Lady Pilots Named Number One in RRAC Preseason Poll Ahead of Home Opener
Waco, Texas—The LSUS Pilots are gearing up to kick off the 2023-2024 season in just three days and with the season approaching the RRAC has released the preseason polls. After finishing second in the 2022-2023 regular season and conference tournament, the Pilots found themselves affixed atop the polls to begin the 2023-2024 season. LSUS picked up five of the twelve first place votes collecting 136 points in the poll overall.
The Pilots brought in seven newcomers to the roster and return six contributors off of last year's squad. Destanee Roblow, Derrica Gilbert, Tahjea Smith, Alexis Brown, Tiarra Tillison, and Tyquanna Ross all return for the Pilots with hopes of seeking redemption for the previous year. The Pilots finished 24-8 overall in the season and 14-4 in conference play, just shy of both the conference tournament and conference regular season titles. Roblow, Gilbert, Smith, and, Brown all received all conference nods for the Pilots in the 22-23 season where Brown and Gilbert were named All-Tournament team selections as well. Tillison returning for the Pilots averaged 5.2 points per game and was selected as the RRAC Freshman of the Year. Roblow led the Pilots with 9.2 points and 6.8 rebounds per game. Gilbert and Smith added 8.1 ppg and 2.5 reb/g and 7.9ppg and 4.5 reb/g respectively.
The Pilots brought in many pieces to help lift their game to yet another level. Erynn Williams will be joining the Pilots in the 2023-2024 season as the guard from Delta College was named tournament MVP, 1st team All-Conference, All-Region, All-MCCAA, All- Defensive Team and was a 2-time MCCAA Player of the Week and one time NJCAA Player of the Week. She averaged 15 points per game with 4 steals and 4.3 rebounds a game as well. They added some significant size in the post with Sharayah Johnson, a 6'4 transfer from Panola College, and Kenyal Perry, a 6'6 transfer from Sam Houston University. Johnson was a Region 14 All-Tournament Team and Region Player of the Week. She averaged 13.4 points per game as well as 5.1 rebounds per game. Perry spent two seasons at Texas A&M before transferring to Sam Houston. The forward averaged four points and four rebounds per game.
Tanashia Hairston and Skyler Christmas add some more depth at the guard position for the Pilots as they both transfer in. Hairston comes by way of Shaw University where she was an All-CIAA Rookie team selection. She averaged 5.3 points and 1.4 assists per game. Christmas spent her freshman year at the university of Louisiana-Lafayette where she averaged 1.9 points and 9 assists per game. She came to the Pilots by way of Georgia Southwestern averaging 3.3 points per game. The Pilots also picked up freshman forward Taylor Jackson. Jackson was named district MVP for Ponchatoula High School as well as an All-State selection. She averaged 21 points and nine rebounds per game.
The Pilots look forward to a packed schedule as they open their season October 27th against the Rams of Texas Wesleyan. Tipoff is set for 5:30pm CT from The Dock in Shreveport, Louisiana.
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