University of Louisiana at Lafayette Athletics
Lanay Wheaton Receives Preseason All-Sun Belt Recognition
10/16/2023 10:01:00 AM | Women's Basketball
Louisiana's returning leading scorer earns repeat preseason accolade
Wheaton, a 2022-23 All-Sun Belt performer and Louisiana's leading scorer both overall and in conference play last season, was a second team selection.
Louisiana (16-15, 10-8 SBC in 2022-23), which takes the court at the Cajundome in its regular season opener vs. Spring Hill on Monday, November 6, was picked to finish sixth in the preseason poll.
The honors and preseason poll were voted upon by the Sun Belt's 14 head coaches.
A third team All-Sun Belt selection in 2022-23, Wheaton paced the Ragin' Cajuns averaging 12.3 points per game overall. Boosted by 10 of her 14 double-figure scoring efforts in the regular season coming during Sun Belt play her league average was 14.2 points per game.
In SBC play, Wheaton ranked Top 15 in points per game - finishing as one of only 13 players league-wide to average 14-plus points per game.
The Hope, Arkansas product is coming off the first 300-plus point season of her career, setting personal bests for total points (319) and scoring average (12.3 ppg) a year ago.Â
She enters her third season with Louisiana averaging 11.8 points per game and shooting 42 percent (246-of-592) in a Ragin' Cajuns uniform.
The 2023-24 season marks the 12th season for Louisiana under the guidance of head coach Garry Brodhead. The schedule is highlighted by all but one of 10 regular season games prior to New Year's Day being held within the state's borders including a trip to Baton Rouge on December 10 to face reigning national champion LSU.
Louisiana opens Sun Belt Conference play on December 30, when it welcomes App State to the Cajundome. The Sun Belt Conference Tournament will once again be held in Pensacola, Florida and will run from March 5-11. All 14 teams will qualify for the event.
The SBC will officially kick things off for the 2023-24 season with the Women's Basketball Media Day on Wednesday, October 18 at the Caesars Superdome in New Orleans. Brodhead and senior point guard Destiny Rice will represent Louisiana. The Ragin' Cajuns press conference is scheduled to air live on ESPN+ at 1:25 p.m. (CDT).
2023-24 Sun Belt Conference Women's Basketball Preseason AwardsÂ
Preseason Player of the YearÂ
Domonique Davis, Southern MissÂ
Preseason All-Sun Belt First TeamÂ
Domonique Davis, Southern MissÂ
Terren Ward, Georgia SouthernÂ
Izzy Higginbottom, Arkansas StateÂ
Makayia Hallmon, TroyÂ
Roshala Scott, MarshallÂ
Preseason All-Sun Belt Second TeamÂ
Peyton McDaniel, James MadisonÂ
Ja'Mia Hollings, Troy
Lanay Wheaton, LouisianaÂ
Kseniia Kozlova, James MadisonÂ
Tai'Sheka Porchia, Troy
Preseason All-Sun Belt Third TeamÂ
Deja Richardson, Coastal CarolinaÂ
Emily Carver, App StateÂ
Daisha Bradford, ULM
Mikyla Tolivert, Georgia State
Kelsey Thompson, South Alabama
2023-24 Women's Basketball Preseason Coaches PollÂ
1. James Madison (9) - 186Â Â
2. Troy (3) - 177Â Â
3. Southern Miss (1) - 159Â Â
4. Old Dominion - 149Â
5. Georgia Southern (1) - 131Â
6. Louisiana - 117Â
7. Texas State - 116Â
8. Arkansas State - 87Â
9. Marshall - 85Â
10. Coastal Carolina - 72Â
11. ULM - 71Â
12. App State - 54Â
13. Georgia State - 46Â
14. South Alabama - 20Â
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