University of Louisiana at Lafayette Athletics
Jaylyn James Awarded Preseason All-Sun Belt Accolade
10/14/2024 2:01:00 PM | Women's Basketball
Was Louisiana’s breakout performer during Sun Belt play last season
LAFAYETTE – Jaylyn James represented the Louisiana Ragin' Cajuns Women's Basketball team on the 2024-25 Preseason All-Sun Belt Conference team, the honor announced by the conference office on Monday.
James, the Ragin' Cajuns leading scorer in conference play last season, was a second team selection.
Louisiana (17-14, 10-8 SBC in 2023-24), which takes the court at the Cajundome for an exhibition vs. Centenary College on Wednesday, October 30, was picked to finish fifth in the preseason poll.
The preseason all-conference team and preseason poll were voted upon by the Sun Belt's 14 head coaches.
In the second half of the 2023-24 season, James emerged as Louisiana's leading scorer during conference play averaging 12.1 points per game paced by 25 triples made against SBC foes. Starting with a then-career best 16 points at ODU on January 4, she would score double digits nine (9) times over her 15 outings in SBC play.
James scored double digits, including a career-high 25 points at Arkansas State, in five of her six appearances in January alone, averaging 14.5 points per game in the month – the defining moment of her breakout season with Louisiana.
The Mandeville (La.) High product finished Top 25 in scoring in league play and Top 20 in triples made (total and per game).
The 2024-25 season marks the 13th 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 conference play being held within the state's borders including the Big Easy Classic (Nov. 29-30) at the Alario Center, a Sunday matinee at LSU (Dec. 15) and hosting SEC foe Auburn (Dec. 18) for the annual Education Game at the Cajundome.
The regular season tips off Monday, November 4 with the second year and first round of the MAC-SBC Challenge, with the Ragin' Cajuns visiting Northern Illinois.
Louisiana opens Sun Belt Conference play on December 29 traveling to face Georgia Southern prior to the team's conference home opener vs. preseason favorite James Madison on January 2. The Sun Belt Conference Championship tournament returns to the Pensacola Bay Center in Pensacola, Florida from March 4-10.
2024-25 Sun Belt Conference Women's Basketball Preseason Awards
Preseason Player of the Year:
Peyton McDaniel, James Madison [R-Jr. | G | Birdsboro, Pa.]
Preseason All-Sun Belt First Team
Emily Carver, App State [Sr. | G | Asheville, N.C.]
Aislynn Hayes, Marshall [Sr. | G | Murfreesboro, Tenn.]
Crystal Henderson, Georgia State [So. | G | Marietta, Ga.]
Jakayla Johnson, ULM [Sr. | G | Clinton, Miss.]
Peyton McDaniel, James Madison [R-Jr. | G | Birdsboro, Pa.]
Mikyla Tolivert, Georgia State [Sr. | G | Melbourne, Fla.]
*Ties were not broken
Preseason All-Sun Belt Second Team
En'Dya Buford, Old Dominion [Gr. | G | Memphis, Tenn.]
Melyia Grayson, Southern Miss [5th Yr. | C | Hattiesburg, Miss.]
Jaylyn James, Louisiana [Jr. | G | Madisonville, La.]
Kseniia Kozlova, James Madison [R-Sr. | C | Moscow, Russia]
Katlyn Manuel, ULM [Sr. | F | Lawtell, La.]
Shaulana Wagner, Troy [Sr. | G | Detriot, Mich.]
*Ties were not broken
Preseason All-Sun Belt Third Team
Ramsey Alancia, Coastal Carolina [So. | F | Delray Beach, Fla.]
Zay Dyer, Troy [Jr. | F | Atlanta, Ga.]
Anna Griffin, Arkansas State [Sr. | G | Aurora, Ill]
Kelsey Thompson, Old Dominion [Jr. | G | Mobile, Ala.]
Ro Scott, James Madison [Gr. | G | Earle, Ark.]
2024-25 Sun Belt Conference Women's Basketball Preseason Coaches Poll
1. James Madison (12) – 191
2. Troy (2) – 169
3. Old Dominion - 167
4. ULM - 150
5. Louisiana - 122
6. Marshall - 118
7. Southern Miss - 113
8. Georgia State - 107
9. Coastal Carolina - 77
10. Texas State - 67
11. App State - 61
12. Georgia Southern - 53
13. Arkansas State - 50
14. South Alabama - 25
ABOUT LOUISIANA
The Ragin' Cajuns (17-14, 10-8 SBC in 2023-24) are coming off their fifth consecutive winning season, which marks the longest stretch in program history, highlighted by capturing the 200th win of the Garry Brodhead era and making a run to the semifinals of the 2024 Sun Belt Conference Championship tournament.
Key returning players include SBC Championship all-tournament selection Tamiah Robinson who led the team in assists (69) and was the second-leading rebounder (125) and sharpshooting Jaylyn James who emerged as the team's leading scorer in conference play (12.1 ppg) paced by 25 triples. Lanay Wheaton, a 2022-23 All-SBC performer and a two-time preseason choice, returns for her senior campaign.
Five transfers were added to the roster in the offseason: Senegal native Charlotte Carvalho (Grayson College), Baton Rouge product Erica Lafayette (Rutgers), University of Houston transfer Kamryn Jones, California native RyAnne Walters (UC Riverside) and North Carolina product Skylah Travis (Missouri).
FOLLOW THE RAGIN' CAJUNS
Follow the Ragin' Cajuns on Twitter (@RaginCajunsWBB), Facebook (/RaginCajunsWBB) or Instagram (@RaginCajunsWBB) to stay up-to-date on all that is happening with Louisiana Women's Basketball.
