Women's Basketball 12/10/2020 3:14:00 PM

Women's Hoops Preview vs. Delta State

Saturday, Dec. 12 vs. Delta State, 6:30 p.m. CST
Friday, Dec. 13 vs. Delta State, 3 p.m. CST

WHERE
Pruitt Hall Gymnasium in Livingston, Alabama for both contests.

ADMISSION
No admission charge for limited first-come first served seating at West Alabama home games, but the wearing of masks and social distancing is required. Doors will open one hour before tipoff and fans allowed in the gym will sit only in the bleachers on the opposite side of the court from the team benches.

LINKS VS DSU
Video | Stats

WEST ALABAMA
The Tigers are opening the regular season at home for the second year in a row. UWA finished last season 11-15 overall and 6-14 in the Gulf South Conference, just missing out on the GSC Championship Tournament. Bria Dent, a Second Team All-Conference selection last season, was named to the Preseason All-GSC Team this season while former All-Conference player and 2017 Freshman of the Year Tazsa Garrett-Hammett both return to lead the squad. Also returning from last year's team are (in alphabetical order): Genesis Del Toro, Jada Golden, Lauryn Lilly, Karley McDaniel, Emily Phillips, Naelyn Rios, Jala Williams, and Zoe Watts. Joining the returning Tigers are Justyna Butler (out with injury), Leah Harrison and Rose Smith.

DELTA STATE
The Lady Statesmen went 23-7 overall and 14-6 in the GSC and were heading to the NCAA South Region Tournament before COVID-19 shut down the 2019-20 season in March. Zyaire Ewing, WBCA All-American Honorable mention, was named Preseason All-Conference after averaging 13.2 points per game and 10.5 rebounds per game last season. DSU returns five other players from last year's team.

COACHES
Rusty Cram is 63-102 (.382) in his seventh season at West Alabama; 329-365 (.471) in his 26th season as a collegiate head coach. Craig Roden is 108-63 (.632) in his seventh season at Delta State; 444-389 (.533) in his 30th season as a head coach.

DSU (RETURNING) STAT LEADERS
Scoring: Zyaire Ewing, 13.2
Rebounding: Aryn Sanders, 10.5
Assists: Shaniyah Buford, 1.6
FG%: Kirstin Brown, .444 (64-144)
3FG%: Shaniyah Buford, .402 (33-82)
FT%: Shaniyah Buford, .795 (31-19)

UWA (RETURNING) STAT LEADERS
Scoring: Tazsa Garrett-Hammett, 16.1
Rebounding: Bria Dent, 12.6
Assists: Naelyn Rios, 2.5
FG%: Tazsa Garrett-Hammett, .559 (156-279)
3FG%: Jada Golden, .284 (40-141)
FT%: Bria Dent, .778 (56-72)

PRESEASON STUFF
UWA was picked to finish fourth in the GSC West Division this season. Perennial powerhouse Union was selected to finish first with four first place votes and 24 total points in the poll, but right behind the Bulldogs are the Delta State Lady Statesmen with two first place votes and 22 total points. Alabama Huntsville is third in the poll with Christian Brothers and Mississippi College coming in fifth and sixth respectively. Only posting the relevant West Division poll and Preseason All-Conference selections as listed below.

2020 WOMEN'S BASKETBALL PRESEASON POLL - WEST

School	Total Points
1. Union (4)	24
2. Delta State (2)	22
3. Alabama Huntsville	16
4. West Alabama	11
5. Christian Brothers	9
6. Mississippi College	8

WEST
Pos.     Player                            School                            Year         Hometown
G/F      Bria Dent^       West Alabama                Jr.            Birmingham, Ala.
F          Zyaire Ewing                  Delta State                       Sr.            Natchez, Miss.
G          Holly Harris                   Alabama Huntsville          Jr.             Franklin, Tenn.
G          Brynne Lytle^*               Christian Brothers            Sr.            Jackson, Tenn.
C          Jaelencia Williams^       Union                               Sr.             Indianapolis, Ind.

* Indicates previous First Team All-GSC selection
^ Indicates previous Second Team All-GSC selection

TAZSA THE GOAT?
Entering her fourth season with the Tigers, Tazsa Garrett-Hammett has worked her to at least top six in multiple statistical career categories at West Alabama and put herself in the conversation as to one of the greatest players to ever suit up for UWA. Entering the weekend, Garrett-Hammett is sixth in points scored (1,019), sixth in rebounds (545), third in field goal percentage (.545), fourth in field goals made (343), fourth in free throws made (255) and third free throws attempted (430). She was named to the UWA Women's Basketball Team of the Decade during Summer 2020.

BRIA ON THE BOARDS
Last season was a phenomenal one for the junior Bria Dent. She recorded 17 double-doubles last season which was 13th most in NCAA Division II. The 5-foot-9 wing player posted two separate 20-20 games with 22 points and 21 rebounds against Christian Brothers on February 13 and 22 points and 20 rebounds against Valdosta State on February 22. She averaged 33.1 minutes, 14.8 points and 12.8 rebounds per game.

STONGER TOGETHER…BUT STILL DIVIDED
The Gulf South Conference adopted a "mirrored" schedule for the 2020-21 basketball season to help alleviate problems caused by the COVID Pandemic. A "mirrored" schedule means that the UWA men's and women's teams will be playing the same teams at the same time on Fridays and Saturdays throughout the season, only at different locations. For example, when the UWA women play Delta State at home, the men will be playing at DSU and vice versa.

The UWA men's and women's teams will be playing at the same time at different venues in 18 of 20 games. The lone exception is opening weekend against Delta State due to Pruitt Gym being set up for graduation on Friday night prior to Saturday commencement ceremonies.

WHO'S NEXT?
The Tigers hit the road to wrap the December section of the 2020-21 season with a trip to Memphis, Tennessee to face Christian Brothers on December 18 at 6 p.m. and December 19 at 2 p.m.

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Players Mentioned

#2 Bria Dent: G; 5' 9"; Sophomore

#1 Tazsa Garrett-Hammett: G/F; 5' 11"; Junior

#10 Jala Williams: G; 5' 5"; Sophomore

#0 Genesis Del Toro: PG; 5' 3"; Junior

#3 Naelyn Rios: G; 5' 6"; Freshman

#5 Lauryn Lilly: G; 5' 8"; Sophomore

#34 Zoe Watts: C; 6' 2"; Freshman

#4 Jada Golden: G; 5' 9"; Junior

#11 Karley McDaniel: G; 5' 5"; Freshman

#12 Rose Smith: C; 6' 3"; Junior

#25 Justyna Butler: G; 5' 7"; Junior

Players Mentioned

#2 Bria Dent
: 5' 9"; Sophomore
: G

#1 Tazsa Garrett-Hammett
: 5' 11"; Junior
: G/F

#10 Jala Williams
: 5' 5"; Sophomore
: G

#0 Genesis Del Toro
: 5' 3"; Junior
: PG

#3 Naelyn Rios
: 5' 6"; Freshman
: G

#5 Lauryn Lilly
: 5' 8"; Sophomore
: G

#34 Zoe Watts
: 6' 2"; Freshman
: C

#4 Jada Golden
: 5' 9"; Junior
: G

#11 Karley McDaniel
: 5' 5"; Freshman
: G

#12 Rose Smith
: 6' 3"; Junior
: C

#25 Justyna Butler
: 5' 7"; Junior
: G