Photo by: © Tim Cowie | GWUPhotos.com
January 21, 2021 | Women's Lacrosse
CHARLOTTE, N.C. – Gardner-Webb's Talen Francis and Janice Donaldson were named to the 2021 Big South Preseason All-Conference Team by the conference office on Tuesday afternoon. The Runnin' Bulldogs were selected sixth in the league's coaches' preseason poll.
Â
High Point claimed the top spot in the preseason poll, voted first in all seven polls (49 points). Finishing second was Campbell with 39 points and with Winthrop (32) in third. Radford (25), Longwood (23), Gardner-Webb (21), and Presbyterian (7) rounded out the poll.
Â
HPU's Abby Holmes was named the Preseason Offensive Player of the Year. Teammate Ashley Britton was tabbed as the Preseason Defensive Player of the Year.
Â
Donaldson, a Cincinnati native, enters her fifth year at the school as a graduate student, having played 44 games in her career. She has accumulated 50 groundballs and 23Â caused turnovers.
Â
Francis is entering her senior year at the school; she has competed in 41 games during her career while being named Second Team All-Big South Conference in 2018 and 2019. She has scored 88 goals through her first three seasons at the school and has dished 25 assists. Won 122 draw controls, leading the team in this category in 2020.
Â
Gardner-Webb is coming off their winningest season in school history, finishing the shortened season on a four-game win streak with an overall record of 6-3. The team returns ten starters to the team while adding eight new players to the roster.
Â
PRESEASON ALL-CONFERENCE TEAM
ATTÂ Â Abby Hormes, Sr., High Point
ATTÂ Â Julianna Sanchez, R-Fr., Campbell
ATTÂ Â Lauren Morris, Sr., Winthrop
MFÂ Â Â Ashley Britton, Gr., High Point
MFÂ Â Â Lauren Asher, Jr., Winthrop
MFÂ Â Â Dana Joss, Gr., Longwood
DÂ Â Â Â Â Katie Bendrick, Jr., Radford
DÂ Â Â Â Â Janice Donaldson, Gr., Gardner-Webb
DÂ Â Â Â Â Claire Libby, Soph., Longwood
DÂ Â Â Â Â Annie Ryan, R-Soph., Campbell
GKÂ Â Â Sarah Zeto, Sr., High Point
ALÂ Â Â Grace Gleason, Jr., Radford
ALÂ Â Â Talen Francis, Sr., Gardner-Webb
ALÂ Â Â Alex Salim, R-Jr., Campbell
Â
PRESEASON OFFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE YEAR
Abby Hormes, ATT, Sr., High Point
Â
PRESEASON DEFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE YEAR
Ashley Britton, MF, Gr., High Point
Â
Â
High Point claimed the top spot in the preseason poll, voted first in all seven polls (49 points). Finishing second was Campbell with 39 points and with Winthrop (32) in third. Radford (25), Longwood (23), Gardner-Webb (21), and Presbyterian (7) rounded out the poll.
Â
HPU's Abby Holmes was named the Preseason Offensive Player of the Year. Teammate Ashley Britton was tabbed as the Preseason Defensive Player of the Year.
Â
Donaldson, a Cincinnati native, enters her fifth year at the school as a graduate student, having played 44 games in her career. She has accumulated 50 groundballs and 23Â caused turnovers.
Â
Francis is entering her senior year at the school; she has competed in 41 games during her career while being named Second Team All-Big South Conference in 2018 and 2019. She has scored 88 goals through her first three seasons at the school and has dished 25 assists. Won 122 draw controls, leading the team in this category in 2020.
Â
Gardner-Webb is coming off their winningest season in school history, finishing the shortened season on a four-game win streak with an overall record of 6-3. The team returns ten starters to the team while adding eight new players to the roster.
Â
PRESEASON ALL-CONFERENCE TEAM
ATTÂ Â Abby Hormes, Sr., High Point
ATTÂ Â Julianna Sanchez, R-Fr., Campbell
ATTÂ Â Lauren Morris, Sr., Winthrop
MFÂ Â Â Ashley Britton, Gr., High Point
MFÂ Â Â Lauren Asher, Jr., Winthrop
MFÂ Â Â Dana Joss, Gr., Longwood
DÂ Â Â Â Â Katie Bendrick, Jr., Radford
DÂ Â Â Â Â Janice Donaldson, Gr., Gardner-Webb
DÂ Â Â Â Â Claire Libby, Soph., Longwood
DÂ Â Â Â Â Annie Ryan, R-Soph., Campbell
GKÂ Â Â Sarah Zeto, Sr., High Point
ALÂ Â Â Grace Gleason, Jr., Radford
ALÂ Â Â Talen Francis, Sr., Gardner-Webb
ALÂ Â Â Alex Salim, R-Jr., Campbell
Â
PRESEASON OFFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE YEAR
Abby Hormes, ATT, Sr., High Point
Â
PRESEASON DEFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE YEAR
Ashley Britton, MF, Gr., High Point
Â
Players Mentioned
D
/ Women's Lacrosse
A
/ Women's Lacrosse No videos available.
