NORFOLK, Va., – Bethune-Cookman University senior forward Amaya Scott was named the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC) Women’s Basketball Preseason Player of the Year, presented by TowneBank, the conference announced today. Norfolk State was selected as the preseason favorite to win the MEAC’s Northern Division, while Bethune-Cookman was tabbed to win the MEAC’s Southern Division.
All awards were voted on by the conference’s head coaches and sports information directors.
Scott, a First Team All-MEAC honoree who helped lead the Lady Wildcats to the regular-season title and a 15-1 mark in conference play in 2019-20, led the MEAC in field goal percentage last season – hitting 52.5 percent of her shots from the floor. She also ranked top 10 in the league in scoring (8th, 12.9 ppg) and rebounding (10th, 6.6 rpg).
In MEAC play, Scott led the MEAC in field goal percentage (.545) and was tied for fifth in scoring (15.9 ppg).
Norfolk State picked up 12 first-place votes, as the Spartans were selected to win the Northern Division. The Spartans finished last season tied for second with a 12-4 record in MEAC play while going 18-11 overall.
Morgan State (five first-place votes) was picked to finish second, followed by Delaware State – which made a big improvement last season under new coach David Caputo and earned one first-place vote. Howard, Maryland Eastern Shore (three first-place votes) and Coppin State (one first-place vote) rounded out the division.
For the Southern Division, Bethune-Cookman was picked to repeat after going 15-1 in league play and 23-5 overall last season. The Lady Wildcats picked up 18 of a possible 22 first-place votes, followed by North Carolina A&T State, which got the other four first-place votes and was picked to come in second.
North Carolina Central, South Carolina State and Florida A&M rounded out the Southern Division.
Joining Scott on the Preseason All-MEAC First Team are teammate Daniella Hatcher, Jayla Thornton of Howard, Morgan State’s Dahnye Redd and North Carolina Central’s Anissa Rivera.
The 2021 MEAC Basketball Tournament will be held March 8-13 at the Norfolk Scope Arena in Norfolk, Va.
2020-21 Preseason All-MEAC Teams
As voted on by the league’s head coaches and sports information directors
Preseason Player of the Year: Amaya Scott, Bethune-Cookman
FIRST TEAM
| Name | Pos. | Ht. | Class | School | Hometown |
| Daniella Hatcher | G | 5-8 | r-Sr. | Bethune-Cookman | Orlando, Fla. |
| Amaya Scott | F | 6-1 | Sr. | Bethune-Cookman | Sunrise, Fla. |
| Jayla Thornton | G | 5-9 | Sr. | Howard | Newark, N.J. |
| Dahnye Redd | F | 5-11 | r-Sr. | Morgan State | Darby, Pa. |
| Anissa Rivera | F | 6-1 | So. | North Carolina Central | Capitol Heights, Md. |
SECOND TEAM
| Name | Pos. | Ht. | Class | School | Hometown |
| Sharajah Collins | G/F | 5-7 | Sr. | Delaware State | Winter Haven, Fla. |
| Ashia McCalla | G | 5-6 | Jr. | Morgan State | Greenbelt, Md. |
| Deja Winters | F | 5-11 | Sr. | North Carolina A&T State | Cleveland, Ohio |
| Kieche White | G | 5-4 | Sr. | North Carolina Central | Washington, D.C. |
| Heniaya Moton | G | 5-7 | Sr. | South Carolina State | Washington, D.C. |
THIRD TEAM
| Name | Pos. | Ht. | Class | School | Hometown |
| Aliyah Lawson | G | 5-7 | Jr. | Coppin State | Whitby, Ontario |
| Lyric Turner | G | 5-7 | Sr. | Delaware State | Mansfield, Texas |
| Krislyn Marsh | F | 6-0 | Jr. | Howard | Houston, Texas |
| Brooklyn Bailey | G | 5-4 | Jr. | Maryland Eastern Shore | Rock Hill, S.C. |
| Jayla Jones-Pack | F/C | 6-3 | Sr. | North Carolina A&T State | Amityville, N.Y. |
2020-21 Predicted Order of Finish
As voted on by the league’s head coaches and sports information directors; first-place votes are in parentheses
NORTHERN DIVISION
| School | Points |
| Norfolk State (12) | 108 |
| Morgan State (5) | 105 |
| Delaware State (1) | 86 |
| Howard | 69 |
| Maryland Eastern Shore (3) | 61 |
| Coppin State (1) | 33 |
SOUTHERN DIVISION
| School | Points |
| Bethune-Cookman (18) | 106 |
| North Carolina A&T State (4) | 85 |
| North Carolina Central | 69 |
| South Carolina State | 37 |
| Florida A&M | 33 |
Courtesy: MEAC
