Winthrop Eagles women's basketball
{{Infobox CBB Team
|name = Winthrop Eagles women's basketball
|logo = Winthrop text only wordmark 2020.png
|logo_size = 250
|current = 2024–25 Winthrop Eagles women's basketball team
|university = Winthrop University
|conference = Big South
|location = Rock Hill, South Carolina
|coach = Semeka Randall Lay
|tenure = 5th
|arena = Winthrop Coliseum
|capacity = 6,100
|nickname = Eagles
|h_body= 9E1B32
|h_pattern_b=_thinsidesonwhite
|h_shorts= 9E1B32
|h_pattern_s=_blanksides2
|a_body= 9E1B32
|a_pattern_b=_thingoldsides
|a_shorts= 9E1B32
|a_pattern_s=_thingoldsides
|NCAAchampion =
|NCAAfinalfour =
|NCAAroundof32 =
|NCAAtourneys = 2014
|conference_tournament = 2014
|conference_season =
}}
The Winthrop Eagles women's basketball team represents Winthrop University in Rock Hill, South Carolina, United States and competes in the Big South Conference.{{cite web|url=http://winthropeagles.com/index.aspx?path=wbball|title=Winthrop Eagles|website=winthropeagles.com}}
History
Winthrop began play in 1969. From 1982 to 1986, they played in the NAIA before joining the NCAA in 1986. They made an appearance in the WNIT in 2013, their first postseason appearance in school history. They beat Florida Gulf Coast 65–51 to win their first ever postseason game before they lost to the University of Florida 85–53 in the Second Round. In 2014, they won the Big South Conference tournament and won the bid to go to the NCAA Tournament, both firsts for the program. They lost 87–45 to Duke University in the First Round.
= Lynette Woodard Era (2017–2020) =
On March 28, 2017, Lynette Woodard was named head coach of Winthrop. The season before Woodard took over as head coach, WU was 1–17 (.056) in conference play and 2–29 (.065) overall. They also suffered the worst loss in the history of women's NCAA basketball to Baylor, losing by 108 points .{{Cite web|url=https://www.ncaa.com/news/basketball-women/article/2016-12-15/womens-college-basketball-baylor-scores-school-record-140|title=Baylor scores school record 140 points in win over Winthrop {{!}} NCAA.com|website=www.ncaa.com|language=en|access-date=2019-09-05}} During her tenure, WU improved its record to 8–28 (.285) in conference play and 13–47 (.276) overall.
Woodard was fired on March 24, 2020.
= Semeka Randall Era (2021–present) =
Former WNBA player and University of Tennessee alum, Semeka Randall was named head coach in April 2021.{{Cite web|last=Backus|first=Will|title=Former Tennessee Lady Vols star Semeka Randall Lay named Winthrop women's basketball coach|url=https://www.knoxnews.com/story/sports/college/university-of-tennessee/womens-basketball/2021/04/12/former-lady-vol-semeka-randall-lay-named-winthrop-womens-basketball-coach/7188385002/|access-date=2021-11-24|website=Knoxville News Sentinel|language=en-US}}
Facilities
The Lady Eagles play in Winthrop Coliseum (1982–present), a 6,100-seat multi-purpose arena in Rock Hill, South Carolina.
NCAA tournament results
Player awards
= Big South Women's Basketball Player of the Year =
- Dequesha McClanaahan (2012, 2013, 2014)
= Big South Women's Basketball Freshman of the Year =
- Katherine Kitchin (1995)
- Ashley Fann (2006)
- Dequesha McClanahan (2011)
- Schaquilla Nunn (2013)
= Big South Women's Basketball Defensive Player of the Year =
- Schaquilla Nunn (2015)
- Aliyah Kilpatrick (2016){{Cite web|url=http://bigsouthsports.com/documents/2018/11/6//WBB_Records.pdf|title=Big South Conference - Women's Basketball Record Book|website=bigsouthsports.com|access-date=2019-09-11}}
Big South Women's Basketball 2010-19 All-Decade Team
- Schaquilla Nunn
- Dequesha McClanahan{{Cite web|title=Big South Announces 2010-19 Women's Basketball All-Decade Team|url=http://bigsouthsports.com/news/2020/6/11/general-big-south-announces-2010-19-womens-basketball-all-decade-team.aspx|access-date=2020-06-16|website=Big South Conference|language=en}}
NCAA statistical leaders
- In 2012, Diana Choibekova led the nation in three-point field goal average (3.9 per game).{{Cite web|url=http://bigsouthsports.com/index.aspx?path=wbball&|title=Big South Conference|website=bigsouthsports.com|access-date=2019-09-04}}
WNBA players
- Schaquilla Nunn – 25th overall pick of the 2017 WNBA Draft (San Antonio Stars){{Cite news|url=https://www.heraldonline.com/sports/article144749519.html|title=Former Winthrop Eagle Schaquilla Nunn goes No. 25 in WNBA draft|work=The Herald}}
References
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