IRVING, Texas – The East Carolina women’s basketball team has been tabbed sixth in the American Athletic Conference Preseason Coaches’ Poll, the league announced Friday. Additionally, junior forward Amiya Joyner has earned Preseason All-Conference Second Team recognition.
The Pirates garnered 91 points in the vote, just behind UTSA in fifth and just ahead of Memphis in seventh. Perennial power South Florida was picked first with 135 points and eight first-place votes. North Texas and defending champion Rice tied for second, splitting the remaining five first-place votes.
Joyner, the 2023 America Freshman of the Year, enters the 2024-25 season looking to break out as the star player she has shown she’s capable of being. Through two seasons, Joyner has compiled 723 points, 609 rebounds and 98 blocks. She looks to become the second ECU player ever with 1,000 points and 100 rebounds this season, joining Marcia Girven.
The Farmville native had a solid year last season, becoming the first ECU player to record multiple 300-rebound seasons and posting some truly astonishing stat lines including a 15-point, 20-rebound, five-assist outing against Memphis. She finished the season in the top 50 in the NCAA in rebounds and the top 100 in blocks and will be poised for even better this season.
As a team, the Pirates enter the season after a second-consecutive American Athletic Conference Tournament title game where they fall to Rice. Despite some key injuries, the team still managed a 19-14 record and scrapped their way with four games in four days to make that championship games thanks to gutty play from returners such as Tatyana Wyche, Khia Miller, Bobbi Smith and Joyner.
The Pirates begin their 2024-25 campaign on Wednesday, Nov. 6 as they host Charleston Southern at 6 p.m. in Minges Coliseum.
Full Preseason Poll
1. South Florida (8) – 135
2. North Texas (3) – 124
Rice (2) – 124
4. Tulsa – 98
5. UTSA – 96
6. East Carolina – 91
7. Memphis – 84
8. Temple – 78
9. UAB – 55
10. Tulane – 40
11. Charlotte – 38
12. Wichita State – 32
13. Florida Atlantic – 19
First-place votes in parathesis
Preseason Honors
Preseason Players of the Year
Tommisha Lampkin, Gr., F, North Texas
Romi Levy, R-Sr., F, South Florida
Preseason All-Conference First Team
Tommisha Lampkin, Gr., F, North Texas
Malia Fisher, Sr., F, Rice
Romi Levy, R-Sr., F, South Florida
Jordyn Jenkins, R-Sr., F, UTSA
Delanie Crawford, Sr., G, Tulsa
Preseason All-Conference Second Team
Amiya Joyner, East Carolina
Vittoria Blasigh, So., G, South Florida
Mama Dembele, Gr., G, South Florida
Tiarra East, Sr., G, Temple
Kyren Whittington, R-Sr., G, Tulane