Catch up on the CAA Women's Basketball weekly news, notes and awards.

CONFERENCE NOTES

DREXEL TABBED AS PRESEASON FAVORITES: Drexel, which has advanced to five of the past six CAA Championship title games, including four in a row, was picked to capture the 2022-2023 CAA Women's Basketball title, according to a vote of the league's head coaches. 

The Dragons received 10 first-place votes and 142 points to lead the way. Charleston collected one first-place vote and 125 points to land in the second spot. It's the Cougars' highest preseason ranking since joining the CAA, while newcomer Stony Brook was selected third with 108 points ahead of its first CAA season. 

Elon was fourth, followed by Towson, which received the final two first-place votes. Defending champion Delaware was in sixth, William & Mary was seventh and Northeastern was eighth, followed by three newcomers - North Carolina A&T, Hampton and Monmouth, while UNCW and Hofstra rounded out the poll.  

DREXEL'S WASHINGTON HEADLINES PRESEASON ALL-CAA TEAM: Drexel guard Keishana Washington was selected as the 2022-2023 CAA Preseason Player of the Year. 

Washington was a first-team All-CAA selection last year and is the league's top returning scorer. She averaged 19.2 points per game last season. 

She is joined on the preseason All-CAA first team by Charleston guard Jenna Annecchiarico, Towson guard/forward Anissa Rivera and a pair of William & Mary guards, Riley Casey and Sydney Wagner. 

Making the preseason All-CAA second team were North Carolina A&T center Jazmin Harris, Towson guard Kylie Kornegay-Lucas, Elon center Evonna McGill, Hampton Forward Nylah Young and Stony Brook guard Annie Warren. 

CAA IN THE COLLEGE INSIDER MID-MAJOR TOP 25: Five CAA teams were recognized in the initial reveal of the College Insider Mid-Major Top 25 poll. The preseason favorite, Drexel, ranked seventh, while Charleston, Delaware, Stony Brook and Towson received votes in the preseason edition of the poll. 

ANNECCHIARICO NAMED TO NANCY LIEBERMAN AWARD WATCH LIST: Charleston guard Jenna Annecchiarico was named one of 20 watch list members for the 2023 Nancy Lieberman Award, announced by the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame and the Women’s Basketball Coaches Association. 

Now in its 24th year, the award recognizes the top point guard in women's NCAA Division I college basketball.

DELAWARE, DREXEL, STONY BROOK LOOK TO EXTEND POSTSEASON STREAKS: Drexel has reached postseason play in either the NCAA Tournament or WNIT in 12 of the past 13 seasons, including eight straight. Meanwhile, Delaware and Stony Brook have been to postseason play in the NCAA Tournament or WNIT in back-to-back seasons. 

Last season, four CAA teams went onto the postseason in either the NCAA Tournament, WNIT or WBI, marking the most for the conference since the 2018-2019 season. 

LUCKY NUMBER 13: For the first time in conference history, CAA Women's Basketball will feature 13 teams, adding Hampton, North Carolina A&T, Monmouth and Stony Brook prior to the 2022-2023 season. 

The Lady Pirates and Aggies join the league from the Big South, while the Hawks enter from the MAAC and the Seawolves arrive from the America East. 

It is the most number of teams ever in CAA Women's Basketball. The previous mark was 12 during the 2011-2012 campaign. 

CHANGE IN SCHEDULING FORMAT: It will be the first time since the 2012-2013 season that the league has not played a full double round-robin schedule. Teams will play an 18-game conference slate against all 12 league foes that features six repeat opponents, three home-only opponents and three away-only opponents. 

In total, each team will play nine home games and nine road games.

NEW HEAD HONCHOS: Four teams will have new head coaches on the sideline for the upcoming season. 

Sarah Jenkins takes over the reins at Delaware, but she is no stranger to Newark. Jenkins previously was associate head coach of the Blue Hens in 2020-2021, before one year at Penn State. 

Tina Martin will guide UNCW as its interim head coach after serving on the Seahawks staff for the past five seasons. Martin is one of the all-time winningest coaches in CAA history, serving as Delaware's head coach from 1996-2017. 

