RICHMOND – The Earlham College women's basketball team begins its 2023-24 campaign with the Melissa Johnson/Hope Classic over the weekend.
THE SCHEDULE
The schedule begins on Friday at 7:30 pm with the first game of the Melissa Johnson/Hope Classic. The Quakers are scheduled to take on Miami-Middletown in the tournament-opener. Earlham then hosts Albion College on Sunday at 2 pm. EC begins HCAC play on November 18 at home against Hanover College at 1 pm. Two non-conference games break the schedule to end November, with conference play resuming on December 6 at Anderson University. After traveling to Franklin College on December 9, the Quakers host Kuyper and Wilmington in non-conference matchups. HCAC play resumes on December 30 with Defiance College in Druley Performance Gym, the Quakers will then play in HCAC action every Wednesday at Saturday until the final week of the season. Transylvania University ends the season in Druley Performance Gym on February 16.
THE PLAYERS
Four Quakers were selected by the Heartland Collegiate Athletic Conference as "Athletes to Watch" for the upcoming season:
Jay Bright was the leading scorer for Earlham last season with 283 points, averaging 12.3 per game. Bright also brought in 106 rebounds, 45 steals and dished out 58 assists.
Willow Runyon has been a contributor for two seasons, with 243 career points, and 129 career rebounds. Last season, she saw action in 23 games and averaged 25 minutes per game.
Alexis Gibson had 12 double-digit performances as a sophomore last season. Gibson averaged 10.3 points and 5.7 rebounds per game, while also bringing in 34 steals and a team-high 11 blocks.
Bailey Gibson saw action in 23 games with 18 starts for 562 minutes in her debut season with the Quakers last year. Gibson averaged 4.6 rebounds per game, and had five blocks.
PRESEASON POLL
The Quakers were picked ninth in the HCAC Preseason Poll with 16 votes. The Quakers were selected to beat out Defiance in the final standings by three votes. Reigning NCAA National Champion, Transylvania University was picked to win the conference with 81 votes.
THE COACHES
Joe Adams '14 joins his Alma Mater as Head Women's Basketball Coach for the 2023-24 season. Adams has previously coached at Anderson High School, and Franklin County School District since graduation. Adams is joined by graduate assistant
Nicole Sims. Sims is a 2023 graduate of Defiance College where she played basketball for four years. In 70 career games, Sims scored 235 points and brought in 198 rebounds.
HOW TO FOLLOW
goearlham.com will have up-to-the minute information on schedule cancellations and alterations all season long. Additionally, links for live video and live stats will be published as they become available.
