Winthrop forward Paige Powell pacing Eagles’ turnaround as Big South tourney opens
Winthrop women’s basketball coach Semeka Randall Lay credits a mid-January phone call between her and forward Paige Powell for changing the Eagles’ season.
“I will never forget it. She called me after one of our games that we lost and she said, ‘Coach, I’m going to be locked in from this point out,’” Randall Lay said. “It was just beautiful. Just hearing her say that made me feel really good as a coach. It was like OK, we’re turning this program around.”
Powell has been locked in ever since. The 6-foot-2 senior leads Winthrop in points (12.4), rebounds (7.6), blocks, field-goals made, free-throw attempts, and double-doubles. Since January 4, she has scored double-digit points in 12 of 16 games, including seven straight games to start the new year.
Her spark helped the Eagles win five of their past eight games before losing their regular-season finale to High Point by one point Saturday night. No. 8 Winthrop (8-21, 6-12) opens the Big South conference tournament on Wednesday, taking on No. 9 UNC Asheville at noon.
Powell knows she’ll have to play her best basketball to keep the Eagles’ season alive.
“In order for us to win, I kind of need to do all of those things,” Powell said. “Like, just do what I need to do for us to win. Whether that’s a defensive stop, grabbing an offensive board, a defensive rebound or putting the ball in the bucket. Whatever we need for us to win — that’s what I’m trying to do.”
Her confidence and leadership are the foundation of Randall Lay’s new culture at Winthrop. Randall Lay was named the 17th head coach of Winthrop women’s basketball in April 2021. She’s a basketball lifer who was a standout guard at Tennessee from 1998-2001. She averaged 15.9 points per game and won the national championship during Tennessee’s undefeated 1998 season. After a four-year WNBA career, she had coaching stints at West Virginia, Michigan State and Cleveland State. Before taking over at Winthrop, she was the head coach at Ohio and Alabama A&M.
This season, Randall Lay pumped new life into the Eagles’ program by leaning on transfer students to kick-start her rebuild.
Four players —including Powell, who joined the program after four years at UNC Wilmington — enrolled from other schools. While Powell described the start of the season as “rocky,” the team still has more wins now than in each of its past two seasons.
The Eagles started the season losing five straight games and seven of their first eight contests. There was an adjustment period for everyone, of course. During that transition process, Winthrop had to learn to play with only eight players. Injuries cost the team most of its depth. But Powell attributes enduring a limited bench for eventually bringing the team closer together.
“With us only having eight (players), it kind of forced us to be closer and build that chemistry,” Powell explained. “Having just a solid eight, we really don’t have anyone else that we can fall back on. So, you just got to get in the trenches and get it done.”
Chemistry led to identity. Powell sets a tone by dominating on the boards. Her urgency as an inside scorer established a tough-nosed brand of Eagles basketball. Her teammates bought into Randall Lay’s vision, too.
Sophomore guard Jada Ryce leads the Big South in average minutes played. She is also fourth in steals and averages 10.6 points per game. Senior guard Shamyjha Price averages 10.1 points per game. Price, a three-year starter, has set career highs in points per game, steals, and free throws made.
As a trio, Powell, Ryce and Price have become extensions of their coach.
“We’re trying to build a new culture with hard work and never giving up,” Powell said. “You have to be tough, hard-nosed and hard-working just to get through our practices. So hard working is definitely our identity I feel like.”
Randall Lay demands excellence through hard work. She admits the past few years, and specifically this season, have been turbulent. As a coach, she’s had to adjust her tone and messaging at times. But her awareness is paying off. She feels uniquely connected to this version of the Eagles.
With the Big South tournament opening Wednesday, Randall Lay believes others are starting to notice her program’s turnaround as well.
“It’s definitely showing on the court. We’re getting credit, from our peers and my peers within the conference. Also, some of the fans who have stuck around have said, ‘I thoroughly enjoy watching you guys play this year,’” Randall Lay said. “Our players are listening. They’re buying in and hopefully, we can continue on this path.”