Laura Harper was handed the keys to the car at Towson and didn't even have to move houses after a successful two-year stint at Coppin State. 

Finally, Erin Dickerson Davis was named head coach of William & Mary, accepting her first head coaching position after most recently serving as the associate head coach at Wake Forest. 

Your Monday morning 😃: #CAAHoops is back today.

A 2️⃣1️⃣-game Opening Day starts in the morning and goes into the night.

Make sure you're following @CAABasketball for more coverage throughout the season! pic.twitter.com/XWQYsWSObV

— Colonial Athletic Association (@CAASports) November 7, 2022

TEAM NOTES

Charleston 

• Charleston returns two starters from last season's team, which had the most wins in a season since 2013-2014, going 18-13 overall. The Cougars matched a program record for CAA wins (9-9) and advanced to the CAA semifinals for the second time since joining the league. 

• Jenna Annecchiarico earned second-team All-CAA honors last year, leading the conference in assists per game (6.3) and ranking second in steals per game (2.9). Additionally, she was fourth in the CAA with 16.6 points per game and scored a D1 single-game program-record 36 points last January.  

• Anika McGarity received preseason All-CAA recognition after a career-best 11.3 points per game last season. She ranked second in the league in 3-point field goals per game (2.64) and 3-point field goal percentage (36.5%).

• A fast-paced offense and high-pressured defense, Charleston led the CAA, averaging 74.9 points per game and 11.5 steals per game last season. 

Delaware

• Delaware is the defending CAA champion, winning the program's third conference title last season. The Blue Hens have posted back-to-back 20-win seasons for the first time since 2013, with a 24-8 record and a 15-3 mark in CAA play last winter. 

• Sarah Jenkins enters her first season as head coach at Delaware, returning to the program where she coached from 2017-2021. Jenkins will have to replace the production of all five starters from last season's championship team, as the Blue Hens welcome seven newcomers to the roster. 

• Tara Cousins is one of the top returning veterans on the Blue Hens. After sitting out her first year due to injury, Cousins was a key contributor last season, adding 3.5 points per game off the bench. Additionally, in her first collegiate season, Cousins recorded three double-digit scoring performances.  

• Kharis Idom comes to Delaware from UMass-Lowell, looking to add veteran leadership to the Blue Hens' backcourt. Idom averaged 9.8 points and 3.1 rebounds per game for the River Hawks last season. 

Drexel 

• Drexel is the preseason favorite after winning the CAA regular-season title last season. The Dragons matched a program record with 28 wins, while recording the fewest losses in program history with just six, including the second-longest winning streak in program history (14 games).  

• Keishana Washington earned first-team All-CAA accolades, ranking second in the CAA in scoring with 19.2 points per game. She was one of 13 players in the NCAA to reach double figures in every game last year. 

• Maura Hendrixson returns for her fifth season with the Dragons. Hendrixson has been crucial to Drexel's accomplishments over the past five seasons, leading the CAA in assist/turnover ratio (3.0) the past two seasons. She contributed 3.3 points and 3.4 assists per game last winter.  

• Drexel plays a stifling brand of defense and led the conference in scoring defense (56.3 ppg) again last season. Additionally, the Dragons paced the CAA in field goal percentage (42.4%) and free throw percentage (77.9%) in 2021-22. 

Elon 

• Last season, Charlotte Smith became the all-time winningest coach in Elon program history as the Phoenix went 17-12, posting its first winning season since 2016-2017. Elon returns one starter from last season and will welcome eight newcomers to the court. 

• Evonna McGill is Elon's top returner, who earned preseason All-CAA honors after her best season with the Phoenix last year. McGill contributed 11.7 points per game, adding 4.8 rebounds and 1.0 blocks per game in a combined role as a starter and reserve. 

• Lenaejha Evans is a graduate transfer from Rider, an All-MAAC performer who looks to provide experience to a young squad. She averaged 14.0 points, 3.3 rebounds, 1.5 steals, and 1.4 assists per game for the Broncos last season.

