University of North Carolina Ashville Athletics
Bulldogs Picked Seventh in Preseason Poll; Evans Picked Preseason All-Conference
11.10.2020 | Women's Basketball
CHARLOTTE, N.C. – The UNC Asheville women's basketball team was picked to finish seventh in the Big South Conference preseason poll, while Nadiria Evans was named to the Preseason All-Big South First Team Tuesday morning as a part of the conference's virtual media day event.
Campbell topped the poll with 112 points and collected six of the 11 first-place votes. Radford (107 points) and High Point (104 points) also logged over 100 points in the poll and placed second and third, respectively. After the top three teams, the projected order of finish was Hampton (86 points), Gardner-Webb (70 points), Longwood (66 points), UNC Asheville (56 points), Presbyterian (48 points), USC Upstate (30 points), Charleston Southern (24 points), and Winthrop (23 points).
"There are a lot of good teams, players, and coaches in the league so ranking them can be hard," said UNC Asheville Head Women's Basketball Coach Honey Brown. "Rankings are informative because they tell you how others think you look on paper with returners and trends from last year. The game is so much more than that, which makes it difficult to predict how our league will finish with any accuracy. In addition, we are competing under unusual circumstances this season. We will continue to work tirelessly to get better every day. That is the only path to earn respect and finish near the top of the conference. Our team is focused on the process of improvement, consistency, and building chemistry at this point in our journey."
Evans is the third Bulldog in as many years to be named to the Preseason All-Big South First Team joining Jessica Wall (2018-19) and Sonora Dengokl (2019-20). Evans developed into a key player for the Bulldogs last season. The Gainesville, Florida native started all 30 games for the Bulldogs and led the team in field goals made (157), free throws made (102), points scored (428), and steals (38). She scored 20 or more points seven times as a junior, including a season-best 26-point effort at Radford. Following the regular season, Evans earned All-Big South Honorable Mention distinction for her play as a junior.
"I am so proud of Nadiria Evans for being recognized as one of the best guards in the Big South Conference," Brown said of Evans. "She is in good company with the others on that list who's hard work is also paying off."
UNC Asheville is scheduled to begin the unique 2020-21 season on November 25 when it hosts rival Western Carolina at Kimmel Arena. Tip-off for that game is set for 3:30 p.m.
For a complete listing of the preseason rankings as well as the Preseason All-Big South teams, click the appropriate links or visit bigsouthsports.com.
Campbell topped the poll with 112 points and collected six of the 11 first-place votes. Radford (107 points) and High Point (104 points) also logged over 100 points in the poll and placed second and third, respectively. After the top three teams, the projected order of finish was Hampton (86 points), Gardner-Webb (70 points), Longwood (66 points), UNC Asheville (56 points), Presbyterian (48 points), USC Upstate (30 points), Charleston Southern (24 points), and Winthrop (23 points).
"There are a lot of good teams, players, and coaches in the league so ranking them can be hard," said UNC Asheville Head Women's Basketball Coach Honey Brown. "Rankings are informative because they tell you how others think you look on paper with returners and trends from last year. The game is so much more than that, which makes it difficult to predict how our league will finish with any accuracy. In addition, we are competing under unusual circumstances this season. We will continue to work tirelessly to get better every day. That is the only path to earn respect and finish near the top of the conference. Our team is focused on the process of improvement, consistency, and building chemistry at this point in our journey."
Evans is the third Bulldog in as many years to be named to the Preseason All-Big South First Team joining Jessica Wall (2018-19) and Sonora Dengokl (2019-20). Evans developed into a key player for the Bulldogs last season. The Gainesville, Florida native started all 30 games for the Bulldogs and led the team in field goals made (157), free throws made (102), points scored (428), and steals (38). She scored 20 or more points seven times as a junior, including a season-best 26-point effort at Radford. Following the regular season, Evans earned All-Big South Honorable Mention distinction for her play as a junior.
"I am so proud of Nadiria Evans for being recognized as one of the best guards in the Big South Conference," Brown said of Evans. "She is in good company with the others on that list who's hard work is also paying off."
UNC Asheville is scheduled to begin the unique 2020-21 season on November 25 when it hosts rival Western Carolina at Kimmel Arena. Tip-off for that game is set for 3:30 p.m.
For a complete listing of the preseason rankings as well as the Preseason All-Big South teams, click the appropriate links or visit bigsouthsports.com.
Players Mentioned
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