CONCORD, N.C – The High Point University women's basketball team was selected first in the   Big South Conference Preseason Poll, which was announced at the Big South Basketball Media Day Tuesday morning. Graduate transfer Lauren Bevis was selected as the Big South Preseason Player of the Year, while junior Nakyah Terrell was named to the Big South All-Conference Second Team.
 
After the conclusion of the 2022-23 season and school year, Bevis finished her four-year degree at Gardner-Webb University. Bevis entered the transfer portal for her graduate year and found herself staying in the Big South, coming to play at High Point University. Bevis is coming off an incredible performance where she was named to the Big South All-Conference team and the Big South All-Tournament team. In her 2022-23 season, Bevis scored 494 points averaging 15.4 points per game and finished the season second in scoring. She also led the Big South in 3-point field goals made at 97. Bevis stapled herself as one of the top shooters in Gardner-Webb basketball history.
 
Terrell started each of the 31 games played for the Panthers. She averaged 10.4 points per game while landing in the top-10 in the Big South as she dished out 87 assists and shot .459 from the field.
 
The Panthers come into the 2023-24 season after going 17-15 on the year. They made it to the Big South Championship game after defeating No. 7 USC Upstate 50-43, and No. 3 Campbell 69-50. High Point lost to No. 1 Gardner-Webb 74-61 in the championship game. The Panthers clinched a spot in the WNIT to take on Clemson. High Point's season came to an end after a 66-46 loss to the Tigers.
 
The Panthers open the season on the road at Virginia Tech on November 6 at 5 p.m.

2023-24 Big South Conference Women's Basketball Preseason All-Conference Team
 
First-Team
Lauren Bevis, High Point (Preseason Player of the Year)
Ashlyn Traylor-Walker, Radford
Bryanna Brady, Presbyterian
McKinley Brooks-Sumpter, UNC Asheville
Adriana Shipp-Davis, Longwood
 
Second-Team
Anne-Hamilton LeRoy, Longwood
Nakyah Terrell, High Point
Trinity Johnson, USC Upstate
Tilda Sjökvist, Presbyterian
Jada Ryce, Winthrop

 

Rk — School (first-place votes)	Points
1. High Point (8)	80
T-2. Presbyterian (1)	61
T-2. Radford	61
4. Longwood	56
5. UNC Asheville	53
6. USC Upstate	33
7. Winthrop	28
8. Charleston Southern	18
9. Gardner-Webb	15