Alaura Sharp became the eighth head coach in the history of the Presbyterian College women's basketball program on April 24, 2018. She concluded her sixth season with the Blue Hose in 2023-24.
The 2023-24 season was the most historic seasons from Presbyterian's women's basketball program to date. Led by coach Sharp, the team won their first-ever Big South Tournament and moved on to the NCAA Tournament. The team also beat Sacred Heart in the NCAA Tournament play in game to add to their success this season. Tilda Sjokvist and Bryanna Brady earned spots on the league's All-Conference Second team roster. Three PC players achieved Big South Weekly Awards including Bryanna Brady (twice), Tilda Sjokvist, and Mara Neira. Sjokvist was named Big South Tournament MVP while Brady and Neira joined her on the All-Tournament Team. This season not only broke the record for most wins from the program's DI history (21), but also broke the records for most points (2072), rebounds (1279), defensive rebounds (923), made field goals (781), and assists (467).
During the 2022-23 season, the Blue Hose had their best Big South finish since the 2015-16 season finishing in a tie for fourth in the league standings. As a team, the Blue Hose broke 10 team DI single-season records throughout the season including points/game (64.9), field goals made (748), points (1,947), rebounds (1,141), defensive rebounds (841), defensive rebounds/game (28.0), assists (429), assists/game (14.3), field goal pct. (43.4%) and field goals attempted (1,723).
Bryanna Brady became the third player under Sharp and the fourth in the Blue Hose DI era to eclipse 400+ points in a season with 401. Brady averaged 13.4 ppg while connecting on 171 field goals at a 56.6% clip to earn second-team All-Conference honors. Freshman Tilda Sjökvist became the eighth DI Blue Hose player to eclipse 100+ assists and the first since 2018-19. Sjökvist along with three-point leader Aubrie Kierscht (65 threes) became the first Blue Hose freshman pair since 2008-09 to earn freshman team honors in the same season. The Blue Hose also broke a nine-game skid against Campbell with a home victory over the Fighting Camels in February of 2023.
In 2021-22, the Blue Hose were led by Jade Compton who averaged a program-record 16.2 ppg… PC had three players in double-figures led by Compton’s 16.2… The Blue Hose recorded a four-game win streak during late November and early December… PC posted is first 40%+ field goal shooting performance since the 2012-13 season… PC recorded a win in the opening round of the Big South tournament for the third time in the last four seasons…
The 2020-21 season was Sharp's best year yet at the helm of the program, as Presbyterian finished 11-10 overall, its best record since 2015-16. The Blue Hose turned in a 10-8 mark in Big South play, its best conference record since 2016-17. At 10-8, PC finished fifth in the regular season standings and earned a first-round bye in the Big South Conference Championship for the first time since 2017-18. The Blue Hose went 8-5 (.615) on the road, the highest road winning percentage in the program's DI era. Presbyterian led the Big South and finished 44th nationally in rebounding margin, and finished second in the conference and 44th nationally in scoring defense. PC also set a new DI era record for scoring average. Following the season, Tionna Carter, Jade Compton and Trinity Johnson were all named Honorable Mention All-Big South, with Carter earning a spot on the All-Academic Team as well.
The 2019-20 team increased its win total by five games and advanced to the Big South Championship quarterfinal round for the second time under Sharp's leadership. Numerous program records and milestones were accomplished during the season including Trinity Johnson's 75 steals (DI era single-season record), Jade Compton's 32 points at Longwood and Tionna Carter's 13 baskets against High Point (single-game program records). Despite averaging 85.0 points over a two-game win streak when it mattered the most, the season was cut short due to COVID-19. Three Blue Hose earned post-season awards with Trinity Johnson (Honorable Mention), Tionna Carter (All-Freshman) and Kacie Hall (All-Academic) receiving recognition from the Big South.
In her first season, Sharp led the Blue Hose to the Big South Quarterfinals where they fell in a close game to the top-seeded and eventual Big South Champions, Radford. Hall earned All-Big South Honorable Mention honors as well as All-Academic honors.
Prior to PC, Sharp spent two seasons as an assistant coach and recruiting coordinator for a Louisiana Tech program that posted 19 wins in 2017-18 and finished tied for third in the Conference USA standings, both an improvement from the year before. The Lady Techsters played in the Women's National Invitational Tournament for the second straight season and had two players earn All-Conference honors.
After spending time with the Golden Eagles, she transitioned in CUSA to Ruston, La. and joined Louisiana Tech. The Lady Techsters exceeded all external expectations in Sharp's first year in Ruston, winning 18 games and finishing fourth in the Conference USA standings after being picked 12th in the preseason coaches’ poll. Tech advanced to the semifinals of the C-USA Tournament and earned an invitation to the WNIT. It was the Lady Techsters’ first postseason appearance since 2011.
During her time at Southern Miss, where she served as associate head coach and recruiting coordinator, the Golden Eagles made back-to-back appearances in the Conference USA Tournament championship game. Southern Miss won a combined 52 games in those two years while making two trips to the WNIT, advancing all the way to the Elite Eight in 2015.
Prior to her time in Hattiesburg, Sharp spent four years as the head coach at Garden City Community College. There, she turned the Lady Busters program into a top contender each year in the tough Kansas Jayhawk Community College Conference and Region VI.
While at GCCC, Sharp guided the Lady Busters to their best record in school history at 29-4 in 2012-13 and a No. 13 ranking in the NJCAA Polls. Her career record at Garden City was 83-45, making her the winningest coach in program history. Sharp also produced an All-American in Tamara Jones from Prosser, Wash., in her last two years.
During her tenure at GCCC, Sharp’s teams defeated 11 nationally ranked teams. She posted back-to-back 20-win seasons, including the team’s best start at 15-0 during 2012-13. Her teams finished second in the Kansas Jayhawk Conference in 2012 and 2013 and third in 2010. She was awarded the KJCCC Coach of the Year in 2010, while her teams advanced to the semifinals of the Region VI Tournament in 2012 and 2013.
Prior to Garden City, Sharp spent one season at Lamar Community College in Colorado after a two-year stint at Adams State University as an assistant coach.
Sharp graduated magna cum laude from Southwest Minnesota State University in 2006. She earned a bachelor’s degree in physical education with a sports management concentration and minor in coaching. Sharp earned her AA degree from Fort Scott Community College, where she was a two-year letterwinner.
She was named to the KJCCC Second Team All-Conference while averaging 14.0 points and 12.0 rebounds. She also earned NJCAA Academic All-American honors. Sharp concluded her collegiate career at Southwest Minnesota State, where she led her team in steals at 3.5 per game.
