Player of the Week
Lauryn Taylor, Francis Marion

A senior forward/center from Blythewood, South Carolina, Lauryn Taylor of Francis Marion averaged 21.0 points, 17.0 rebounds and 4.5 assists per game in two road wins last week for the Patriots. 

Taylor, who has six double-doubles this season, now has 33 in her career. She picked up her first double-double last week with 22 points and 19 rebounds in a road conference victory at Young Harris. She also had four assists in the game. Taylor followed that up in Francis Marion’s strong non-conference region win over Augusta with double-double No. 2 on the week with 20 points and 15 rebounds. She also had five assists. 

Taylor shot 55 percent (17-of-31) from the field last week, while also connecting on six of her seven (86 percent) free throw attempts. She moved into 18th place on the Francis Marion all-time scoring list last week (1,310 points). She is in the 15th position all-time in program history in rebounding with 706. 

Taylor is the only player in Conference Carolinas averaging a double-double on the season with 18.0 points and 11.3 rebounds per game. She is first in the league in rebounding and third in scoring. Taylor has now claimed weekly honors from the conference three times in the 2023-24 season. 

Defensive Player of the Week
Aleysha Hill, Lees-McRae

A freshman guard from Asheville, North Carolina, Aleysha Hill of Lees-McRae collected an impressive six steals last week for the Bobcats. 

Hill picked up five of the six steals in a league game at North Greenville. She started last week by posting a career-best 13 points in a conference contest against Emmanuel. She also had a block in the game. Hill then had the career-best five steals in the league game at North Greenville. 

2023-24 Conference Carolinas Women’s Basketball Weekly Awards

Week 6 (Dec. 18, 2023)

Player of the Week: Lauryn Taylor, Francis Marion

Defensive Player of the Week: Aleysha Hill, Lees-McRae

Learn more about all weekly/monthly award winners in Conference Carolinas here.

Player of the Week
Mason Taylor, Belmont Abbey

A senior guard from Grandview, Missouri, Mason Taylor of Belmont Abbey averaged 29.0 points, 4.0 rebounds and 2.5 assists per game in two conference victories last week for the Crusaders. 

In Belmont Abbey’s thrilling come-from-behind league win over previously unbeaten Converse, Taylor ended his evening with a career-best 29 points to go along with three rebounds and one assist. He then equaled his career-best with 29 points in a league victory over Mount Olive. He also had five rebounds, four assists and two steals in the win over Mount Olive. 

Taylor shot an impressive 62 percent (23-of-37) from the field in the two victories. He also connected on 46 percent (6-of-13) of his three-point attempts and made six free throws on the week. Taylor is currently in the top-five in Conference Carolinas in scoring at 17.6 points per outing. 

Defensive Player of the Week
Nate Gordon, Emmanuel

A redshirt sophomore forward from Villa Rica, Georgia, Nate Gordon of Emmanuel was incredibly strong for the Lions defensively last week in two league wins. 

Gordon had three blocks and one steal on the week, while averaging nine defensive rebounds per game. Gordon averaged a double-double on the week with 11.5 points and 11.0 rebounds per game. He picked up a double-double with 17 points, 12 rebounds and one block in a league victory over Lees-McRae. Gordon followed that up with two blocks, one steal, 10 rebounds and six points in a conference win over King. 

Gordon finished last week shooting a scorching 9-of-11 (82 percent) from the field. He also made five of his six free throw (83 percent) attempts on the week. Gordon is currently sixth in rebounding in Conference Carolinas at 7.2 per game. 

2023-24 Conference Carolinas Men’s Basketball Weekly Awards

Week 6 (Dec. 18, 2023)

Player of the Week: Mason Taylor, Belmont Abbey

Defensive Player of the Week: Nate Gordon, Emmanuel

Learn more about all weekly/monthly award winners in Conference Carolinas here.