BABSON PARK, Fla. (October 26, 2018) – The Webber International University women's basketball team is entering the 2018-19 season with a much more experienced team and high expectations.

The Warriors are coming off a 9-20 overall record and 3-15 Sun Conference record last season.

Despite the team's record over the last two years and the Warriors being picked at the bottom of the 2018-19 Sun Conference preseason poll, Head Coach Grady Morrell believes the team's record did not show its competitiveness as 10 of their losses were decided by 12 or fewer points.

When asking Coach Morrell about the rankings, he said, "Based on the last two season's performances, we deserve to be there. We have high expectations to change that and I believe we will be toward the top of The Sun Conference standings by the end of the 2018-2019 season."

If the Warriors are indeed to live up to these high expectations, the returners will have to mix well with the newcomers that were brought in by Coach Morrell to change his team's culture.

Key returners for the Warriors will be juniors Breyonna Reed and Emmarrie Carmen and sophomore Paris Copeland.

"Those three know the system and the coaching staff's expectations," said Morrell.

Reed led the team last season with 97 assists and was second in steals with 62 while averaging almost six points per game.

Carmen also averaged around six points per game and is also the Warriors' leading returning rebounder at 4.4 rebounds per game. She also recorded a double-double in conference action against Johnson and Wales University last January with 13 points and 10 rebounds.

Copeland is one to look out for this upcoming season as in just eight games and in limited minutes, she averaged 8.4 points per game and three rebounds per contest.

Two things Coach Morrell and his staff wanted to improve on as a team were guard play as a unit and 3-point shooting. To do that, they brought in two transfers who they hope will be difference makers from the guard position.

Transfers Briana Williams and Eletra Graham are each welcomed additions that will be key to adding depth, experience and leadership to the Warriors' roster.

Another addition to the team that Morrell is excited about is freshman forward Taniya Patrick. She is known for her shot blocking ability and will serve as a valuable rim protector for the Warrior defense.

Missing from this year's Warriors' roster will be Second-Team All-Sun Conference forward Ashley Perry. Perry was the team's leading scorer during the 2017-18 season, averaging 14.4 points per game with six double-doubles.

When asking Morrell about his coaching staff, he could not have been more impressed and proud of the growth from his graduate and student assistants Naima Harrington, Nicholas Wilson and Daja Belt going from their first year into their second year with the program.

"We are ready to compete," concluded Morrell. "The mentality of this team has changed. We will not be counted as an automatic 'W' on the schedule".

The Webber women's basketball team will begin its season on Saturday, October 27, with its home opener in the Sabbagh Athletic Center at 7:30 p.m. against Trinity College.