The Blinn College women’s basketball team will enter the season ranked sixth in the nation following the release of the NJCAA preseason rankings.
The Buccaneers, who seek their third consecutive trip to the NJCAA National Championships, follow Trinity Valley (Texas), Hutchinson (Kan.), Tyler (Texas), Chipola (Fla.) and Central Arizona.
The Buccaneers return four sophomores in Brianna Luton (Houston), Alexus Freeman (Navasota), Shakera Barnes (Snook) and Moe Bedford (Houston).
“They all helped us win a lot of games last year,” head coach Jeff Jenkins said. “They may not have played 35 minutes a game like they wanted last year, but they all played good minutes.”
Luton averaged 3.8 points and 2.6 rebounds per game last season in 430 minutes.
“She’s listed at 5-foot-8 but she’s a strong 5-8,” Jenkins said. “She’s strong enough to defend 5-10 or 5-11 guards on the inside, she handles and shoots the ball better and she gives us defensive versatility because in a bind she can play post.”
Freeman averaged 6.1 points and 3.5 rebounds per game in 550 minutes last season.
“Her ball handling was questionable last year and quite a bit better,” Jenkins said. “She’s very strong and a good rebounder for 5-foot-4. She can create her own shot and has a good-looking jump shot.”
Barnes averaged. 4.5 points, 3.1 rebounds and 1.7 assists per game in 600 minutes last season, and scored 14 in the Buccaneers’ final game at last year’s NJCAA National Championships.
“She’s strong and she can run,” Jenkins said. “She had the second-fastest 400-meter time in the state in high school, and she has gotten a lot better on the court. She’s an extremely hard worker and she’s fun to coach.”
Bedford averaged nine points per game prior to a torn Achilles tendon that kept her out of action all of last season.
“If she stays healthy, she has a chance to be very good,” Jenkins said. “She’s better now than she was as a freshman.”
In addition to their four returners, the Buccaneers bolstered their veteran leadership with the addition of six transfers. Courtney Dawson, a small forward from South Plains College, is an athletic rebounder with speed, while Alissa Johnson, a point guard from Iowa Lakes Community College, brings strong passing and ball handling skills.
The Buccaneers also added Katelynn Johnson, a forward from Tyler Junior College.
Chant Lewis, a guard from Troy University, will miss the preseason while dealing with a knee injury. She will bring strong ball handling skills after posting approximately twice as many assists as turnovers last season at Troy.
Micarah Malone, a forward from Lamar University, brings athleticism to the post position, while Nancy Warioba, a forward from Howard Community College, is the tallest player on the Buccaneer roster at 6-foot-3.
Ashley Cherry, a 6-foot-1 freshman from Lake Charles, La., gives the Buccaneers a left-handed post with a nice shooting touch and strong play in the paint. Penina Faumui, a 5-foot-11 forward from Honolulu, will also be a presence on the boards.
Jonnelle Jackson, a 5-foot-10 forward from Mansfield, improved quickly throughout the preseason. Jeliah Preston, a guard from Houston, gives the Buccaneers a 3-point shooter with a scorer’s mentality.
“If we can stay healthy we’ve got a chance,” Jenkins said. “We’ve got good guards and bigger posts. It just seems like the difference between 18 and 24 wins each year is just staying healthy.”
The Buccaneers open the regular season Monday when they play at LSU-Eunice at 6 p.m.
Blinn has competed in intercollegiate athletics since 1903 and captured 29 NJCAA national championships since 1987. For more information, visit www.buccaneersports.com.
