Sutphin and Deegan Garner Preseason Honors, ‘Cats Slotted Seventh
10/26/2023 9:00:00 AM | Women's Basketball
WASHINGTON, D.C. – The Davidson College women's basketball team is projected to finish seventh in the Atlantic 10 this season, the league office announced Thursday with the unveiling of its annual preseason poll.
Forward Elle Sutphin and guard Suzi-Rose Deegan earned A-10 Preseason First and Third Team accolades, respectively. Sutphin was a Second Team honoree last March, while Deegan has earned two First Team honors (2020, 2021) and one Third Team honor (2022) in her career.
"We see Rosie and Elle as our team's 1-2 punch, and it's clear that the rest of the conference can see that as well," said head coach Gayle Fulks. "They are talented veteran players, and I am excited to see what they, and the rest of our team as a whole, can do this year."
The duo helped lead the Wildcats to a 14-16 overall record last season that included a 6-8 mark inside the A-10 and a trip to the conference tournament, which was the sixth straight postseason berth for Davidson under Fulks.
Sutphin, a redshirt senior from Pilot Mountain, N.C., started 30 games a season ago. The Wildcats' on-court leader averaged 16.4 points, 7.3 rebounds, 1.6 assists and 1.0 blocks per game while tallying 26 double-digit scoring performances. She led the Wildcats in field goal (.496) and free throw percentage (.883) in addition to pacing the roster in steals (37).
Sutphin enters her third year at Davidson as the program's single-season free throw percentage record holder (.883) in addition to tallying the program's fourth-most single-season points a year ago (493). Her field goal totals from the 2021-22 (192) and 2022-23 (191) seasons rank fourth and fifth, respectively, in Davidson history.
A native of Perth, Australia, Deegan was granted a fifth year on the Wildcats' 2023-24 roster. Deegan posted an impactful resume a season ago, averaging 13.9 ppg, 6.3 rpg, 2.7 apg, 1.1 spg and shooting .451 from the floor. Additionally, she scored at least 10 points 24 times.
Deegan also became the 22nd member of Davidson's 1,000-point club when she dropped 22 points in a 75-71 victory over reigning A-10 champion Saint Louis. All-time for Davidson, Deegan's 2019-20 totals place her eighth in single-season points (461) and 10th in field goals (176).
Sutphin was joined on the six-player First Team by Megan McConnell (Duquesne), Maye Toure (Rhode Island), Addie Budnik (Richmond), Talya Brugler (Saint Joseph's) and Kyla McMakin (Saint Louis).
Rounding out the Third Team with Deegan was Mariah Perez (Dayton), Nalani Kaysia (George Mason), Mayowa Taiwo (George Washington), Tenin Magassa (Rhode Island) and Makenzie Smith (Saint Joseph's).
Rhode Island (218 points) was chosen to win the A-10 after receiving 12 first-place votes, while Saint Joseph's (203) was slotted second. Reigning conference champ Saint Louis (186) tallied two first-place votes to land third, and Richmond (176) narrowly edged Duquesne (172) for fourth, though the Dukes earned one first-place vote.
George Washington (150) was tabbed sixth, followed by Davidson (124). Rounding out the top 10 was George Mason (111), Dayton (100) and VCU (96). The final five teams in the poll included UMass (70), La Salle (66), Fordham (54), St. Bonaventure (39) and Loyola Chicago (35).
In last year's A-10 Tournament, the Wildcats defeated St. Bonaventure 70-51 in the opening round and lost 64-53 to Saint Joseph's.
The Wildcats return eight players, while welcoming four freshmen and one transfer.
The 2024 Atlantic 10 Women's Basketball Championships will take place in Richmond, Va., at the Henrico Sports & Entertainment Center from March 6-10.
Forward Elle Sutphin and guard Suzi-Rose Deegan earned A-10 Preseason First and Third Team accolades, respectively. Sutphin was a Second Team honoree last March, while Deegan has earned two First Team honors (2020, 2021) and one Third Team honor (2022) in her career.
"We see Rosie and Elle as our team's 1-2 punch, and it's clear that the rest of the conference can see that as well," said head coach Gayle Fulks. "They are talented veteran players, and I am excited to see what they, and the rest of our team as a whole, can do this year."
The duo helped lead the Wildcats to a 14-16 overall record last season that included a 6-8 mark inside the A-10 and a trip to the conference tournament, which was the sixth straight postseason berth for Davidson under Fulks.
Sutphin, a redshirt senior from Pilot Mountain, N.C., started 30 games a season ago. The Wildcats' on-court leader averaged 16.4 points, 7.3 rebounds, 1.6 assists and 1.0 blocks per game while tallying 26 double-digit scoring performances. She led the Wildcats in field goal (.496) and free throw percentage (.883) in addition to pacing the roster in steals (37).
Sutphin enters her third year at Davidson as the program's single-season free throw percentage record holder (.883) in addition to tallying the program's fourth-most single-season points a year ago (493). Her field goal totals from the 2021-22 (192) and 2022-23 (191) seasons rank fourth and fifth, respectively, in Davidson history.
A native of Perth, Australia, Deegan was granted a fifth year on the Wildcats' 2023-24 roster. Deegan posted an impactful resume a season ago, averaging 13.9 ppg, 6.3 rpg, 2.7 apg, 1.1 spg and shooting .451 from the floor. Additionally, she scored at least 10 points 24 times.
Deegan also became the 22nd member of Davidson's 1,000-point club when she dropped 22 points in a 75-71 victory over reigning A-10 champion Saint Louis. All-time for Davidson, Deegan's 2019-20 totals place her eighth in single-season points (461) and 10th in field goals (176).
Sutphin was joined on the six-player First Team by Megan McConnell (Duquesne), Maye Toure (Rhode Island), Addie Budnik (Richmond), Talya Brugler (Saint Joseph's) and Kyla McMakin (Saint Louis).
Rounding out the Third Team with Deegan was Mariah Perez (Dayton), Nalani Kaysia (George Mason), Mayowa Taiwo (George Washington), Tenin Magassa (Rhode Island) and Makenzie Smith (Saint Joseph's).
Rhode Island (218 points) was chosen to win the A-10 after receiving 12 first-place votes, while Saint Joseph's (203) was slotted second. Reigning conference champ Saint Louis (186) tallied two first-place votes to land third, and Richmond (176) narrowly edged Duquesne (172) for fourth, though the Dukes earned one first-place vote.
George Washington (150) was tabbed sixth, followed by Davidson (124). Rounding out the top 10 was George Mason (111), Dayton (100) and VCU (96). The final five teams in the poll included UMass (70), La Salle (66), Fordham (54), St. Bonaventure (39) and Loyola Chicago (35).
In last year's A-10 Tournament, the Wildcats defeated St. Bonaventure 70-51 in the opening round and lost 64-53 to Saint Joseph's.
The Wildcats return eight players, while welcoming four freshmen and one transfer.
The 2024 Atlantic 10 Women's Basketball Championships will take place in Richmond, Va., at the Henrico Sports & Entertainment Center from March 6-10.
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