GREENVILLE, S.C. – Lauryn Taylor of Francis Marion has been selected as the Conference Carolinas Female Athlete of the Year for the 2023-24 academic year.

Taylor is the first student-athlete from Francis Marion to be chosen as the Female Athlete of the Year in Conference Carolinas. The Patriots officially joined the league on July 1, 2021.

"This award only addresses a part of what Lauryn meant to our program this past year," said FMU head coach Jeri Porter. "Her commitment to our vision and her dedication to our process made her valuable in ways far greater than her talent ever could. She walks away with many accolades and awards, but she should also be proud of the relationships and the culture that she has helped to build at Francis Marion. I hope people understand her value to us as a teammate and a friend was far greater than her stats line."

This winter, Taylor was selected Conference Carolinas Player of the Year and Defensive Player of the Year. The senior forward/center from Blythewood, South Carolina, is one of two women's basketball players to win both awards in one season.

She also garnered all-region honors from the Division II Conference Commissioners Association (D2CCA) that led to third team All-America recognition. Taylor also earned honorable mention All-America honors from the Women's Basketball Coaches Association (WBCA).

"To even be in the conversation for Conference Carolinas' Female Athlete of the Year is amazing, but to actually be blessed enough to win the award means a lot to me," Taylor said. "I'm just grateful to be able to represent a great conference and to be able to elevate this conference through this award. I believe this could be a building block to growing Conference Carolinas and women's sports at the D2 level."

"My senior year at FMU was nothing short of amazing," continued Taylor. "Even with all of the tough battles I've faced, I was surrounded by a group of great people that cared about me more as a person than they did as an athlete. I achieved a lot in that one year alone, but I credit a lot of my success to the great community surrounding Francis Marion."

Taylor led NCAA Division II in rebounding, grabbing 419 total boards, and averaging 15.0 per contest. She snared 9.9 rebounds on the defensive end and 5.0 on the offensive end. She also ranked third in the country with 22 double-doubles. In a February contest against North Greenville, Taylor set the NCAA record (all divisions) with 43 rebounds. That including 13 offensive rebounds.

She also ranked in the Conference Carolinas' top five in numerous categories, including second with an average 17.7 points per game. Her 45.5 field goal percentage also ranked ninth in the league. Taylor posted 12 games with at least 20 points, including one over 30 when she poured in 34 points in that contest against North Greenville when she snared 43 rebounds.

The Athlete of the Year Award (one male and one female each year) is the most outstanding student-athlete for the year in the league. Per Conference Carolinas Directors of Athletics vote, nominations will be accepted from member institutions to only include conference-sponsored sports and all nomination information, statistics and accomplishments are solely based on athletically-related criteria.

Conference Carolinas Female Athlete of the Year Winners
2023-24           Lauryn Taylor, Francis Marion
2022-23           Mycherie Onwuzuruike, Southern Wesleyan
2021-22           Shanika Peterkin, Barton
2020-21           Jharna Alston, Emmanuel
2019-20           Shanika Peterkin, Barton
2018-19           Leah Hanle, Mount Olive
2017-18           Shannon Sisk, Limestone
2016-17           Jasmine Kearse, Limestone
2015-16           Jasmine Kearse, Limestone
2014-15           Alicia Brookins, Limestone
2013-14           Nyeshea Willie, Barton
2012-13           Kay Schellenberg, Belmont Abbey
2011-12           Ashley Alderin-Fleagle, Limestone
2010-11           Racquel Prager, Limestone
2009-10           Tanya Zeferjahn, Queens
2008-09           Lauryn Wise, Limestone
2007-08           Samantha Mitchell, Mount Olive
2006-07           Deidra Langston, Anderson
2005-06           Keauna Vinson, Barton
2004-05           LaShonda Chiles, Anderson
2003-04           Tina Gonsalves, St. Andrews
2002-03           Jennifer Potts, Longwood
2001-02           Shemkia Reid, Barton
2000-01           Jen Calderwood, Lees-McRae
1999-00           Angela Placona, Belmont Abbey
1998-99           Missy Paterson, Coker
1997-98           Missy Paterson, Coker
1996-97           Missy Paterson, Coker
1995-96           Staci Albright, Coker