Women's Basketball | November 9, 2023

MORROW, Ga. -- The Clayton State University women's basketball team opens its 2023-24 season on Friday and Saturday at the PBC/SAC Challenge in the Loch.  The Lakers look to build upon a 19 win season last year. 
 
PBC/SAC CHALLENGE SCHEDULE
Friday, November 10^th

• 3:30 p.m.: Anderson vs. Flagler (H)
• 5:30 p.m.: UVA Wise vs. Clayton State (H)

Saturday, November 11^th

• 1:30 p.m.: UVA Wise vs. Flagler (H)
• 3:30 p.m.: Anderson vs. Clayton State (H)

 
THE SCHEDULE/PRESEASON PBC
The Lakers play a full slate of Peach Belt Conference games while also stepping out of conference.  Coach Coleman's squad plays nine non-conference opponents including Limestone, Tusculum, Lincoln Memorial, and Clark Atlanta.  The Lakers open PBC play in Dahlonega, Ga. against the University of North Georgia on January 3^rd.  Clayton State then open its PBC home schedule on the 6^th of January against the newest member of the conference USC Beaufort.   This season, the Lakers were picked to finish in a tie for fourth place with Augusta.  North Georgia was picked to win the conference. 
 
IMPACTFUL RETURNERS
The Lakers return Hannah Wright, Devyne Turner, Jadah Waite, Jasmyn Burts, and Shakira Patterson from last year's team.  Coach Coleman will look for all her returners to make a positive impact on the team this season.  Waite led the Lakers, among returners, in points a game from last season as she averaged 6.4 points a game.  Burts followed close behind with 3.9 points a game.  Last season, Burts scored in double-figures in three games.  This group of players were also plagued by the injury bug last season as Patterson, Wright, and Waite all saw significant time off due to injuries. 
 
NEWCOMERS
 Coach Coleman recruited nine new players to the team this season. Of those nine, eight are transfers and one is a true freshman.  The true freshman is Nylah Williams.  Williams, who graduated from Rockdale County HS, played 95 games over four seasons.  She made 363 field goals, totaled 605 rebounds, and notched 85 assists and 93 steals.  As a sophomore or junior, Nylah led her team to a No. 1 Regional ranking. 
 
The transfers are led by Azhana Maxwell and Tameria White.  Maxwell, who transferred from Savannah State, played in 59 games, and made 15 starts.  She averaged 11.4 points a game and led the Tigers to the NCAA DII Women's Basketball Tournament in the 2021-22 season.  White, who transferred from Texas Southern and the University of the Southwest, played in a combined 79 games.  At U of the Southwest, Tameria earned a RRAC All-Conference Honorable Mention accolade.
 
Another transfer is Sariya Henry.  Henry transferred from Lenoir-Rhyne and was a part of the team who won the South Atlantic Conference (SAC) and a part of the team who punched their ticket to the NCAA DII Women's Basketball Tournament last season.  Rounding out the four-year transfers was Nina Blade.  Blade, who transferred from Kentucky State and Vincennes University, played a combined 73 games. At Kentucky State, she averaged four rebounds a game and while at Vincennes, she scored 6.4 rebounds a game.  Blade is a native of Milwaukee, Wis. and graduated from Rufus King HS. 
 
Coach Coleman also recruited heavily from the junior college ranks.  Those transfers including Zoe Wiltz, Deborrah Redmon, Jada Alston, and Aaliyah Reid, Wiltz, who played her junior college ball at Highland CC and Colby CC, played in 61 combined games.  At Colby, she averaged eight points a game and grabbed 105 total rebounds.  There, she also garnered NJCAA Third-team All-Academic honors.  Redmon, who came to Morrow from Pensacola State College, played 52 games, and averaged 5.9 points a game.  In addition, Deborrah grabbed 247 rebounds, and stole 110 passes. 
 
Rounding out the transfers are Jada Alston and Aaliyah Reid.  Alston, who transferred from Georgia Highlands CC, averaged 10.8 points a game in 60 career games.  In the 2021-22 season, Alston was a First Team All-Conference selection as well as the Defensive Player of the Year. Notably, she was a part of the team who won the GCAA Championship and played in the NJCAA DI National Championship game appearance.  Reid, who transferred from St. Petersburg CC, also got some good experience at the junior college level.  She played in 30 games and averaged 4.5 points a game.  Last season, Aaliyah was a FCSAA All-Academic honoree. 
 
THE COACHING STAFF
Coach Kaleena Coleman returns for her 10^th season at the helm of the women's basketball program. Last season, Coleman guided her team to the NCAA Tournament for the first time since 2020 and earned a win for the first time since the 2013 season.  Last season also saw coach Coleman win her 160^th career game at Clayton State, which is second all-time only behind Coach Cox.  Coleman is assisted by Brittany Hall.  Hall, who played on the 2011 National Championship team, is also in her 10^th season.  Coach Hall is also the advisor to the Student-Athlete Advisory Committee (SAAC) and is in charge of overseeing all rentals. 

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