Providence College Athletics
Sarah Beal Named To Preseason All-BIG EAST Team
10/14/2015 12:00:00 AM | Women's Basketball
NEW YORK, N.Y. - Providence College junior point guard Sarah Beal (Matthews, N.C.) was named to the Preseason All-BIG EAST Team on Wednesday, Oct. 14 at the league's annual media day, held at Madison Square Garden in New York, N.Y. It marked Beal's second-straight appearance on the preseason team, having earned Preseason All-BIG EAST Honorable Mention honors prior to the 2014-15 campaign.
Last year, Beal played just 14 games and appeared in the starting line-up 13 times during an injury-shortened season. She averaged 10.2 points, 4.6 rebounds, 1.5 steals and a team-best 4.7 assists per game. She recorded seven double-digit scoring games, including a season-high 24 points against Brown.
The point guard also dished a season-high seven assists in three games vs. Richmond (Nov. 14), Rhode Island (Dec. 7) and Florida Gulf Coast (Dec. 11). Beal handed out 5+ assists in eight of the 14 games she played.
For her career, Beal has played 43 games and has appeared in the starting line-up 41 times. She has recorded 485 points (11.3 ppg), 187 rebounds (4.3 rpg), 63 steals (1.5 spg) and 201 assists (4.7 apg). She has registered one double-double during her career and 28 double-digits scoring games, including five games with 20+ points. Beal also has recorded five-or-more assists in 21 of her 43 games at Providence.
Beal burst on to the scene for the Friars during the 2013-14 season, during which she averaged 11.8 points, 4.2 rebounds, 1.4 steals and 4.6 assists per game. She became just the fourth Friar in previous 10 seasons to dish 100+ assists in a single-season. Her 135 assists marked the third-highest total all-time by a freshman at Providence College. At season's end, Beal was recognized as a unanimous BIG EAST All-Freshman Team selection.
During the upcoming 2015-16 campaign, Beal is one of three upperclassmen on a young Friar roster. Among the 12 players on the squad, Providence features five freshmen, four sophomores, two juniors and one senior.
Providence is scheduled to open the 2015-16 season on Friday, Nov. 13 against ACC foe Boston College. The game will be played at Alumni Hall/Mullaney Gymnasium in Providence, R.I. and will tip-off at 7:00 p.m. The Friars kick off the BIG EAST Conference schedule with a pair of home games against Seton Hall and St. John's. The Pirates come to town on Tuesday, Dec. 29 for a 1:00 p.m. start, and host St. John's on Thursday, Dec. 31 at 1:00 p.m. Both match-ups will be broadcast on the BIG EAST Digital Network. To watch the game, download the FOX Sports GO app to your mobile device or tablet, or visit www.FOXSportsGO.com.
A complete list of Preseason All-BIG EAST Team honorees and the league's Preseason Coaches' Poll is below.
BIG EAST Preseason Player of the Year
Aliyyah Handford, St. John's, Sr., G, 5-9, Newark, N.J.
BIG EAST Preseason Freshman of the Year
Brittany Ward, Butler, Fr., F, 6-1, Indianapolis, Ind.
Preseason All-BIG EAST Team ^
Blaire Langlois, Butler, Sr., G, 5-8, Carmel, Ind.
Marissa Janning, Creighton, Sr., G, 5-8, Watertown, Minn.*
Sydney Lamberty, Creighton, So., G, Cottage Grove, Minn.
Megan Podkowa, DePaul, Sr., G/F, 6-2, Glenview, Ill.*
Chanise Jenkins, DePaul, Sr., G, 5-5, Chicago, Ill.*
Dorothy Adomako, Georgetown, So., G, 6-1, Midlothian, Va.*
Sarah Beal, Providence, Jr., G, 5-8, Matthews, N.C.
Danaejah Grant, St. John's, Sr., G, 5-9, Piscataway, N.J.*
Tabatha Richardson-Smith, Seton Hall, Sr., F, 6-0, Bay City, Texas*
Caroline Coyer, Villanova, Sr., G, 5-10, Oak Hill, Va.*
Briana Glover, Xavier, Sr., F, 6-1, Mason, Ohio
*unanimous selection
^additional player added due to a tie in voting
BIG EAST Women's Basketball Preseason Coaches' Poll
1. DePaul (8) - 80
2. St. John's (1) - 66
3. Villanova (1) - 64
4. Creighton - 57
5. Seton Hall - 55
6. Xavier - 37
7. Georgetown - 34
8. Butler - 28
9. Marquette - 15
10. Providence - 14