• Vanessa Taylor is Elon's returning starter from last year. She averaged a career-high 28.4 minutes per game last season. Taylor added 3.3 points and 3.4 rebounds per game for the Phoenix last winter.  

Hampton 

• Hampton joins the CAA from the Big South, returning four starters from last season. Hampton is led by head coach David Six, who is the program's all-time winningest coach and has led the Lady Pirates to the postseason on seven occasions. 

• Nylah Young collected preseason All-CAA honors following an impressive 2021-2022 campaign. Young led Hampton in scoring and rebounding, averaging 15.7 points and 7.3 rebounds per game. She added 1.7 steals per game defensively and received All-Big South honorable mention. 

• Madison Buford is the top returning scorer from the Lady Pirates' backcourt. Buford contributed 9.2 points per game last season and added 3.8 rebounds and 1.2 assists per game. 

• Jermany Mapp and Victoria Mason also return to the starting lineup for Hampton. Both second-year players, Mapp averaged 7.3 points and 4.5 rebounds per game last winter, while Mason contributed 6.6 points, 3.0 rebounds and 2.4 assists per game. 

Hofstra 

• Hofstra went 8-20 overall last season but won a CAA Tournament game for the second year in a row. It is the first time the Pride has won a CAA Tournament game in back-to-back seasons since 2010-2011. Hofstra returns two starters to the squad.

• Rosi Nicholson returns to the Pride's starting lineup and has earned preseason All-CAA honors entering. Nicholson contributed 5.7 points, 4.0 rebounds and 2.3 steals per game last season en route to a CAA All-Defensive team selection. 

• Brandy Thomas, a graduate transfer from LIU, looks to add experience to a roster with turnover. Thomas averaged 12.7 points per game and 6.2 rebounds per contest last season, earning first-team All-NEC accolades. 

• Hofstra was the only team in the CAA with two players in the top 5 in steals per game last season. As a team, the Pride ranked second in the league with 8.8 steals per game.

Monmouth 

• Monmouth joins the conference from the MAAC, and the Hawks return four starters from an experienced group entering the CAA. Monmouth went 14-16 overall last season, but it was a 12-win turnaround in the first year under head coach Ginny Boggess. 

• Kaci Donovan is the Hawk's top-returning scorer from a season ago. Donovan contributed 8.3 points per game off the bench last winter, averaging 1.5 three-point field goals per game, while shooting 32.6% from beyond the arch.  

• Ariana Vanderhoop is the top returning starter to the Hawks lineup. Vanderhoop did a little bit of everything last season, contributing 7.3 points per game in addition to 5.3 rebounds, 2.2 assists and 1.1 steals per contest. 

• Monmouth will have multiple options throughout the year, as the Hawks have nine players on their roster who averaged at least 5.0 points per game last season. That is more than double the next closest team in the conference. 

North Carolina A&T

• North Carolina A&T is in its third conference in three seasons, joining the CAA from the Big South. Tarrell Robinson has led the Aggies to four winning seasons in the past five years and six postseason appearances during his tenure.

• Jazmin Harris received preseason All-CAA honors after an impressive season. Harris tallied 13.1 points per game with 6.1 rebounds and 1.2 blocks per game en route to earning All-Big South honorable mention. 

• D'Mya Tucker is another top returner for the Aggies, and she looks to see an increased role this season. Tucker contributed 5.9 points and 2.8 rebounds per game last season off the bench. She was named a captain ahead of the 2022-2023 season.

• North Carolina A&T has eight newcomers on its roster this season, including two Presbyterian transfers. Maleia Bracone was the second-leading scorer for Presbyterian last season, averaging 10.6 points per game with 4.6 rebounds per game. Nyah Willis was also a key contributor adding 8.6 points and 5.5 rebounds per contest.

UNCW

• UNCW turns to interim head coach Tina Martin to lead the program, who is one of the all-time winningest coaches in CAA history. She led Delaware from 1996-2017, before joining UNCW staff for four seasons.  

• Carrie Gross collected preseason All-CAA recognition following a career-best season last year. Gross contributed 9.4 points per game and 3.3 rebounds per game in her first season with the Seahawks. 

