Women's Basketball: Garrison Named PAC Newcomer of the Year
Erikka Sansom, Director of Athletic Communications
GREENVILLE, Pa. (pacathletics.org) – The Presidents' Athletic Conference (PAC) announced its 2021-22 All-PAC Women's Basketball teams and yearly award winners Wednesday.
Following a stellar freshman season, Bison guard Lindsey Garrison (Triadelphia, W.Va. | Wheeling Park) collected the PAC Newcomer of the Year award.
Garrison, who was also named an All-PAC First-Team selection, was selected Newcomer of the Year by a vote of from the conference coaches.
The Wheeling Park graduate appeared in all 26 games while starting 25 and finished the season with 425 total points. Her 16.3 points per game ranked as third-best in the league. She scored 30 or more points twice and scored 20-plus points nine times this season including a game-high 39 points in Bethany's 72-51 win over Waynesburg on Jan. 20.
Garrison established two school records this season. She drained nine three's against Penn. State-New Kensington to set the program record for most made three pointers in a game. Her total of 75 made three pointers this season set a program record for most made three pointers in a season. Both records were previously held by Hayley Holenka ('17).
She leads 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 ranks third among conference counterparts in minutes played, averaging 32.8 per game.
Garrison ranks 17th in Division III in made three-point field goals (75), 22nd in three-point field goals made per game (2.88) and 32nd in three-point field goals attempted (199). Her 37.7 percent three-point field goal percentage ranks 46th in Division III.
She is Bethany's third Newcomer of the Year award winner (Makenzee Mason, 2020-21; Kelsea Daugherty, 2014-15).
Joining Garrison on All-PAC teams were sophomore guard, Makenzee Mason and freshman guard, Ashleigh Wheeler, who were named All-PAC Honorable Mention. Senior forward Taylor Stinnett was named to the PAC Sportsmanship team.
Mason, made 23 starts (25 appearances) and finished the season averaging 12.2 points per game while pulling in 4.6 rebounds and dishing 1.8 assists. She also averaged 1.7 steals per game. The reigning Newcomer of the Year scored 20-plus points three times this season including a 25 point performance in a four-point loss to Grove City on Jan. 29.
She ranked second in the PAC behind teammate Garrison in free-throw percentage, shooting 80.7 percent from the charity stripe. She went 130-for-161 from the foul line this season, putting her 12th in the NCAA Division III for three-throws made this season.
Wheeler, made 26 starts (26 appearances) for the Bison this season. She finished the season averaging 10.0 points per game with 4.7 rebounds and 2.5 assists. Wheeler also averaged 1.5 steals per game.
The Quaker City, Ohio native, scored 15-plus points seven times this season, including a 24 point performance in the 73-70 win over Grove City, on Dec. 4. She registered a career-high 15 rebounds in the 77-62 win against Geneva on Feb. 14. She was tabbed PAC Rookie of the Week twice this season.
Stinnett, was a pivotal member of the Bison defense this season. She has pulled in 309 career rebounds and sits in the Top-10 on Bethany's all-time career blocked shots list with 57 including a five block performance against Grove City and a four block performance twice this season against Franciscan and Wooster. She has drawn at least one charge in 13 games this season.
The Bison finish the season 15-11 (9-8 PAC). The 15 wins marks the most wins in the Sansom era and the first time since 2011-12.
