BETHLEHEM, Pa. – With 152 points and 12 first-place votes, the defending Patriot League champion Lehigh Mountain Hawks women's basketball team was selected as the 2021-22 Patriot League women's basketball preseason favorite. In addition, American senior guard Jade Edwards was named the Patriot League Women's Basketball Preseason Player of the Year, when honors were announced on Thursday morning.
Joining Edwards on the preseason All-League team are Bucknell senior guard Taylor O'Brien, Holy Cross senior guard Avery LaBarbera, Lehigh junior guard/forward Frannie Hottinger, and Navy senior guard Jennifer Coleman. Last March, Edwards and O'Brien were named to the 2020-21 All-Patriot League First Team, while LaBarbera, Hottinger, and Coleman were all second-team recipients.
Boston University was chosen second in the preseason poll with 141 points and three first-place votes, followed by Bucknell, with 132 points and four first-place votes. American received 120 points and one first-place vote to place fourth, followed by Holy Cross which garnered 93 points. Navy nabbed 84 points for sixth, followed by Army West Point (72), Lafayette (51), Loyola Maryland (28) and Colgate who rounded out the poll with 27 points.
Voting for the Patriot League women's basketball preseason poll, player of the year and All-League team was conducted by League head coaches and sports information directors. Neither group was permitted to vote for their team or student-athletes.
2021-22 Patriot League Women's Preseason Player of the Year
Jade Edwards, American, Sr., G, Chicago, Ill./The Latin School of Chicago
* Edwards enters the 2021-22 season averaging 17.4 points (second in the League in '20-21) and 7.4 boards per game after guiding the Eagles to a 7-4 overall mark last season.
* The senior's point average ranks fifth in American's single-season points per game record book.
* Edwards also averaged a career-high 3.0 assists per assists to third on the team and 11th in the Patriot League.
* She ended last season third in the Patriot League in steals (2.4 pg), fourth in field goal percentage (.520) and fifth in free-throw percentage (.831).
* Edwards is going into her senior year with 828 career points and 437 career rebounds.
2021-22 Patriot League Women's Basketball Preseason All-Patriot League Team
Listed alphabetically by institution
Jade Edwards, American, Sr., G, Chicago, Ill./The Latin School of Chicago
2021-22 Stats: 11 GP/11 GS, 17.4 ppg, 7.4 rpg, 3.0 apg, 2.4 spg, .520 FG%, .831 FT%
Career Honors: 2021 All-Patriot League First Team member, 2021 Patriot League All-Defensive Team member, 2020 All-Patriot League Second Team honoree, 2019 Patriot League All-Rookie Team selection
Taylor O'Brien, Bucknell, Sr., G, Lafayette Hill, Pa./Plymouth Whitemarsh
2021-22 Stats: 10 GP/10 GS, 16.3 ppg, 6.1 rpg, 1.5 spg, .871 FT%
Career Honors: 2021 First Team All-Patriot League member; 2021 All-Tournament Team member; two-time Patriot League Academic Honor roll honoree
Avery LaBarbera, Holy Cross, Sr., G, Harrison, N.Y./Harrison
2021-22 Stats: 15 GP, 13.9 ppg, 5.9 rpg, 3.4 apg, 2.6 spg
Career Honors: 2021 All-Patriot League Second Team honoree; 2020 All-Patriot League Second Team member; 2019 Patriot League Rookie of the Year, 2019 Patriot League All-Rookie Team member
Frannie Hottinger, Lehigh, Jr., G/F, Inver Grove Heights, Minn./Cretin-Derham Hall
2021-22 Stats: 16 GP/ 15 GS, 14.2 ppg, 6.6 rpg, .750 FG%, 16 assists
Career Honors: 2021 Second Team All-Patriot League member; 2021 All-Tournament Team member
Jennifer Coleman, Navy, Sr., G, Richmond, Va./Highland Springs
2021-22 Stats: 9 GP/9 GS, 17.1 ppg, 11.3 rpg, 4.2 apg, .632 FT%
Career Honors: 2019 All-Patriot League Rookie Team member; 2019 All-Patriot League Third Team member
2021-22 Patriot League Women's Basketball Preseason Poll
Lehigh – 152 (12 first-place votes)
Boston University – 141 (3)
Bucknell – 132 (4)
American – 120 (1)
Holy Cross – 93
Navy – 84
Army – 72
Lafayette – 51
Loyola Maryland – 28
Colgate – 27
The Patriot League women's basketball season begins on Tuesday, Nov. 9, and Patriot League games start on Wednesday, Dec. 29. The final day of the regular season is scheduled for Wednesday, March 2. The 2022 PenFed Credit Union Patriot League Women's Basketball Championship Game is set for Sunday, March 13 on CBS Sports Network. For more information visit the League's official website –
www.PatriotLeague.org.
ABOUT THE PATRIOT LEAGUE
The Patriot League is in its fourth decade of academic and athletic achievement, continually demonstrating that student-athletes can excel at both academics and athletics without sacrificing high standards. The Patriot League's athletic success is achieved while its member institutions remain committed to its founding principle of admitting and graduating student-athletes that are academically representative of their class. Participation in athletics at Patriot League institutions is viewed as an important component of a well-rounded education.