Women's Basketball: Bethany Tabbed Fourth in PAC Preseason Poll

GREENVILLE, Pa. - The Bethany College women's basketball team was selected to finish fourth in the Presidents' Athletic Conference (PAC) Preseason Coaches' Poll announced Tuesday afternoon.

W&J was selected as the league-favorites. Westminster was selected to finish second, followed by Grove City. Bethany College in fourth and Chatham University in fifth round out the top-five.

Under first year head coach Mikayla Lopez, the Bison look to return to the top of the PAC. Last season, the Bison finished 15-11 (9-8 PAC) before falling to Washington & Jefferson in the semi-finals. The Bison return 13 including PAC Newcomer of Year, sophomore Lindsey Garrison (Triadelphia, W.Va. / Wheeling Park).

"We are excited to be returning three core players from last year's squad as well as the addition of some new faces. Our ability to play deep into our bench helps bring another level to our game" says Lopez. "We have high expectations for this season and aim to continue to raise the standard in our program and at Bethany."

Garrison made 25 starts (26 appearances) last season and ranked third in the league in scoring during her first season, averaging 16.3 points per game. She led the PAC in free throw percentage (.876, 78-89), three-point field goal percentage (.377, 75-199) and made three-point field goals (75). Garrison also ranked third among conference counterparts in minutes played, averaging 32.8 per game. She scored 30 or more points twice and 20 or more points nine times last season. Garrison set Bethany's single-season program record for made three-point field goals in 2021-22 and established a new single-game program record for made three-point field goals, hitting nine three-pointers in an 82-21 win at Penn State New Kensington on Nov. 16. 

Garrison ranked 21st in Division III in made three-point field goals (75) and three-point field goals made per game (2.88) and 36th in three-point field goals attempted (199). Her 37.7 percent three-point field goal percentage ranked 43rd in Division III. 

Joining Garrison on the PAC Players to Watch list are sophomores Asia Roby (Wheeling, W.Va./Wheeling Park) and Ashleigh Wheeler (Quaker City, Ohio/Shenandoah), along with juniors Makenzee Mason (Lithopolis, Ohio/Bloom-Carroll) and Bella Skobel (Charleroi, Pa./Charleroi). 

All-PAC Honorable Mention, Mason averaged 12.2 points, 4.6 rebounds, and 1.8 assists last season for the Bison. She scored 20+ points three times last season and 10+, 16 times. Skobel appeared in 17 games before suffering a season-ending injury. Prior to her injury she averaged 3.6 points, 13.1 minutes and shot 31.9 percent from the field and 35.0 percent from behind the arc. 

All-PAC Honorable Mention, Wheeler averaged 10.0 points per game with 4.7 rebounds, 2.5 assists and 1.5 steals per game. The sophomore guard, tabbed PAC Rookie of the Week and scored 15+ points seven times last season.

The Bison will have six new faces this season including PAC Player to Watch Asia Roby. The sophomore comes to Bethany after taking a year off. She is no stranger to the area coming from nearby Wheeling Park High School.

Bethany will open the season inside Hummel Field House on Friday, Nov. 11 at 7 pm against Muskingum University.