Lions Picked Fifth, Robinson Named to Preseason All-SLC Team

By Lion Athletics

FRISCO – The Texas A&M University-Commerce women’s basketball team made some history on Tuesday morning as the Southland Conference released the preseason all-conference teams and preseason poll prior to the conference’s annual media day.

The Lions are picked to finish fifth out of 10 teams in the preseason poll, as voted on by the head coaches and sports information directors in the SLC, and also received a first-place vote. The No. 5 preseason ranking is the highest of any team from A&M-Commerce since joining the SLC and the first-place vote is also a vote.

Additionally, Dyani Robinson (Langham Creek) is selected to second-team preseason all-SLC, becoming the first A&M-Commerce player to be recognized in the preseason all-conference teams.

Jason Burton, now in his ninth season as the leader of the Lions, is slated to appear on the SLC’s Media Day on ESPN+ at 12:46 p.m. Fans can tune in HERE.

Coming off four straight NCAA Tournament appearances and three straight conference championship game appearances, the Lions were ranked as high as No. 1 in the Division II Sports Information Directors Association (D2SIDA) poll and No. 2 in the Women’s Basketball Coaches Association (WBCA) rankings last season. A&M-Commerce went 27-5 last season, advancing to the regional semifinal (round of 32) for the second straight season.

Texas A&M-Corpus Christi is picked to win the conference, while the Lions finished just two points behind Lamar for fifth place.

Robinson, who enters her junior season, put together one of the best seasons in program history last season, earning All-America honors from two different publications, including being named on the first team by the WBCA, becoming the first player in program history to be named South Central Region Most Outstanding Player of the Year, and was also named conference player of the year and first team all-conference.

She averaged 16.5 points per game last season, playing all 32 games.

The Lions begin their inaugural season on November 7 at home against UNT-Dallas, but host SAGU (November 2) and Arlington Baptist (November 4) for exhibition contests in the preseason.

On Tuesday night, the Lions are hosting Lion Mania presented by Cypress Bank for a preview of basketball season in the Field House. Admission is free and the night full of activities includes a dance-off between the two coaches and free giveaways.

2022-23 Southland Women’s Basketball Preseason Poll

Pl	School	1st	Points
1	Texas A&M-Corpus Christi	11	148
2	HCU	5	131
3	Southeastern	3	122
4	Lamar		103
5	A&M-COMMERCE	1	101
6	McNeese		98
7	UIW		64
8	Northwestern State		61
9	New Orleans		47
10	Nicholls		25

2022-23 Southland Women’s Basketball Preseason All-Conference
FIRST TEAM

Name	School	Pos.	Cl.	Hometown
Kaili Chamberlin 2	McNeese	G	So.	Medford, Ore.
Candice Parramore 2	Northwestern State	G	Gr.	Dallas, Texas
Makinna Serrata 1	Texas A&M-Corpus Christi	G	R-Sr.	Tilden, Texas
Alecia Westbrook 1	Texas A&M-Corpus Christi	F/C	Sr.	Kansas City, Mo.
Kennedy Wilson 2	HCU	G	Sr.	Mansfield, Texas

SECOND TEAM

Name	School	Pos.	Cl.	Hometown
Akasha Davis	Lamar	F/C	So.	Wylie, Texas
Hailey Giaratano 3	Southeastern	G	Jr.	Ponchatoula, La.
Desirae Hansen 3	McNeese	G	Sr	Rainier, Ore.
Dyani Robinson	A&M-Commerce	G	Jr.	Cypress, Texas
Julija Vujakovic 2	HCU	G	Gr.	Bereldange, Luxembourg

1= 2021-22 First Team All- Southland
2= 2021-22 Second Team All- Southland
3= 2021-22 Third Team All- Southland