Tulane women’s basketball picked 4th in AAC preseason poll, Freeman tabbed 2nd team all conference

NEW ORLEANS – Tulane University women’s basketball redshirt senior Krystal Freeman received Preseason All-American Athletic Conference honors for the third time in her career in Olive and Blue, the league announced Wednesday. As a team, Tulane was picked to finish fourth of 11 teams in the AAC.

Freeman was named to the preseason second team, earning her third-consecutive preseason honor from the conference. The Pineville, La., native helped lead the Green Wave to an 18-9 record last season averaging 12.3 points and 7.8 rebounds per game. She shot 43 percent from the floor and 79.2 percent from the free throw stripe in the 2020-21 season. Freeman was named Third Team All-Conference last season.

Following the 2020-21 season, the redshirt senior forward ranked second in rebounding (7.8), third in defensive rebounding (6.1) and 13th in scoring (12.3) in The American. She averaged 11.3 points and 7.1 rebounds during the conference season. Freeman scored double-figures in 17-of-27 games a season ago including a season-high 25 points against Southeastern Louisiana on Dec. 6, 2020.

As a team, Tulane was picked to finish fourth in the league this season behind USF, who received 10 first place votes and 100 points, UCF, who earned one first place vote and 91 points, and Houston, who landed 77 points. The Green Wave earned 72 points to edge out Temple who received 69 total points. Cincinnati, ECU, Wichita State, Tulsa, SMU and Memphis rounded out the poll in that order. The Olive and Blue finished fourth in the AAC last season after ending the campaign 18-9 overall and 12-6 in league play.

Team (First-Place Votes) Points
1. South Florida (10) 100
2. UCF (1) 91
3. Houston 77
4. Tulane 72
5. Temple 69
6. Cincinnati 44
7. East Carolina 38
8. Wichita State 36
9. Tulsa 32
10. SMU 26
11. Memphis 20

Preseason Player of the Year
Mia Davis, F, Temple

Preseason All-Conference First Team
Tay Sanders, G, UCF
Dulcy Fankam Mendjiadeu, F, South Florida
Bethy Mununga, F, South Florida
Elena Tsineke, G, South Florida
Mia Davis, F, Temple*
Asia Strong, F, Wichita State

Preseason All-Conference Second Team
Laila Blair, G, Houston
Sydni Harvey, G, South Florida
Elisa Pinzan, G, South Florida
Krystal Freeman, F, Tulane
Maya Mayberry, G, Tulsa

*denotes unanimous selection