ROCK HILL, S.C. -- The Winthrop University women's basketball team opens up its home portion of the 2025-26 schedule against Newberry on Saturday at 2:00 p.m. inside the Winthrop Coliseum.
| WINTHROP PROBABLE STARTERS ('24-25 stats) |
| Pos. |
No. |
Name |
Ht. |
Yr. |
PPG |
RPG |
APG |
SPG |
Noteworthy |
| G |
3 |
Madison Ruff |
5-9 |
So. |
7.6 |
3.6 |
1.5 |
1.3 |
Transfer from The Mount / Appeared in 31 games, starting in six contests / Finished freshman year on 7.2 ppg and 3.6 rpg / Reached double digits in scoring seven times during her freshman season |
| G |
11 |
Naomi Wilson |
6-2 |
Jr. |
0.0 |
0.0 |
0.0 |
0.0 |
Transfer from Weatherford College / Played in 29 games, starting eleven of them / Averaged 6.6 ppg with 5.2 rpg |
| G |
13 |
Mya Pierfax |
5-9 |
Sr. |
0.0 |
0.0 |
0.0 |
0.0 |
Played in 31 games, starting 18 of them / Had six games in double figures in points, with a season-high of 21 vs. High Point |
| F |
15 |
Amourie Porter |
5-10 |
Jr. |
13.1 |
6.3 |
1.5 |
0.7 |
2025 Big South Conference First Team honoree / Played in all 31 regular-season games, starting 16 of them / 13.1 points per game in 2024-25 |
| G |
22 |
Cori Lard |
5-9 |
Sr. |
2.4 |
1.6 |
1.4 |
0.6 |
Appeared in 27 games, earning three starts / Posted averages of 2.4 points and 1.6 rebounds per game. |
SERIES HISTORY VERSUS NEWBERRY
The Eagles and Wolves first met on the hardwood in 1981, seeing the Winthrop Eagles win 79-60. The most recent matchup between the two occured in November of 2018, with the Wolves their second win of the series, and their first since 1982, 67-63.
WINTHROP
- With her 15-point 16-rebound performance against Chicago State on Wednesday, Amourie Porter is the first Eagle to record a double-double since herself in the Big South Tournament against Charleston Southern Last year.
- Amourie Porter was tabbed with Big South Preseason All-Conference First Team honors
- The 5-foot-10 guard/forward started all 31 contests, shooting 46.1 percent from the field and 39.3 percent from beyond the arc. Porter also proved effective on the glass, averaging 6.3 rebounds per game while adding 77 assists, 22 blocks, and 66 steals.
- Porter held the 13th best free throw percentage in the country with a mark of .890 percent, also pacing the Big South.
- She is the first Eagle to garner first team honors since Erica Williams in 2017, and she was also the recipient of the Big South's first ever Newcomer of the Year award.
- For the Eagles, they only return five letterwinners from last season, Amourie Porter, Mya Pierfax, Ar'Mani Reid, Jada Ryce, and Persais Williams.
- Under Head Coach Semeka Randall Lay, the Eagles have improved every season after starting with six wins in 2020-21, Randall Lay collected the highest win total of her career last season with 16 wins.
- After missing the 2024-25 season with injury, standout guard Jada Ryce returns to the court. Ryce led the Eagles in scoring in 2023-24, averaging 11.1 PPG and earning an Big South Honorable Mention All-Conference nod.
- Winthrop checked in at 4th in the Big South Preseason Poll
- After not scratching the top four spots since 2015-16, the Eagles have now garnered a second-straight top four placing.
- The Eagles welcome in nine newcomers, three freshmen and six transfers
- Among the transfers are Nessa Walsh (Purdue Northwest), Madison Ruff (Mount Saint Mary's), Naomi Wilson (Weatherford College), Uniyah Franklin (Louisiana Lafayette), Cori Lard (Miami of Ohio), and Tocarra Johnson (Blinn College)
- Randall Lay led the team to 16 wins last season, her most at the helm of the Eagles
- The Eagles only return 37% of its scoring from last season
SEASON HONORS
Amourie Porter – Preseason All-Conference First Team
CAREER MILESTONES
Jada Ryce
- 19 points away from 700 career points
- Nine assists away from 150
Amourie Porter
- Reached 600 career points in last contest
Uniyah Franklin
- Reached 100 total rebounds against Chicago State
Madison Ruff
- Nine points away from 250 career points
SEASON TICKETS ON SALE
Get your women's basketball season tickets TODAY! Season tickets start at $50 for 13 home games. Purchase Today:
Click Here.
SINGLE-GAME TICKETS ARE ON SALE
Click Here to purchase single-game tickets for all home contests for the 2025-26 season or call/text ticket office at (803) 323-2345.
JOIN THE EAGLE CLUB
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.
By investing in the Eagle Club, you're helping us build a stronger future for Winthrop Athletics—one that prioritizes excellence, opportunity, and a championship culture.
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