‘I’m grateful’: Amid success in Big South, Winthrop women’s basketball makes history

There is a lot of good news swirling around the Winthrop women’s basketball program.

For one, the 2019-20 squad is in the middle of its best season of the Lynette Woodard era. The third-year head coach has led her team to a 6-7 (3-1, Big South) record, and with a few big wins under their collective belt, the Eagles are looking to continue setting their mark in the conference.

For another, the team’s success has been accompanied by individual success: Destinee Jamison-Whitfield and Anika Riley have each won Big South Player of the Week awards recently — and Jamison-Whitfield was the first Eagle to win an award of the kind since December 2015.

Jamison-Whitfield is a sophomore in the Eagles’ backcourt. She grew up in Sumter, S.C., and notes her first playing experiences as pickup games with her brothers.

“I started when I was 5 years old, in the dirt playing in the backyard with my brothers,” Jamison-Whitfield said. “I told my brothers I really loved it, so they trained with me.”

After roughing it out with her brothers, she moved to the church league and started training with coaches to get better.

Now at 5-10, she is a quick guard for the Eagles, who sports nifty moves and has a good eye for shooting.

Jamison-Whitfield was named Big South Player of the Week over the holiday break, following her breakout performances against UNC Wilmington and Western Carolina.

“Receiving that honor motivated me to keep pushing and to keep working hard,” Jamison-Whitfield said.

In a Jan. 6 win over the Gardner-Webb Runnin’ Bulldogs, Jamison-Whitfield scored a career-high 23 points in 26 minutes played. Even though she comes off the bench, Jamison-Whitfield is playing nearly half the game, on average, and has provided a spark off the bench for the Eagles.

“As I’m sitting on the bench watching the game, I talk to my coaches and I observe,” Jamison-Whitfield said. “So when I get out on the court, I feel like I can help the team by doing what I do best, shooting.”

Winthrop’s Anika Riley: ‘I’m honored’

Another standout for this guard-heavy Eagles team is found in the 5-8 junior, Riley.

Riley, like Jamison-Whitfield, first started playing basketball in a church league. Riley played basketball throughout her youth, and in eighth grade she began working to improve her skills at the AAU level.

“I really started pursuing a collegiate career during my junior year of high school,” Riley said. “That’s when I really took it to another level.”

Riley describes herself as a “puzzle piece” for the team. Riley started her playing career as a post-player; however, as she moved through the levels, she sized-out and was able to apply her skills at the guard position.

“My versatility makes my game unique,” Riley said. “I can play multiple positions. I still have those fundamental post values, so since I started as a post, I learned the guard position. I learned how to handle the ball, how to create a shot and be able to work outside.”

Riley said that her knowledge of multiple positions helps her on defense and aids her in pulling down rebounds.

Rebounds have been a telling feature of Riley’s career. Last season, she led the team in rebounding (8.0 per game), finishing fifth in the Big South.

“It feels really good, especially going back to being undersized or underlooked as a post,” Riley said. “To be ranked No. 5 in Big South in rebounding when there are other trees out there in the same league as me — it’s awesome to just be recognized. So, I’m grateful.”

Riley pulled down her 500th rebound in the match-up against Gardner-Webb — marking her place in school and conference history. Riley became the 18th Winthrop Eagle women’s basketball player to reach the milestone, and the 122nd in the conference.

“I’m honored,” Riley said about her most recent career accomplishment.

‘We’re getting the recipe down’

Both athletes applaud each other for their recent accomplishments and feel that their off-court relationship helps their chemistry on the court.

“When Destinee came in, I told her that she reminded me so much of myself in her work ethic,” Riley said of Jamison-Whitfield. “She’s been on a great streak these last couple games and really playing to what we all could see in her, so I’m really proud of her for being consistent.”

Their comments on each other are an ode to their connection.

“Anika is a great person,” Jamison-Whitfield said of Riley. “She doesn’t back down from any challenge; she always goes hard in practice; and she always plays hard in games.”

The Riley, Jamison-Whitfield combo recently combined for 10 of Winthrop’s 52 points in a win over USC Upstate on Jan. 9.

Along with their praise for each other, both Riley and Jamison-Whitfield are thankful for their team, and they hope that the community starts to take notice of their success.

“Support us because we’re working hard, and we’re getting the recipe down,” Riley said.

The Eagles look to continue to capitalize on their successes and finish cooking up a fruitful recipe.

“We are here, and we’re going to come out on top,” Jamison-Whitfield said.

“We’re going to come out on top together.”

This story was originally published January 11, 2020 at 11:14 AM.