AUGUSTA, Ga. – The fourth-ranked University of North Georgia (UNG) women's basketball team has been selected to finish first in the Peach Belt Conference as announced Wednesday morning in the league's annual coaches poll. North Georgia's Caroline Martin and Averie Jones were also honored with PBC Preseason All-Conference honors.

The Nighthawks earned 99 points, including nine of the 11 first place votes. No. 24 Columbus State was voted to finish second with 90 points, while Augusta (83), Flagler (69) and Lander (61) rounded out the top five.

The Nighthawks are the reigning PBC regular season and tournament champions. North Georgia was the top seed and host of the NCAA Southeast Regional, winning their first two games before falling to second-seeded Coker in the regional championship game.

Martin returns for a fifth year after averaging a team best 16.1 points and 6.1 rebounds per game and being named a WBCA/D2CCA All American and PBC Player of the Year. Jones capped a stellar freshman year in which she was the team's third leading scorer at 11.3 points per game.

Joining Martin and Jones on the Preseason All-Conference team is Letiya Reeves (Columbus State), Quinashia Abercrombie (Augusta) and Quadaija Langley (Lander).

The Nighthawks open their season on Friday, November 7th in the D2CCA Tip-Off Classic against (RV) Ferris State at Gannon in Erie, Pa.