MOUNT VERNON, Ga. - The Brewton-Parker Christian University Lady Barons are gearing up for a new season of basketball. The Lady Barons, led by head coach Steve Edwards, are looking forward to building on last year's achievements. They finished with a record of 15-13 overall and 11-5 in conference play, securing a tie for second place and making the conference tournament. The Lady Barons are typically a top 3-4 program in the SSAC and contend deep in the conference tournament. The Lady Barons have also earned bids to the NAIA National Tournament two of the last three seasons.

The Lady Barons are in an excellent position for players, considering last season, when they only returned one player, Angel McRae. McRae was a dominant force in the paint and a four-year starter for the Lady Barons, leading the team in rebounds every year and eclipsing 1000 career boards last season. This year, the Lady Barons are returning multiple threats on both sides of the floor.

The Lady Barons are returning seven players, including Chasity Degale, who earned the Freshman of the Year honors and a Second Team All-Conference selection last season. Andranique Stewart, who is a double-double threat night in and night out, and Sydney Beasley, who was an incredible asset off the bench scoring in bunches for the Lady Barons last season.

The Lady Barons are also thrilled to be adding several new pieces to their already talented lineup, including Ja'Ka'yah Draughn, Andrian Stewart, and Charity Fantroy. These three players are expected to come in and have an immediate impact. The Lady Barons hope to pair these additions with returners like Jakayla Peeples, who led the team with 52 three-pointers last season asa freshman, Jasmine Lenyard, and Lauren Pean, who all contributed to the Lady Barons' success last season. All of whom are talented young players who have already started making a strong impression this season. Coach shared that Andrian Stewart is one of the most gifted athletes we've had here in a while. She has so much room to improve, but we're glad she is here." The Lady Barons look to use these new pieces and pair them with their proven returners to compete at the top of SSAC.

Coach Steve Edwards, entering his tenth year with a career record of 131-118, has expressed immense pride in his team —not just for their accomplishments on the court, but also for their quality and character off the court. "My favorite thing about this group is who they are away from basketball. Sure, I believe we've done a good job of recruiting and retaining players. Sure, we work hard every day and have strong leadership. But what truly gives us a chance to maximize our potential is the quality of the young women in our program," Edwards remarked. The Lady Barons are excited to bring back some veteran leadership from super senior Kaziah Terrell. Her coaches consider her to be the most influential player on and off the court. She is known for pushing her teammates, bringing out the best in them, and leading with love, earning the respect of everyone in the program. Head Coach Steve Edwards shared, "She strives to be excellent in every area of her life, and I feel fortunate to coach her. We have a chance to be special this season, and that's because of young women like Kaziah."

The Lady Barons were picked as the Dark Horse with a chance to win the conference on the Hoop Report: The NAIA Women's Basketball Podcast, highlighting the impact their performance from last year and their new additions have already made since signing day. In the SSAC Coaches poll, the Lady Barons received one first-place vote and finished fifth in voting for the preseason standings. The Lady Barons' coaching staff shared their excitement to begin the season and to showcase this new group.

With such a mixture of seasoned players and fresh talent, the Brewton-Parker Christian University Lady Barons are poised to make a strong run in the upcoming season. The Lady Barons open up on the road and start their home stand on November 4, 2025, with a game against Southeastern University. For a look at the rest of the Lady Barons' schedule, click here.