Player of the Week
Lauryn Taylor, Francis Marion

A senior forward/center from Blythewood, South Carolina, Lauryn Taylor of Francis Marion averaged an impressive 20.0 points, 16.5 rebounds and 2.0 steals per game in two conference wins last week for the Patriots. 

Taylor finished her week shooting 46.4 percent (13-of-28) from the floor and 12-of-14 (86 percent) from the free throw line. In Francis Marion’s conference win over Mount Olive, Taylor finished with a conference 2023-24 single game-best 19 rebounds to go along with one assist and one steal. She ended her week by posting 19 points and 14 rebounds in only 25 minutes in Francis Marion’s league win over King. 

Taylor has now registered a double-double in seven of her last eight games and currently has nine on the 2023-24 season. She has 36 in her prestigious career. Taylor is the only player in Conference Carolinas averaging a double-double on the season with 18.8 points (third in league) and 12.3 rebounds (first in league) per game. Taylor has now claimed weekly honors from the conference four times in the 2023-24 season. 

Defensive Player of the Week
Lauren Mingo, Barton

A sophomore guard from Clinton, Maryland, Lauren Mingo of Barton averaged five steals per game last week.

Her impressive numbers in steals went along with her overall strong numbers on the week in two league wins that included 21.5 points and 6.0 rebounds per game. In Barton’s conference win over Chowan, Mingo had 22 points, seven steals and five rebounds. She followed that up by collecting 21 points, seven rebounds, three steals, three assists and one block in a conference victory over North Greenville. 

Mingo is currently second in steals per game in Conference Carolinas at 3.2. She is also in the top-10 in scoring in Conference Carolinas with 14.2 points per game. 

2023-24 Conference Carolinas Women’s Basketball Weekly Awards

Week 8 (Jan. 8, 2024)

Player of the Week: Lauryn Taylor, Francis Marion

Defensive Player of the Week: Lauren Mingo, Barton

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

Player of the Week
Marlow Gilmore Jr., Francis Marion

A fifth-year student-athlete from Norway, South Carolina, Marlow Gilmore Jr. of Francis Marion averaged 21.5 points, 4.5 rebounds, 2.0 blocks and 2.0 steals per game in two road wins last week, while also shooting a scorching 90.5 percent from the floor (19-of-21).

Gilmore scored a career-best 28 points to go along with four rebounds, three steals and one block in Francis Marion’s thrilling 103-102 triple-overtime league win over Mount Olive. He tied Francis Marion’s program record by going a perfect 12-of-12 from the field in the victory. He ended his week by going 7-of-9 (78 percent) en route to 15 points in Francis Marion’s league victory over King. He also had five rebounds, four blocks and two steals. 

Defensive Player of the Week
Sidney Dollar, Lees-McRae 

A senior forward from Denver, North Carolina, Sidney Dollar of Lees-McRae flirted with a triple-double in a league win over Southern Wesleyan.

Dollar stuffed the stat sheet in the conference victory with 11 points, eight assists, seven rebounds and five steals. Dollar currently leads Conference Carolinas, and is second in all of NCAA Division II, with 39 total steals on the 2023-24 season. 

2023-24 Conference Carolinas Men’s Basketball Weekly Awards

Week 8 (Jan. 8, 2024)

Player of the Week: Marlow Gilmore Jr., Francis Marion

Defensive Player of the Week: Sidney Dollar, Lees-McRae 

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