• Micah Hoggatt also returns to the UNCW starting lineup after putting up career-best numbers last season. After being limited to 16 games in her first three seasons, Hoggat played all 29 games last year and averaged 7.8 points with 6.0 rebounds per game. 

• Mary McMillan will be back to add experience to the Seahawks' backcourt. McMillan has made 32 starts over her first two seasons and contributed 4.5 points per game last year. 

Northeastern 

• Northeastern went 14-18 in its first season under head coach Bridgette Mitchell, but the Huskies saw a seven-win turnaround from 2020-2021. Northeastern has eight newcomers to its roster this season, matching a league-high. 

• Gemima Motema is the lone returning starter for the Huskies. Motema earned preseason All-CAA honors after averaging 9.0 points, 3.0 rebounds and 1.2 steals per game last season as a CAA All-Rookie team selection. 

• Northeastern's eight newcomers are comprised of five Division I transfers and three true freshmen. Derin Erdogan, a U20 Turkish National Team member, will play a crucial role for the Huskies as the team's point guard after two seasons at Arizona.  

• Northeastern was second in the CAA in team field goal percentage and third in field goal percentage defense last season. The Huskies shot 40.9% from the field, while holding their opponents to a 38.2% shooting clip. 

Stony Brook

• Stony Brook joins the CAA from the America East after five straight winning seasons and back-to-back postseason appearances. The Seawolves went 23-6 and made a WNIT appearance in Ashley Langford's first season as head coach. 

• Annie Warren was recognized with preseason All-CAA accolades coming into the 2022-2023 season. Warren is the top returning scorer for the Seawolves after averaging 12.0 points per game last season. She also added 4.2 rebounds and 2.4 assists per game. 

• Gigi Gonzalez also collected preseason All-CAA recognition and is the second returning starter to Stony Brook's lineup. Gonzalez led the team in assists (112) while adding 9.6 points, 3.4 rebounds and 1.6 steals per game last season. 

• To add to an experienced backcourt, Stony Brook brings in graduate transfer Daishai Almond from Southern Miss. Almond did a little bit of everything for the Golden Eagles, averaging 8.3 points, 3.7 rebounds, 3.5 assists and 2.1 steals per game a year ago. 

Towson 

• Towson went 24-8 last season, setting a program record for wins and making its first WNIT appearance since 1969. Laura Harper takes over the head coaching duties for the Tigers after two seasons leading Coppin State. 

• Anissa Rivera earned preseason All-CAA honors after an impressive first season with the Tigers. Rivera is one of two returning starters to the Towson lineup. She averaged 10.3 points per game and 7.1 rebounds per game last year. 

• Kylie Kornegay-Lucas collected preseason All-CAA accolades after earning CAA Sixth-Player of the Year honors following the 2021-2022 season. In her first season at Towson, Kornegay-Lucas contributed 8.3 points per game in addition to 5.6 rebounds, 3.2 assists and 1.8 steals per game off the bench. 

• Offensively, Towson was second in the conference last season, averaging 73.9 points per game. Defensively, the Tigers led the CAA in field goal percentage defense (35.5%) and blocked shots (146). Additionally, Towson was second in the league in rebounding margin (+6.9). 

William & Mary

• William & Mary turns to Erin Dickerson Davis to lead its program, who inherits one of the most experienced teams in the conference. The Tribe returns all but one player from its 2021-2022 roster, including four of five starters.

• Sydney Wager earned preseason All-CAA honors and is in her fifth season with the Tribe. Wagner led the team with 14.6 points per game and 3.3 assists per game last season, while adding 3.6 rebounds and 1.7 steals per game.  

• Riley Casey returns for her second season with the Tribe. A graduate student, she garnered preseason All-CAA accolades. Casey added 14.5 points per game, while leading the CAA in 3-point field goals per game (2.68) and 3-point field goal percentage (37.9%). 

• As a team, last season William & Mary led the CAA in 3-point field goal percentage (32.4%), while ranking second in 3-point field goal percentage defense (27.2%).