After posting a superb 18-6 record (12-3 CCS), the Panther Women's Basketball Team secured five players on the CCS All-Conference Teams.

First Team
Senior Zyhia Johnson was one of the two Panther guards to be named to the First Team All-CCS. Since joining the LC squad back in 2022, the Kennesaw State transfer has been consistently unstoppable. In 19 games played, the Homerville, Ga. native has averaged an incredible team-high 16.7 per game, shooting 44% from the field and 37% from three. This is up from 15.2ppg and 18% from three in last season's First Team All-CCS performance. This year, Johnson scored a season-high 29 points in the 81-66 win over Berry College (Nov. 11, 2023). Despite not being the tallest on the court, the guard is still able to grab an average of 4.4 rebounds per game this year. Johnson is a playmaker through and through.

The 2022-23 CCS 6th Player of the Year and Rookie of the Year Laila Battle also earned a spot for the second time in her career on the First All-CCS Team. Like Zyhia Johnson, when Battle is on the court, she is constantly making big-time Panther plays. In 21 games played, she averaged 11.8 points per contest and hit 35% from the floor. She also averaged 4.2 rebounds and 3.1 assists per game. These three statistics are up from last year's great performance. In 2022-23, she averaged 11.6 points, 3.5 rebounds and 2.7 assists per game. One thing stats do not show, is how solid of an iso-defender Battle is. Multiple times this year, the Smyrna, Ga. native stifled her opponent from trying to score, by using quick hands and athletic abilities. 

Between Johnson, Battle and the other great players not listed, this LC team has plenty of weapons to choose from.

Second Team
For the second tme in her early Panther career, sophomore forward Amanda Mclendon was named to the Second CCS All-Conference Team. Each game the Orlando, Fla. native plays in, you can guarantee she is going to finish with or close to a double-double. In 21 games played, she has averaged 9.7 points (up from 6.3) and 8.4 rebounds per game. One of the most exciting parts of her game is her ability on defense. This year she had 38 steals and 20 blocks. A thing that stats do not show is how good she is at staying in front of the person she is guarding. She is tall, athletic, has quick feet and is not afraid to use her body to prevent her opponent from getting by. Not only is she one of the best defenders in the league, Mclendon has hit an incredible 51% of her shots this season. Yes, you read that right. The lockdown defender scores over 50% of her shots. She is as solid of a two-way player that you can have on your team and it will be fun to see her continue to develop as a player.

The second forward and Panther to Second CCS All-Conference Team is freshman Taylor Smith. In 21 games played, the Birmingham, Ala. native has averaged 8.1 points per game, shooting 42% from the field. Similarly to Amanda Mclendon, Smith averages a solid 6.3 boards per game. One thing (of the many) that makes this Panthers team so dangerous is the LC frontcourt. Smith is a tall and athletic forward who can also stay in between the basketball and the player she is defending thanks to her agility. She finished the season with 28 blocks and eight steals. Against Welsyan (Jan. 30), she scored a season-high 21 points. The young and talented Panther has a bright future with LC Basketball.

This pair of Panther forwards is what keeps the other CCS frontcourts up at night.

Sportsmanship Team
Senior Ashley Free was named to this year's CCS Sportsmanship Team. In 15 games played, the guard from Montgomery, Ala. scored a strong 6.7 points per game, shooting 40% from the field and 33% from three. Free is the type of player that other teams cannot let get hot, because if she does, then she will drop points. Against Maryville (Feb. 2), she led the Panthers in scoring with 18 points, while shooting a superb 56% from the field and 57% from three. Coming off the bench in 12 of her 15 games played, Free was instrumental in keeping the Panther scoring pace alive.