Tennessee Tech sophomore forward LaReesha Cawthorn is looking to build on her successful freshman season and help lead the Golden Eagles to a conference championship after earning preseason all-conference recognition.
Cawthorn said being named to the preseason All-Southern Conference team reflects the work she put into her development during her first collegiate season. She said the recognition also brings higher expectations as opponents prepare to face her and the Golden Eagles.
“I think it just personally shows how much work that I had put in my freshman season and it showed and other people seen it as well,” Cawthorn said. “It also shows how much work the coaches have put in me to help me, you know, produce and have the freshman season that I had as well.”
Cawthorn said the honor puts a target on her back, but she understands that preseason recognition means little without continued improvement. She expects opposing teams to pay closer attention to her game as the season progresses.
“I just feel like having a preseason poll or recognition shows that you have a target on your back,” Cawthorn said. “When you have a target on your back, it just means that teams are always going to be prepared to scout you and your team as well.”
Cawthorn said she is focused on becoming a more complete player by contributing through rebounding, defense, assists and steals rather than relying solely on scoring. She said adjusting to the physical demands of college basketball during her freshman season helped prepare her for that responsibility.
“The physicality was definitely different coming from high school to my freshman year,” Cawthorn said. “I think the coaches really prepared me in practice with our physical practice players showing me that you’re not going to be able to get anything easily.”
Cawthorn said the Golden Eagles share a commitment to winning a conference championship, with strong team relationships and a willingness to learn helping establish expectations for the season.
“I think as a whole we all have that mentality and goal to win the season and the conference as well,” Cawthorn said. “I think just our mentality, it’s just different. We are very coachable and we want to win.”