Liberty WBB Picked 2nd in the ASUN; Berkman, Brown Named Preseason All-Conference
10/12/2022 3:04:50 PM | Women's Basketball
Entering its final season of ASUN Conference play, the Liberty women’s basketball team is projected to finish second behind FGCU by both the head coaches and media members. Meanwhile, the redshirt senior duo of Mya Berkman and Dee Brown earned berths on the ASUN Women’s Basketball Preseason All-Conference Team.
The 2021-22 Lady Flames finished 28-5, tying the program single-season record for victories. Three starters (Berkman, Brown and point guard Kennedi Williams) return to Head Coach Carey Green’s lineup from the squad which posted Liberty’s first-ever Postseason WNIT victory.
A center from Marble Falls, Texas, Berkman led the Lady Flames in scoring (12.3 ppg) and rebounds (7.4 rpg) a season ago, while ranking No. 3 nationally in field goal percentage (.663). She was a first team All-ASUN and first team VaSID All-State honoree at season’s end. Berkman is a member of the preseason all-conference squad for the second year in a row.
Brown, a guard hailing from Chicago, Ill., made the 2022 ASUN All-Tournament Team after helping Liberty reach the semifinal round for the fourth consecutive season. She averaged 7.7 ppg and 5.9 rpg while serving as the top defender on a team which ranked No. 4 nationally for field goal percentage defense (.342) and No. 5 nationally for scoring defense (52.4 ppg).
Led by Preseason Player of the Year Tishara Morehouse, FGCU is favored to successfully defend its ASUN title. Liberty was the only other squad to earn first-place votes, picking up one in the coaches poll and six in the media listing.
Jacksonville State (third place) and Stetson (fourth) round out the top four teams in both the coaches and media polls. The ASUN will feature 14 teams this season with the addition of Austin Peay and Queens.
Liberty will tip off the 2022-23 season with three straight home games at Liberty Arena, beginning Nov. 7 at 3:30 p.m. versus Richmond.
The Lady Flames’ 18-game ASUN Conference schedule will begin on Jan. 2 with a visit to defending champion and preseason favorite FGCU. Liberty will return home on Jan. 5 for its conference home opener versus Central Arkansas.
The 2023 ASUN Women’s Basketball Championship will again be hosted by higher-seeded teams, with games scheduled for March 4 (first round), March 5 (quarterfinals), March 8 (semifinals) and March 11 (championship game).
In preparation for the 2022-23 campaign, fans can tune in to ESPN+ Thursday at 7 p.m. for the one-hour ASUN Women’s Basketball Preseason Show, featuring interviews with each team’s head coach and top player. Liberty’s interviewees include Green and Berkman.
2022-23 ASUN Women’s Basketball Preseason All-Conference Team
Tishara Morehouse, FGCU
Mya Berkman, Liberty
Skyler Gill, North Alabama
Yamia Johnson, Austin Peay
Ajah Wayne, Austin Peay
Alice Recanati, Eastern Kentucky
Imari Martin, Jacksonville State
NeKiyah Thompson, Jacksonville State
Amani Johnson, Kennesaw State
Dee Brown, Liberty
Preseason Player of the Year: Tishara Morehouse, FGCU
Preseason Defensive Player of the Year: Skyler Gill, North Alabama
Preseason Women’s Basketball Coaches Poll
1) FGCU (13 first-place votes) – 195 points
2) Liberty (1) – 177
3) Jacksonville State – 167
4) Stetson – 129
5) Eastern Kentucky – 114
6) North Alabama – 105
7) Jacksonville – 102
8) Kennesaw State – 101
9) Austin Peay – 99
10) North Florida – 94
11) Lipscomb – 76
12) Central Arkansas – 47
13) Bellarmine – 36
14) Queens – 14
Preseason Women’s Basketball Media Poll
1) FGCU (22 first-place votes) – 386 points
2) Liberty (6) – 358
3) Jacksonville State – 328
4) Stetson – 297
5) Austin Peay – 234
6) North Alabama – 232
7) Jacksonville – 222
8) Eastern Kentucky – 200
9) North Florida – 194
10) Kennesaw State – 178
11) Lipscomb – 144
12) Central Arkansas – 130
13) Bellarmine – 68
14) Queens – 40