Fans are also encouraged to stay engaged with the Ragin' Cajuns by downloading the #GeauxCajuns app. Click here for iOS/Apple platforms and here for Android platforms.
James, the Ragin' Cajuns leading scorer in conference play last season, was a second team selection.
Louisiana (17-14, 10-8 SBC in 2023-24), which takes the court at the Cajundome for an exhibition vs. Centenary College on Wednesday, October 30, was picked to finish fifth in the preseason poll.
The preseason all-conference team and preseason poll were voted upon by the Sun Belt's 14 head coaches.
In the second half of the 2023-24 season, James emerged as Louisiana's leading scorer during conference play averaging 12.1 points per game paced by 25 triples made against SBC foes. Starting with a then-career best 16 points at ODU on January 4, she would score double digits nine (9) times over her 15 outings in SBC play.
James scored double digits, including a career-high 25 points at Arkansas State, in five of her six appearances in January alone, averaging 14.5 points per game in the month – the defining moment of her breakout season with Louisiana.
The Mandeville (La.) High product finished Top 25 in scoring in league play and Top 20 in triples made (total and per game).
The 2024-25 season marks the 13th 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 conference play being held within the state's borders including the Big Easy Classic (Nov. 29-30) at the Alario Center, a Sunday matinee at LSU (Dec. 15) and hosting SEC foe Auburn (Dec. 18) for the annual Education Game at the Cajundome.
The regular season tips off Monday, November 4 with the second year and first round of the MAC-SBC Challenge, with the Ragin' Cajuns visiting Northern Illinois.
Louisiana opens Sun Belt Conference play on December 29 traveling to face Georgia Southern prior to the team's conference home opener vs. preseason favorite James Madison on January 2. The Sun Belt Conference Championship tournament returns to the Pensacola Bay Center in Pensacola, Florida from March 4-10.
2024-25 Sun Belt Conference Women's Basketball Preseason Awards
Preseason Player of the Year:
Peyton McDaniel, James Madison [R-Jr. | G | Birdsboro, Pa.]
Preseason All-Sun Belt First Team
Emily Carver, App State [Sr. | G | Asheville, N.C.]
Aislynn Hayes, Marshall [Sr. | G | Murfreesboro, Tenn.]
Crystal Henderson, Georgia State [So. | G | Marietta, Ga.]
Jakayla Johnson, ULM [Sr. | G | Clinton, Miss.]
Peyton McDaniel, James Madison [R-Jr. | G | Birdsboro, Pa.]
Mikyla Tolivert, Georgia State [Sr. | G | Melbourne, Fla.]
*Ties were not broken
Preseason All-Sun Belt Second Team
En'Dya Buford, Old Dominion [Gr. | G | Memphis, Tenn.]
Melyia Grayson, Southern Miss [5th Yr. | C | Hattiesburg, Miss.]
Jaylyn James, Louisiana [Jr. | G | Madisonville, La.]
Kseniia Kozlova, James Madison [R-Sr. | C | Moscow, Russia]
Katlyn Manuel, ULM [Sr. | F | Lawtell, La.]
Shaulana Wagner, Troy [Sr. | G | Detriot, Mich.]
*Ties were not broken
Preseason All-Sun Belt Third Team
Ramsey Alancia, Coastal Carolina [So. | F | Delray Beach, Fla.]
Zay Dyer, Troy [Jr. | F | Atlanta, Ga.]
Anna Griffin, Arkansas State [Sr. | G | Aurora, Ill]
Kelsey Thompson, Old Dominion [Jr. | G | Mobile, Ala.]
Ro Scott, James Madison [Gr. | G | Earle, Ark.]
2024-25 Sun Belt Conference Women's Basketball Preseason Coaches Poll
1. James Madison (12) – 191
2. Troy (2) – 169
3. Old Dominion - 167
4. ULM - 150
5. Louisiana - 122
6. Marshall - 118
7. Southern Miss - 113
8. Georgia State - 107
9. Coastal Carolina - 77
10. Texas State - 67
11. App State - 61
12. Georgia Southern - 53
13. Arkansas State - 50
14. South Alabama - 25
ABOUT LOUISIANA
The Ragin' Cajuns (17-14, 10-8 SBC in 2023-24) are coming off their fifth consecutive winning season, which marks the longest stretch in program history, highlighted by capturing the 200th win of the Garry Brodhead era and making a run to the semifinals of the 2024 Sun Belt Conference Championship tournament.
Key returning players include SBC Championship all-tournament selection Tamiah Robinson who led the team in assists (69) and was the second-leading rebounder (125) and sharpshooting Jaylyn James who emerged as the team's leading scorer in conference play (12.1 ppg) paced by 25 triples. Lanay Wheaton, a 2022-23 All-SBC performer and a two-time preseason choice, returns for her senior campaign.
Five transfers were added to the roster in the offseason: Senegal native Charlotte Carvalho (Grayson College), Baton Rouge product Erica Lafayette (Rutgers), University of Houston transfer Kamryn Jones, California native RyAnne Walters (UC Riverside) and North Carolina product Skylah Travis (Missouri).
FOLLOW THE RAGIN' CAJUNS
Follow the Ragin' Cajuns on Twitter (@RaginCajunsWBB), Facebook (/RaginCajunsWBB) or Instagram (@RaginCajunsWBB) to stay up-to-date on all that is happening with Louisiana Women's Basketball.
Fans are also encouraged to stay engaged with the Ragin' Cajuns by downloading the #GeauxCajuns app. Click here for iOS/Apple platforms and here for Android platforms.
- www.RaginCajuns.com -
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