STONY BROOK, N.Y. – Stony Brook University women's basketball head coach Ashley Langford was named to the Advancement of Blacks In Sports (ABIS) Mid-Major Head Coaches Watch List as announced by the organization. Langford was one of 11 women's basketball head coaches in the nation to be tabbed to the Watch List.
 
"I am thankful for this recognition from ABIS. This is a direct result of having a supportive staff and administration, and a group of young, resilient women who show up every day wanting to get better. I applaud ABIS for continuing to fight for equality, inclusion, and advancement of Blacks in sports," said coach Langford as she shared her thoughts on being named to the ABIS Mid-Major Head Coaches Watch List.
 
Langford has led the Seawolves to a 23-5, 14-4 record in her first year at the helm, the 23 wins are tied for the fourth-most in a season in program history. The 23 wins are the most by a first-year head coach in program history. The Seawolves finished the regular season tied for the league lead in wins and recorded 20 wins in a season for the eighth time in program history and the third time in the last four years.
 
Stony Brook has picked up marquee wins over two Power Five opponents in Washington State (69-62 on Dec. 19) and Rutgers (53-44 on Nov. 16) this season. The wins were the third and fourth over Power Five opponents in program history. The team also defeated Big East foe St. John's, 72-60, on Nov. 14.
 
Under Langford's guidance, Stony Brook earned an at-large berth into the WNIT, which marked its sixth appearance in a national postseason tournament and third in the WNIT during the program's Division I era.
 
The Seawolves' offensive output has increased by nearly nine points per game under Langford. Last season, the team averaged 59.5 points per game and the team is currently scoring 68.1 points per game. The team has four student-athletes scoring in double figures and seven student-athletes have increased their scoring from a season ago.
 
This season, graduate forward India Pagan and senior guard Anastasia Warren claimed All-Conference honors following the regular season. Warren earned All-Conference First Team honors, while Pagan was tabbed to the All-Conference Second Team and All-Academic Team.
 
ABIS created four Black Coaches Watch Lists for both men's and women's basketball mid-major head coaches and assistant coaches who are deserving and prepared to take the next step in their coaching careers.
 
The lists were created in response to Dr. Richard Lapchick's annual TIDES 2020 Racial & Gender Report Card (RGRC) in college sports that showed that men's and women's head basketball coaches of color were not representative of the population served.
 
For an inside look at the Seawolves women's basketball program, be sure to follow them on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.
 
About ABIS:
Founded by Gary Charles, New York's Godfather of Grassroots Basketball fostered a partnership with notable African Americans and social justice activists and allies to launch the Advancement of Blacks in Sports, Inc. (ABIS), on September 2, 2020. ABIS is a non-profit organization with a mission to boldly advocate for a culture of equity and inclusion that results in the advancement of racial, economic, and social justice for Blacks in sports. ABIS members include coaches, administrators, and athletes at all levels of sports, academicians, civil rights attorneys, social justice influencers, diversity, equity and inclusion allies and advocates. For more see: www.weareabis.org.