RICHMOND, Va. – College of Charleston was picked first in the Annual Coaches' Poll while guard Taryn Barbot was named the Coastal Athletic Association Preseason Player of the Year and Preseason All-CAA First Team for the second straight season, as announced by the conference Thursday. Guard Taylor Barbot was also selected to the Preseason All-CAA Second Team.
 
The 2024-25 CAA Player of the Year, All-CAA First Team and All-CAA Defensive Team member, Barbot led the conference in eight statistical categories, averaged 17.7 points per game, 7.2 rebounds per contest and shot 38.1 percent. Barbot's 87 trey's ranked 20th in the country. Against UNCW March 2, the guard went 15-for-22, setting a career high and matching the program record with 40 points against the Seahawks. Defensively, Barbot registered 75 steals and helped the Cougars in becoming the Division I Statistical Champions with a 9.85 turnover margin. 
 
An All-CAA Third Team selection, Taylor Barbot averaged 11.8 points per game to pair with a 38.6 shooting percentage. The team's starting point guard reached double figures in 24 ballgames to go along with three double doubles. Barbot's 11.8 points per contest is the fifth-most among returnees in the CAA from 2024-25.
 
The Cougars finished the 2024-25 campaign 25-8 overall, 14-4 in the CAA and advanced to the third round of the WNIT. Charleston's 25 victories are the most in the Division I era of the program.
 
The preseason favorites, Charleston tallied 139 points and eight first-place votes. Drexel earned 125 points and two first-place votes while North Carolina A&T was selected to finish third with 124 points and three first-place votes.
 
The Cougars open the 2025-26 campaign Nov. 3 against Covenant.
 
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