TYLER, TEXAS – We asked women's basketball players Zionna Barbee, Leila Davis, Jorja Hart, and Georgia Tomkins what their Christmas highlights were growing up, and what they continue to do each year with their families to celebrate the holiday season.
 
Barbee is a senior guard from Tacoma, Washington. Davis is a freshman forward from Melbourne, Australia. Hart is a freshman guard from Coquitlam, British Columbia, Canada. Tomkins is also a freshman forward from Melbourne, Australia
 
What was the best Christmas gift you received growing up?
 
Barbee: I look back and think about getting different video game systems to play with my brothers. The big highlights were an XBOX and a Nintendo Wii.
 
Davis: My family does one where we have a bad gift each year that makes everyone laugh. One year I got onion cutting glasses, and another I got a pancake pan.
 
Hart: When I was younger, I used to get season tickets to the Vancouver Whitecaps. I loved going to those games with my dad.
 
Tomkins: One of my big favorites was getting a Bluetooth speaker. As someone who loves music, it's perfect.
 
What is the number one food you have to have around the holidays?
 
Barbee: The highlight for me is ham and mac and cheese from my dad. I'll eat anything he cooks.
 
Davis: My mums side of the family is Italian, so we always have lasagna followed by tiramisu for dessert (made by me of course).
 
Hart: Our big one is turkey, stuffing, and apple pie. We have it every year!
 
Tomkins: Our family does a pavlova every year. For those that don't know it's essentially a meringue-based dessert with fresh fruit.
 
What is your families holiday tradition each year?
 
Barbee: Each year we do our gifts on Christmas morning in the living room with everyone there.
 
Davis: We may not have anything too exciting, but we get together to eat lots of good food and then have a very competitive game of cricket within the family.
 
Hart: Each year our family goes down to Lafarge Lake in Coquitlam to see the Christmas lights. There are over one million lights on display.
 
Tomkins: Each year we actually head down to the coast and hop in the ocean for a swim. Since its closer to summer on Christmas the water is warmer!
 
What is your favorite thing about Christmas in general?
 
Barbee: I love just getting together and spending time with my family.
 
Davis: It's always great to get the whole extended family together and hear the updates on everyone's crazy lives.
 
Hart: My favorite thing is spending time with my family and creating holiday memories.
 
Tomkins: I love seeing the family and friends that we may not get to see as much throughout the year.