AUGUSTA, Ga. – The nationally fifth-ranked University of South Carolina Aiken women's basketball team was tabbed as the preseason co-favorite along with national No. 10 Clayton State in the Peach Belt Conference Women's Basketball Preseason Poll. 

The league office released the poll voted on by the league's head coaches on Wednesday, Oct. 31, 2012. 

Both USC Aiken and Clayton State received 150 total points. USC Aiken had seven first-place votes to go along with four second-place votes and one third-place vote. Clayton State received six first-place and second-place votes. 

Columbus State is the preseason choice to finish third, while national No. 20 Lander is tabbed to finish fourth. 

USC Aiken was ranked all of the 2011-12 season. It marked the first time in program history that the Pacers went an entire season in the top-25. The Pacers concluded the 2011-12 season ranked 12^th. The final ranking of 12^th marked the highest-ever final national ranking for the USC Aiken women's basketball program. The Pacers were ranked 13^th in the final national poll of the 2010-11 season.

The 2011-12 season saw USC Aiken end the year with a record of 27-4. The four losses were the fewest in school history, while the 27 wins ties the 2010-11 team for most wins in a season. The Pacers' winning percentage of .871 was also the best in school history.

USC Aiken's tremendous 2011-12 season was punctuated by the Pacers winning the 2012 Peach Belt Conference Tournament crown. The tournament title was the first in program history.

The Pacers, who won a school-record 12 straight games at one point during the regular season, would end their phenomenal year by playing host to the NCAA Division II Southeast Regional for the first time in school history. The Pacers have now played in three of the last four NCAA Division II Women's Basketball Tournaments.

USC Aiken will open its 2012-13 regular season at home on Saturday, Nov. 10 against Florida Southern. Tip-off in the contest is scheduled for 5:30 p.m. 

USC Aiken and Florida Southern will be meeting for the first time since the Pacers downed the Mocs, 65-54, on Nov. 24, 1990.

The game against Florida Southern is part of five straight home games to start the 2012-13 regular season for the Pacers. 

The 2012-13 preseason coaches poll is below.Teams were given 13 points for a first-place vote, 12 for a second and so on. Coaches were not permitted to rank their own team.