Walker Preseason All-Big South; Women's Hoops Tabbed Fourth


Senior guard Johnette Walker (Columbia, S.C./Irmo) was named to the Big South’s preseason All-Conference team and the Radford’s women’s basketball team was tabbed fourth in the annual preseason poll, as voted by the league’s head coaches and media panel. The Highlanders, under first year head coach Tajama Ngongba, received one first place vote and a total of 129 points.

Walker, who started every game last year, led Radford in assists and steals, while averaging 11.2 points and 4.7 rebounds. She became only the second Highlander to accumulate 400 assists and 250 steals in her career and enters her senior campaign just 68 points shy of 1,000.

In 2007-08, Radford reeled off 23 wins, second most in school history, and reached the Big South Championship game for the second straight season. The Highlanders return three starters from last season’s squad, including all-freshman honoree Taleia Moton (Fort Washington, Md./Suitland) and Walker, the second and third leading scorers on the team.

Defending champion Liberty was named the preseason favorite, receiving 17 of 19 first place votes and 169 points. Big South semifinalists Winthrop (one first place vote) and High Point were selected second and third with 143 and 129 points, respectively. After Radford, UNC Asheville (75) was voted fifth and Big South newcomer Gardner-Webb and Coastal Carolina tied for sixth with 73 points. Charleston Southern (55) and the conference’s other newcomer, Presbyterian (22) round out the poll in eighth and ninth.

After a home exhibition game on Nov. 8, Radford begins a challenging stretch of six straight road games to start the season. The Highlanders open on Nov. 15 at WNIT quarterfinalist James Madison, a rematch of last season’s WNIT first round game in Harrisonburg. Tip off is scheduled for 7 p.m.

2008-09 Women's Basketball Preseason All-Conference Team

Johnette Walker, Radford
Ashley Fann, Winthrop
Moriah Frazee, Liberty
Pamela Tolbert, Charleston Southern
Megan Frazee, Liberty Preseason Player of the Year

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