WBB Pre-Season Honors, New Recruits and 2020-21 Schedule

UB sophomore guard Dyaisha Fair, who as a freshman finished 4th in the nation in scoring, and led the nation in scoring among freshman, has been named to two prestigious pre-season watch lists. First, Fair was named to the watch list for the Nancy Lieberman award, honoring the top point guard in college basketball. Lieberman is a member of the Women’s Basketball Hall of Fame and the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame.

Then a few days later, Fair was named to the watch list for the Becky Hammon Mid-Major Player of the Year award. It was the second year that Fair was named to this list. Hammon is currently assistant coach of the NBA San Antonio Spurs.

Senior forward Summer Hemphill was named to the Cheryl Miller Award watch list, given to the nation’s top small forward. Hemphill missed last year due to injury, but was a key contributor to UB’s consecutive NCAA Tournament teams in 2017-18 and 2018-19. Cheryl Miller is a member of the Women’s Basketball Hall of Fame and the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame.

UB announced four players who have signed National Letters of Intent, including two from Australia.

Georgia Woolley is a 6–0 guard from Brisbane, Australia. Woolley put on a spectacular show in her senior year season tournament, averaging 43.1 points, 19.1 rebounds, 4.1 assists, 3.3 steals and 3.3 blocks per game while shooting a personal best 90.1% from the free throw line. Crikey!

Casey Valenti-Paea is a 5–9 point guard from Melbourne, Australia. According to UB Women’s Basketball Coach Felisha Legette-Jack, Valenti-Paea will remind UB fans of Stephanie Reid, with a better three point shot.

Laney Bone is a 5–11 forward from Chattanooga, TN, who has a 6–5 wingspan, making her a strong rebounder and shot blocker. Coach Jack says she will remind people of Hemphill.

Kaelonn Wilson is a 6~0 forward from Piscataway, NJ. Coach Jack calls her a raw talent who will grow into something special.

The 2020-21 UB Women’s Basketball Schedule has been released. There will be five non-Conference games, including the home and season opener against Niagara, then road games at Virginia Commonwealth, Canisius and Purdue, and then a home game versus St. Bonaventure. The MAC Schedule will start before New Years Day with a home game against Western Michigan.

The MAC women’s basketball schedule will be 20 games for each team, compared to 18 games as in recent years, due to changes caused by COVID. There will be no divisions in MAC play this year, and the top eight teams advance to the MAC Tournament.