BIRMINGHAM, Alabama – The Gulf South Conference released its 2021-22 Women’s Basketball Preseason Coaches’ Poll and Awards Friday. Union was selected by the coaches as the preseason favorite to repeat as GSC Champions.
In addition to the team’s No. 1 selection, Jalencia Williams and Shanique Lucas were both named to the preseason All-GSC team as voted by the coaches.
Union received 10 of the 13 first-place votes and 142 total points. Lee, the team Union defeated in last season’s GSC Championship Game, was voted second with 126 points and one first-place vote. Valdosta State was voted third, just behind Lee with 122 points and two first-place votes. Montevallo rounded out the top four with 116 votes. All four of these teams advance to the NCAA D2 National Tournament last season.
Williams, a senior, is back for her COVID season, granted to all players by the NCAA. Williams was named the GSC West Player of the Year last season, first-team All-GSC, GSC All-Tournament, South Region All-Tournament, and D2CCA All-America honorable mentioned. Williams averaged 17.4 points per game and 10.6 rebounds per game last season.
Lucas, as a sophomore last season, was named first-team All-GSC West, GSC Tournament Most Outstanding Player, GSC All-Tournament, and GSC All-Academic. Lucas led Union with 18.4 points per game. She added 5.8 rebounds and 4.0 assists per game.
Union plays two exhibitions to open the 2021-22 season. Union plays at NCAA D1 Louisville, Thursday, November 4, and then plays at home, Saturday, November 6 at 2 p.m. versus Martin Methodist College. The November 6 home game is also Homecoming for the University.
Union’s regular-season opener will be on the road in Tampa, Florida as a part of the Crossover Classic. Union will face Florida Tech November 12 and the University of Tampa November 13, both in Tampa, Fla.
The first regular-season home game will be a rematch of the 2018 NCAA D2 National Semifinal game with Central Missouri when the Jennies come to Jackson, November 20 for a 1 p.m. game. Union will also face D2 perennial power and last season’s national runner-up, Drury University at Drury, November 24.
Union’s first GSC game will be at home versus Lee in a rematch of last season’s GSC Title game, December 2 at 5:30 p.m.
Union returns three seniors, including Emily Beard and Williams, both back for their COVID granted seasons. Jordan Little also returns as a senior. A newcomer to the senior class will be graduate transfer Ashtyn Baker of Nesbit, Miss. who transferred in from D1 Liberty University.
Five juniors are on the roster for 2021-22 including four returners. Lucas, Sadie Knee, Kieli Robinson, and Leah Cauble are all back for their third seasons with Union. Knee a starter from last year was the hero in Union GSC Tournament Semifinal win over Montevallo with her 3-pointer at the buzzer. Samariah Thompson returns home to West Tennessee. The Dyersburg, Tennessee native transferred to Union from Rogers State University.
Union has two sophomores, both returners from last season including Sally Howell and Claire Maxon.
Five freshmen join the Union women’s basketball program this year to begin their college careers. Anna McCredy (Fayetteville, Ark.), Shylee Morrison (Gravette, Ark.), Bethany Dillard (Little Rock, Ark.), Bailey Augustine (Black Rock, Ark.), and Keisharna Lucas (Papua New Guinea). Keisharna Lucas is the younger sister of Shanique.
