CHARLOTTE, N.C. – The High Point University women’s basketball team was picked to finish fourth in the Big South Conference. Meanwhile, junior Kaylah Keys garnered preseason All-Big South first team honors for the second straight season.
Keys, the 2013-14 Big South Freshman of the Year, averaged 13.7 points per game in her sophomore season. The Southaven, Miss. native is one of two active players in the Big South with 1,000 career points along with preseason player of the year Ashley Rininger from Liberty. The guard enters her third season with the Purple & White at fourth all-time in made 3-pointers in High Point history.
The Panthers are fourth in the preseason poll with 74 points behind Liberty (116), Winthrop (105) and Radford (92). Campbell sits just behind HPU with 72 points as Gardner-Webb, Presbyterian, UNC Asheville, Longwood, Coastal Carolina and Charleston Southern
Preseason All-Conference
1st Team
Ashley Rininger, Liberty
Erica Williams, Winthrop
Schaquilla Nunn, Winthrop
Kaylah Keys, High Point
Aisha Foy, Radford
2nd Team
Sadalia Ellis, Liberty
Olivia Parker, Gardner-Webb
Aliyah Kilpatrick, Winthrop
Raven Williams, Longwood
RaeChaun Edwards, Campbell
Big South Preseason Player of the Year
Ashley Rininger, Liberty
Preseason Poll (1st-Place votes)
1. Liberty (6)
2. Winthrop (4)
3. Radford
4. High Point
5. Campbell
6. Gardner-Webb
7. Presbyterian College
8. UNC Asheville
9. Longwood
10. Coastal Carolina (1)
11. Charleston Southern