BCSN PRESEASON HBCU WOMEN'S BASKETBALL TEAMS

Every college basketball team has faced challenges and tough decisions leading up to their annual start of the basketball season. It seems that women’s basketball teams have been affected at a slightly higher rate than their male counterparts. 

There have been programs that have had their season’s cancelled as part of an entire athletic department shut down (Bethune-Cookman, Maryland Eastern Shore). There have been teams that have opted out of playing (Florida A&M). There have been teams that have scrapped their entire non-conference schedule during the month of December (Alabama State, as well as most SIAC and CIAA teams). And, there have been teams that have tried to start their season with other teams, but have dealt with several cancellations that have delayed their start (Prairie View A&M, Coppin State).

As the non-conference season begins, the Black College Sports Network (BCSN) recognizes the top HBCU women’s basketball players from NCAA Division I, II, and NAIA levels.  We look forward to seeing what new heights these ladies can soar to with their respective teams.

Our D-I first-team consists of a good mix of veterans that will once again be called upon to lead their team not only in minutes, but points as well, and one of top freshmen from last year that will only get better in her second year.

Texas Southern graduate forward Niya Mitchell helped lead the Lady Tigers to a 20-win season a year ago as the third leading scorer in the SWAC (16.1 ppg), yet she was the second leading scorer on her team to Ciana Cryor, who led the conference in scoring and was the player of the year. Nationally, she ranked sixth in overall rebounding (9.2 rpg), fifth in offensive rebounds, and 14th in steals. Mitchell shot better than 50% from the field in 23 of 30 games played last year. A first-team All-SWAC and BOXTOROW All-American selection at the end of last season, Mitchell begins the new season as a preseason first-team All-SWAC selection. 

Alabama A&M’s junior forward Dariauna Lewis made quite a name for herself in her first season for the Bulldogs last year earning first-team All-SWAC and BOXTOROW All-American honors, as well as being named the SWAC Newcomer of the Year. As a sophomore she was second in the SWAC in scoring (16.8 ppg), third in rebounding average (9.8), and third in the nation, with a 65.2 percent (182-279) field-goal percentage on the season

Hampton junior guard Laren VanArsdale led the Pirates to an 18-11 record last year while scoring 15.2 points and 3.4 assists per game as she was first-team All-Big South and a second-team BOXTOROW All-American. VanArsdale led the conference in minutes (38.2), was fifth in scoring and eighth in assists.

Senior guard Justice Coleman meant everything to Grambling State last year as she averaged 15 points (4th overall in the SWAC), 4.8 rebounds, 1.8 points and 1.4 steals per game while playing the second most minutes of any player in the conference. Coleman earned second-team all-conference honors last year, and preseason All-SWAC first-team recognition this year.

Anissa Rivera was a freshman standout for North Carolina Central a season ago averaging 13 points, 9.1 rebounds and 2.4 blocks per game in 21 games played (18 starts) earning MEAC All-Rookie team recognition. Despite not having played enough to appear in conference statistical leader categories, she would have finished first in blocks per game, fourth in rebounding and eighth in points had her average counted.

The D-II first-team consists of a group of ladies with high scoring averages that led their team and conference in a few stat categories. As their seasons begin, opponents will be game-planning against them, while their coaches find more ways to get them ball.

Senior forward Ay’Anna Bey helped lead Benedict College to a 27-3 record and second consecutive SIAC championship as she herself was awarded a second consecutive SIAC Player of the Year, while also earning the SIAC Tournament MVP award. Bey averaged 17.5 points and 9.7 rebounds per game while shooting 48.8 percent from the field and 77.6 percent from the free-throw line. She was first-team All-SIAC, first-team D2CCA South Region, and Women D2 Bulletin All-American 5th team. 

Savannah State’s junior guard Le’Andrea Gillis led her team and the SIAC in scoring (18.2 ppg) as she earned All-SIAC second-team honors in helping the Lady Tigers to their best overall regular season record in six seasons (15-7) and a 10-7 conference record that earned them a 2-seed out of the SIAC East Division in the conference tournament . In 20 games played, Gillis led the team in total points (407), field goals made (126), 3-point field goals made (55), free-throws made (100) and steals (43).  

Livingstone’s senior guard Daisa Harris was first-team All-CIAA Backcourt for the 19-20 season, leading the Blue Bears in pts (17.7 ppg) , total rebounds (5.6 rpg), assists (3.9 apg), steals (2.5 spg) and assist/turnover ratio (1.17). 

Paine College senior forward Keondra Archie was a first-team All-SIAC last year as she led the Lady Lions in scoring averaging 14.5 points per game, while pulling down 6.4 rebounds per. Archie also led the team with 39 steals and was fourth on the team with nine blocks.

Charity Shears, senior guard West Virginia State, was one of the top 3-pt shooters in D-II last year. Her 103 3-ptrs made her second in the nation for 3pt FG made. Shears led a Yellow Jackets offense that averaged 85 points per game in minutes (644), field goals made (156), three-point field goals made (103), points (467) and scoring average (16.7 ppg).

The NAIA 1st team is led by two ladies who are double-double machines.  Katie Blackmon of Rust, with her 18 double-doubles (7th in the nation), was 4th in NAIA in rebounds per game last year at 12.3 while pouring in 11.5 points and earned 3rd team All-GCAC honors.  

LaQuanza Glover, was 4th in the nation with 20 double-doubles for her hometown Edward Waters Lady Tigers.  Glover also led the nation in offensive rebounding at 6.5 per game while finishing 5th in total rebounds per game at 12.0. She was also the team's 2nd leading scorer at 14.0 points per game and earned 2nd team All-GCAC in 2020.  

Briana Page, of Jarvis Christian, was 9th in NAIA in scoring and just shy of 2 steals per game, while earning Red River Athletic Conference honors.  

Tyiesha Juhon led her Talladega team to an undefeated regular conference season in 2019-20 and picked up 1st team All-GCAC honors.   She was #14 in the NAIA in steals.

Langston’s Asheika Alexander poured in over 20 points per game to finish #3 in scoring in NAIA.  Her scoring, along with almost seven rebounds per game and over two steals per game helped her earn a spot on the Sooner Athletic Conference 1st team.

Congratulations to all of the ladies on our first and second team All-American list.

DIVISION I

1ST TEAM

2ND TEAM

DIVISION II

1ST TEAM

2ND TEAM

NAIA

1ST TEAM

2ND TEAM