Sure, defense wins championships. But we sure do enjoy watching the ball go in the basket. So here are the Division I players in Virginia that have done the best job of lighting up the scoreboard heading into the 2016-17 season – and just for the heck of it, everybody else.
1. Malia Tate-DeFreitas, 5-8 Sr. G, Hampton – 1,939 career points
– Given that Tate-DeFreitas scored 3,366 points in high school, file this in the “No Surprise” folder.
– After missing all of the 2014-15 season with a knee injury, Hall appears set to return to the form which led to 20.8 ppg and a Colonial Athletic Association Player of the Year award in 2014-15.
– Made 99 3-pointers in 2014-15, and has 199 for her career.
– Is currently eighth on the school’s all-time scoring list but is within range (granted, it’s Steph Curry range) of eclipsing ex-Dukes and current WNBA star Tamara Young (2,121) for No. 2. Dawn Evans sits comfortably atop the list at 2,667 points.
3. Jennie Simms, 6-0 R-Sr. G, ODU – 1,345 (includes 25 points in 8 games at W.Va.)
– Total includes 25 points in 8 games as a freshman at West Virginia.
– Two-time first-team All-Conference-USA pick averaged 21.4 ppg (22.2 in league play) and dropped at least 30 five times.
– Although 32 Lady Monarchs have reached the 1,000-point threshold, only Anne Donovan (1,527) produced more points than Simms (1,320) in two ODU seasons.
– Trails good friend Adrienne Motley of Miami (1,419) by 74 points in the battle for offseason bragging rights, but leads C-USA Player of the Year Kendall Noble (1,337) by eight.
– Two-time second-team All-Atlantic 10 pick averaged 15.8 points per game in 2015-16
– Currently ranks 10th on Richmond’s all-time scoring list; is within range of No. 3 Kate Flavin (1,770 from 2001-05). Brittani Shells (2,042 from 2007-11) is No. 2 and Karen Eisner (2,367 from 1981-85) leads the way.
5. Marlena Tremba, 5-9 Sr. G, William and Mary – 1,190
– Former CAA Rookie of the Year and a two-time third-team All-CAA pick who averaged 13.8 ppg last season.
– Is currently 11th on school’s all-time scoring list. If Tremba matches last year’s production (417 points), she’ll trail only Taysha Pye (1,659) and Kyra Kaylor (1,873) among all players in Tribe history.
– Sydney, Australia native has made 198 career 3-pointers, two shy of the school record.
– Has made a program-record 85.1 percent of her free throws over her three seasons.
– Is the 24th member of Virginia Tech’s 1,000-point club and the ninth to do it as a junior. The program record is 1,791 points by Renee Dennis from 1983-87.
7. Isis Thorpe, 5-8 Sr. G, VCU – 1,062
– Ranks second on VCU’s career 3-pointers made list with 185, 11 shy of the record.
– Shot just 30.2 percent from 3 last season but drained those shots at a 40.4 percent clip as a junior.
– Became 21st player to reach 1,000 points at Longwood and third in the school’s Division I era (since 2007-08).
– Fastest player to reach 1,000 points in the Lancers’ D-I era.
– All points scored during two seasons at Stetson, where the former Atlantic Sun Defensive Player of the Year also recorded a school-record 208 blocks.
Kara Wright, 5-11 R-Sr. F, George Mason – 790
– Includes 457 points in two seasons at SE Missouri State.
Lauren Tolson, 5-8 Gr. G, Richmond – 789
Sidney Cook, 6-2 Sr. F, Virginia Tech – 687
– Includes 203 points in one season at Seton Hall.
Alexandra Masaquel, 5-10 Sr. F, William and Mary – 667
– Includes 297 points in one season at Portland
GG Goodhope, 5-5 R-Sr. G, VCU – 499
– Includes 438 points in two seasons at Old Dominion
– Includes 122 points in one season at Loyola-Maryland
J’Kyra Brown, 5-11 Jr. G, Virginia – 350
– Includes 184 points in one season at East Carolina
Sylvia Maxwell, 5-7 R-Sr. G, George Mason – 349
– All points in three seasons at Niagara
Monnazjea Finney-Smith, 6-1 R-Jr. G/F, Hampton -309
– All points scored in two seasons at VCU
Bridget O’Donnell, 6-6 R-Sr. C, George Mason – 265
– Includes 181 points in two seasons at UMBC
Chanel Green, 5-4 R-Sr. G, Hampton – 135
– Includes 42 points in one season at East Carolina
Notes: Liberty’s leading returning scorer is sophomore forward KK Barbour with 65 points. Senior guard/forward Audrey Rettstatt is next with 60 points over three seasons for a Lady Flames team tasked with replacing 93.3 percent of last season’s scoring…Old Dominion senior guard Kelly Loftus, who is sitting out this season per transfer rules, scored 842 points in three highly productive seasons at Hofstra…Also sitting out 2016-17 is Virginia Tech sophomore forward Michelle Berry, who scored 420 points (and averaged 9.1 rebounds) in one season at Cal State-Fullerton.