Gettin' buckets: the top Division I scorers in Virginia

Sure, defense wins championships. But we sure do enjoy watching the ball go in the basket. So here are the Division I players in Virginia that have done the best job of lighting up the scoreboard heading into the 2016-17 season - and just for the heck of it, everybody else.

1. Malia Tate-DeFreitas, 5-8 Sr. G, Hampton - 1,939 career points

- Given that Tate-DeFreitas scored 3,366 points in high school, file this in the "No Surprise" folder.

- The reigning Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference Player of the Year enters 2016-17 as the No. 4 scorer among active players in Division I, trailing only Washington's Kelsey Plum (2,418 points), Syracuse's Jasmine Nwajei (2,076 in 3 years at Wagner, will sit out this season per transfer rules) and Baylor's Nina Davis (1,953).

- DeFreitas stands an excellent chance of finishing her career as the top scorer in Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference history - the record is 2,313 points by Howard's Saadia Doyle from 2009-2013. Becoming Hampton's all-time leading Division I scorer is even more likely: LaShondra Dixon (1999-2003) currently tops that list with 1,967 points. Finishing as the top scorer in program history overall is considerably more daunting, though - former Lady Pirates star Jackie Dolberry racked up 2,717 points in Division II play from 1985-89. DeFreitas has averaged 20.2 ppg for her career. At that pace, she would need to play in 39 games to catch Dolberry. And the only way that happens is if the Lady Pirates play four games in the MEAC tournament, then advance to the final of either the NCAA tournament or the WNIT (So you're saying there's a chance?).

2. Precious Hall, 5-8 R-Sr. G, JMU - 1,506

- After missing all of the 2014-15 season with a knee injury, Hall appears set to return to the form which led to 20.8 ppg and a Colonial Athletic Association Player of the Year award in 2014-15.

- Made 99 3-pointers in 2014-15, and has 199 for her career.

  - Is currently eighth on the school's all-time scoring list but is within range (granted, it's Steph Curry range) of eclipsing ex-Dukes and current WNBA star Tamara Young (2,121) for No. 2. Dawn Evans sits comfortably atop the list at 2,667 points.

3. Jennie Simms, 6-0 R-Sr. G, ODU - 1,345 (includes 25 points in 8 games at W.Va.)

- Total includes 25 points in 8 games as a freshman at West Virginia.

- Two-time first-team All-Conference-USA pick averaged 21.4 ppg (22.2 in league play) and dropped at least 30 five times.

- Although 32 Lady Monarchs have reached the 1,000-point threshold, only Anne Donovan (1,527) produced more points than Simms (1,320) in two ODU seasons.

- Trails good friend Adrienne Motley of Miami (1,419) by 74 points in the battle for offseason bragging rights, but leads C-USA Player of the Year Kendall Noble (1,337) by eight.

4. Janelle Hubbard, 5-8 Sr. G, Richmond - 1,295

- Two-time second-team All-Atlantic 10 pick averaged 15.8 points per game in 2015-16

- Currently ranks 10th on Richmond's all-time scoring list; is within range of No. 3 Kate Flavin (1,770 from 2001-05). Brittani Shells (2,042 from 2007-11) is No. 2 and Karen Eisner (2,367 from 1981-85) leads the way.

5. Marlena Tremba, 5-9 Sr. G, William and Mary - 1,190

- Former CAA Rookie of the Year and a two-time third-team All-CAA pick who averaged 13.8 ppg last season.

- Is currently 11th on school's all-time scoring list. If Tremba matches last year's production (417 points), she'll trail only Taysha Pye (1,659) and Kyra Kaylor (1,873) among all players in Tribe history.

6. Vanessa Panousis, 5-7 Sr. G, Virginia Tech - 1,065

- Sydney, Australia native has made 198 career 3-pointers, two shy of the school record.

- Has made a program-record 85.1 percent of her free throws over her three seasons.

- Is the 24th member of Virginia Tech's 1,000-point club and the ninth to do it as a junior. The program record is 1,791 points by Renee Dennis from 1983-87.

7. Isis Thorpe, 5-8 Sr. G, VCU - 1,062

- Ranks second on VCU's career 3-pointers made list with 185, 11 shy of the record.

- Shot just 30.2 percent from 3 last season but drained those shots at a 40.4 percent clip as a junior.

8. Daeisha Brown, 5-3 R-Sr. G, Longwood - 1,020

- Became 21st player to reach 1,000 points at Longwood and third in the school's Division I era (since 2007-08).

- Fastest player to reach 1,000 points in the Lancers' D-I era.

The Rest of the Story

Active players in the state with at least 100 Division I points

Amber Porter, 6-3 R-Jr. F/C, JMU - 860
- All points scored during two seasons at Stetson, where the former Atlantic Sun Defensive Player of the Year also recorded a school-record 208 blocks.

Kara Wright, 5-11 R-Sr. F, George Mason - 790
- Includes 457 points in two seasons at SE Missouri State.

Lauren Tolson, 5-8 Gr. G, Richmond - 789

Keira Robinson, 5-8 Sr. G, VCU - 768

Breyana Mason, 5-8 Sr. G, Virginia - 739

Sidney Cook, 6-2 Sr. F, Virginia Tech - 687
- Includes 203 points in one season at Seton Hall.

