2024-25 Austin College Women's Basketball Season Preview

The Austin College women's basketball team looking to carry forward the momentum they gained toward the end of last season, when the 'Roos closed strong in Southern Collegiate Athletic Conference play to earn a berth in the conference tournament. The 'Roos finished last season with an overall record of 9-17 and a conference mark of 7-9.

With no seniors on this year's team, the young squad will be looking to leadership from its junior class, including Grace Moothart, Brooklyn Matthews, Avery Rague, and Trinity Williams. Moothart and Matthews return as starters this season, with Moothart coming off a year in which she scored 7.2 points-per-game and knocked down 38.2% of her attempts from beyond the arc while Matthews posted averages of 6.9 points and 6.3 rebounds-per-game.

Head coach Michelle Filander's team will be bolstered by a strong group of sophomores, including Lexi Martin, who stepped into the starting lineup last season and led the team with an average of 10.2 points-per-game while adding 3.3 rebounds, 1.8 assists, and 1.3 steals in her first collegiate campaign.

Also returning as part of the team's strong sophomore class are guards Avory Miller and Kaylee Smith, as well as forward Raylee McDonald, each of whom saw action in their first year on campus. Miller saw time in all 26 games last season, averaging 3.0 points, 2.5 rebounds, 1.4 assists, and 1.1 steals-per-game, while Smith earned minutes in 15 games and McDonald played in 25 of the team's 26 games. Julianna Giles is also back to bolster the sophomore class, while Emma Potts and Kate Fletcher will be suiting up after both missed all of last season with injuries.

The 'Roos brought in a deep freshman class, with several players expected to make an early impact, including wings Maya Dodson and Taiyla Williams, as well as guards Anna Duvall, Lyah Niera, Makayla Beckett, and Ester Sabet. 

Austin College opens up the 2024-25 campaign on Friday, November 15 when they travel to Conway, Ark., to take on Hendrix College at 6:00 p.m.