CHARLOTTE – Gardner-Webb's Talen Francis became the first student-athlete in program history to earn first-team All-Big South Conference, as the league announced its 2021 postseason honors Thursday.

Francis ranked fifth in goals per game (2.5) and points per game (3.1) in 2021, scoring 35 goals to go with eight assists for the Runnin' Bulldogs. 

Her eight points vs. Wofford on February 22 was one of the top marks in the conference. She had a balanced four goals and four assists in that victory.

Francis scored a season-high five goals twice – once at Longwood and once at Akron. She added 48 draw controls and 25 ground balls on the season.

Heather Lobas was named second-team All-Big South on defense after a breakout season. She led the team with 23 caused turnovers, picked up 17 ground balls and started all 14 games. Twice she caused four turnovers in a single game, going for the quartet against Longwood and Robert Morris.

Graduate student and team captain Janice Donaldson was named to the Big South All-Academic Team. An excellent performer in the classroom, Donaldson also led Gardner-Webb with 30 ground balls in 2021. She added 10 caused turnovers and was the anchor of the team's defensive efforts.

FIRST TEAM ALL-CONFERENCE
ATT – Abby Hormes, Sr., High Point
ATT – Juliana Sanchez, R-Fr., Campbell
ATT – Rachel Foster, Sr., High Point
MF – Ashley Britton, Gr., High Point
MF – Lizzie Yurchak, Fr., Campbell
MF – Sam Bischoff, Fr., Campbell
D – Megan Nerney, Gr., High Point
D – Katie Bendrick, Jr., Radford
D – Kimora Bailey, Soph., Winthrop
GK – Alex Salim, R-Jr., Campbell (tie)
GK – Jill Rall, Gr., High Point (tie)
AL – Bianca Tedesco, Sr., ATT, Winthrop
AL – Ava Goeller, Fr., ATT, Radford
AL – Talen Francis, Sr., ATT, Gardner-Webb (tie)
AL – Rebekah Taylor, R-Fr., D, Campbell (tie)
 
SECOND TEAM ALL-CONFERENCE
ATT – Lindsey Carroll, Sr., Radford
ATT – McKenna Blick, Sr., Winthrop
ATT - Megan Matthews, Jr., Campbell
MF – Katie Hormes, Fr., High Point
MF – Alyssa Angelo, Fr., Winthrop
MF – Dana Joss, Gr., Longwood
D – Heather Lobas, Jr., Gardner-Webb
D – Rachel Rogers, Sr., Radford
D – Chandler Stewart, R-Fr., Campbell
GK – Sara McGuire, Sr., Winthrop
AL – Grace Gleason, Jr., MF, Radford
AL – Abby Edminsten, Soph., MF, Presbyterian College
AL – Kaely Kyle, Sr., MF, High Point
 
HONORABLE MENTION ALL-CONFERENCE
Mena Loescher, Jr., ATT, High Point
Emma Johnson, Sr., MF, Longwood
Lauren Asher, Jr., MF, Winthrop
Emma Genovese, Jr., MF, High Point 
Lauren Cerretani, Soph., D, Longwood
 
ALL-ACADEMIC TEAM
Megan Matthews, Jr., ATT, Campbell
Janice Donaldson, Gr., D, Gardner-Webb
Ashley Britton, Gr., MF, High Point
Dana Joss, Gr., MF, Longwood
Sarah Marshall, Sr., ATT, Presbyterian College
Rachel Rogers, Sr., D, Radford
Olivia Deaver, Sr., MF, Winthrop
 
OFFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE YEAR
Abby Hormes, Sr., ATT, High Point
 
CO-DEFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE YEAR
Ashley Britton, Gr., MF, High Point
Kimora Bailey, D, Winthrop
 
FRESHMAN OF THE YEAR
Ava Goeller, Fr., ATT, Radford
 
COACH OF THE YEAR
Lyndsey Boswell, High Point
 
SCHOLAR-ATHLETE OF THE YEAR
Dana Joss, Gr., MF, Longwood