Alexandra Masaquel, 5-10 Sr. F, William and Mary - 667

Kayla Roberts, 6-1 Jr. F, Norfolk State - 637

Destinee Young, 6-1 Sr. F, ODU - 624

Annika Holopainen, 6-1 R-Sr. F, ODU - 568
- Includes 297 points in one season at Portland

Ashley Pegram, 5-8 Sr. G, VCU - 555

Janayla White, 6-2 Jr. F, Radford - 551

Lauren Moses, 6-2 Jr. F, Virginia - 510

Jayda Worthy, 6-0 Jr. F, Radford - 504

Rachel Camp, 5-11 Jr. G, Virginia Tech - 499

Aliyah Huland El, 6-1 Jr. G, Virginia - 499

Micaela Parson, 5-8 Jr. G, Richmond - 499

GG Goodhope, 5-5 R-Sr. G, VCU - 499
- Includes 438 points in two seasons at Old Dominion

Rachael Ross, 6-2 R-Sr. F, Radford - 473

Abby Rendle, 6-4 Jr. C, William and Mary - 454

Latrice Hunter, 5-5 Sr. G, William and Mary - 431

Kaylah Lupoe, 6-2 Jr. F, Hampton - 415

Camille Calhoun, 6-0 R-Jr G/F, VCU - 376

Da’Lishia Griffin, 6-2 Sr. F, JMU - 358

Tiffany Padgett, 6-1 R-Sr. F, George Mason - 351
- Includes 122 points in one season at Loyola-Maryland

J'Kyra Brown, 5-11 Jr. G, Virginia - 350
- Includes 184 points in one season at East Carolina

Sylvia Maxwell, 5-7 R-Sr. G, George Mason - 349
- All points in three seasons at Niagara

Odegua Oigbokie, 6-1 R-Jr. F, ODU - 338

Brenna Robbins, 5-10 Sr. G, Longwood - 313

Ije Ajemba, 6-3 Sr. C, ODU - 310

Monnazjea Finney-Smith, 6-1 R-Jr. G/F, Hampton -309
- All points scored in two seasons at VCU

Jenna Green, 5-7 Jr. G, William and Mary, - 298

Dominique Harper, 5-5 Sr. G, Norfolk State - 278

Chanette Hicks, 5-6 Soph. G, Virginia Tech - 273

K’Lynn Willis, 5-3 Soph. G, Hampton - 272

Keyana Brown, 5-11 Jr. G, ODU - 270

Hailee Barron, 5-10 Jr. G, JMU - 270

Bridget O'Donnell, 6-6 R-Sr. C, George Mason - 265
- Includes 181 points in two seasons at UMBC

Micaela Ellis, 5-5 Jr. G, Longwood - 262

Curteeona Brelove, 6-2 Jr. F, VCU - 254

Regan Magarity, 6-3 R-Soph. F, Virginia Tech - 246

Eboni Gilliam, 6-0 Sr. F, Longwood - 227

Samantha Hill, 5-10 Sr. G, Virginia Tech - 226

Bianca Boggs, 5-8 Soph. G, William and Mary - 223

Yazmen Hannah, 5-8 Soph. G, Norfolk State - 220

Autumn Childress, 5-10 Jr. G, Longwood - 206

Chinyere Bell, 5-11 Soph. F, George Mason - 201

Gianna Smith, 5-10 Soph. G, ODU - 198

Kayla Cooper-Williams, 6-2 Soph. C, JMU - 186

Karleigh Wike, 6-4 Jr. F, Richmond - 169

Tayler Dodson, 5-11 Jr. F, George Mason - 168

Ashlee Mitchell, 5-7 Sr. G, VCU - 168

Kylee Murphree, 5-9 Jr. G, Richmond - 166

Georgianna Gilbeaux, 5-5 Sr. G, Hampton - 162

Kasey Curtis, 6-2 Sr. F, William and Mary - 159

Kiara Phillips, 5-11 Sr. G, Norfolk State - 156

Lydia Rivers, 6-2 Soph. F, Radford - 148

Salita Greene, 5-11 Soph. F, Richmond - 139

Ciara Bennett, 5-5 Soph. G, Longwood - 136

Chanel Green, 5-4 R-Sr. G, Hampton - 135
- Includes 42 points in one season at East Carolina

Ashley Jackson, 5-9 Jr. G, ODU - 132

Claudia Quevedo, 5-9 R-Soph. G, Radford - 129

Mikayla Sayle, 6-1 Jr. F, Hampton - 124

Jeanne Gaumont, 6-0 Jr. G/F, William and Mary - 121

Kieera Basey, 5-5 Sr. G, Norfolk State - 116

Dejane James, 5-3 Soph. G, Hampton - 116

Emily Nylen, 6-5 Sr. F, Longwood - 107

Kemari Jones, 6-0 Soph. F, Longwood - 106

Alexis Jackson, 5-9 Soph. G, Radford - 105

Notes: Liberty's leading returning scorer is sophomore forward KK Barbour with 65 points. Senior guard/forward Audrey Rettstatt is next with 60 points over three seasons for a Lady Flames team tasked with replacing 93.3 percent of last season's scoring...Old Dominion senior guard Kelly Loftus, who is sitting out this season per transfer rules, scored 842 points in three highly productive seasons at Hofstra...Also sitting out 2016-17 is Virginia Tech sophomore forward Michelle Berry, who scored 420 points (and averaged 9.1 rebounds) in one season at Cal State-Fullerton.