Photo by: Todd Drexler, SoCon Photos
Gardner-Webb Women's Basketball Picked As Preseason Big South Favorites
October 26, 2022 | Women's Basketball
CHARLOTTE – Gardner-Webb women's basketball was tabbed as the preseason favorite Wednesday morning, topping the poll released as part of Big South Conference Media Day at Bojangles Entertainment Complex.
Head coach Alex Simmons returns four starters and 91.2 percent of the scoring from last year's 16-15 Big South semifinalists and has one of the most experienced teams in the conference heading into the season.
Gardner-Webb was tied atop the poll with High Point with 92 points each, followed by Campbell (86), Radford (55) and UNC Asheville (52). Longwood, Presbyterian, USC Upstate, Winthrop and Charleston Southern rounded out the 10-team projection.
The tie atop the poll marked just the second time in league history that two teams were deadlocked in the preseason.
Gardner-Webb swept High Point in three meetings last season, including a 55-53 win over the Panthers in the quarterfinals of the 2022 Big South Conference Championship at Bojangles Coliseum.
The Runnin' Bulldogs were well represented on the Big South's preseason All-Conference team, with forward Alasia Smith earning Big South Player of the Year honors.
Wing Jhessyka Williams and guard Lauren Bevis were also named preseason All-Big South Conference on Wednesday.
Smith (Johnson City, Tenn.) averaged 14.5 points and 9.2 rebounds per game as a sophomore last season and posted a team-high 13 double-doubles. She shot 55.8 percent from the floor and got to the rim often – draining 101 free throws. The 2021 Big South Freshman of the Year has been an All-Conference choice in each of her seasons in Boiling Springs.
Williams (Augusta, Ga.) joined Smith on the first-team All-Big South squad and is one of the conference's most lethal weapons off the dribble. She has scored 1,376 points so far and is coming off a season that saw her average a team-high 16.1 points per game. Williams added 8.2 rebounds per contest and made 103 free throws.
Bevis (High Point, N.C.) is a second-team All-Big South selection and enters her senior season as one of the nation's top three-point shooters. She averaged 13.2 points per game last season and drained 73-of-193 shots from deep (37.8 percent).
That All-Conference trio is complimented by veteran point guard Ki'Ari Cain (Sumter, S.C.) who returns after averaging a career-high 9.6 points per game and 4.2 assists per game.
Gardner-Webb brings back a total of 11 letterwinners from last year's team.
The Runnin' Bulldogs open the 2022-2023 season on November 7 at Clemson.
Head coach Alex Simmons returns four starters and 91.2 percent of the scoring from last year's 16-15 Big South semifinalists and has one of the most experienced teams in the conference heading into the season.
Gardner-Webb was tied atop the poll with High Point with 92 points each, followed by Campbell (86), Radford (55) and UNC Asheville (52). Longwood, Presbyterian, USC Upstate, Winthrop and Charleston Southern rounded out the 10-team projection.
The tie atop the poll marked just the second time in league history that two teams were deadlocked in the preseason.
Gardner-Webb swept High Point in three meetings last season, including a 55-53 win over the Panthers in the quarterfinals of the 2022 Big South Conference Championship at Bojangles Coliseum.
The Runnin' Bulldogs were well represented on the Big South's preseason All-Conference team, with forward Alasia Smith earning Big South Player of the Year honors.
Wing Jhessyka Williams and guard Lauren Bevis were also named preseason All-Big South Conference on Wednesday.
Smith (Johnson City, Tenn.) averaged 14.5 points and 9.2 rebounds per game as a sophomore last season and posted a team-high 13 double-doubles. She shot 55.8 percent from the floor and got to the rim often – draining 101 free throws. The 2021 Big South Freshman of the Year has been an All-Conference choice in each of her seasons in Boiling Springs.
Williams (Augusta, Ga.) joined Smith on the first-team All-Big South squad and is one of the conference's most lethal weapons off the dribble. She has scored 1,376 points so far and is coming off a season that saw her average a team-high 16.1 points per game. Williams added 8.2 rebounds per contest and made 103 free throws.
Bevis (High Point, N.C.) is a second-team All-Big South selection and enters her senior season as one of the nation's top three-point shooters. She averaged 13.2 points per game last season and drained 73-of-193 shots from deep (37.8 percent).
That All-Conference trio is complimented by veteran point guard Ki'Ari Cain (Sumter, S.C.) who returns after averaging a career-high 9.6 points per game and 4.2 assists per game.
Gardner-Webb brings back a total of 11 letterwinners from last year's team.
The Runnin' Bulldogs open the 2022-2023 season on November 7 at Clemson.
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