end their season on the road against UNC Pembroke on March 1. 

The preseason coaches poll is listed below. Coaches were not permitted to rank their own teams.