The Columbia College athletic department has announced the signing of Alexis Lawrence to be the new women’s basketball assistant coach. Lawrence will help head coach Taylor Possail in all women’s basketball operations.

Alexis will join the Columbia College staff after spending the last two seasons as a graduate assistant at Southern Illinois University-Edwardsville. Prior to being a graduate assistant at SIUE, Lawrence was a three year starter at the University of Missouri-St. Louis.

“I am extremely excited to be adding Coach Lawrence to our staff!” Said Possail. “She is an individual that I have known for a handful of years and have come to respect her work both on and off the floor.  She brings high-level communication, energy and most importantly enthusiasm to everything that she does.  She will continue to help us build on our success in the classroom and is someone I have full trust in as a mentor to our players.  Having Coach Lawrence on staff makes us better immediately, and I am so thankful to have her here with me at Columbia College.”

The Bowling Green, Kentucky, native was the 14th player in UMSL history to score 1,000 career points. She was a second team All-Great Lakes Valley Conference selection and was a member of the GLVC’s All-Defensive team as a senior. She averaged a team-leading 14.2 points per game and finished fifth nationally in three-pointers made per game (3.4) during her senior season while completing her collegiate career second all-time at UMSL in three-pointers made (226). Following the 2013-14 season, Lawrence was named the teams most valuable player after leading the Tritons to their second-ever NCAA Division II Tournament appearance.

Lawrence is known as great leader on and off the court. She was a part of Sigma Alpha Pi, the National Honor Society of Leadership Success and was selected as a student athlete representative for the Women’s Leadership Council and Chancellor’s Council. She was also the Vice President of Students of Service at UMSL. Lawrence has been heavily involved in community service, serving as the Special Operations Chair for the St. Louis Art Festival, taking part in the Ferguson Food Drive, organizing the MLK Day of Service and volunteering at the St. Louis Food Bank.

“First, I would like to thank God for presenting me with this opportunity, I am truly grateful,” said Lawrence. “I am thrilled to work for Coach Taylor Possail and be a part of the Cougar Family. I believe in what Coach Possail will bring to this program and I’m ready to add to it. The rich tradition of winning at this school and women’s basketball program is something I am eager to be a part of. I am looking forward to continuing to build strong relationships with the campus and community. Thank you to Bob Burchard, Cindy Potter and staff as well for this opportunity.  I’m excited to work with such an amazing group of student athletes.”