TUSKEGEE, Ala. – It's a new era for Tuskegee women's basketball, as the Golden Tigers open the Chiante Wester tenure and the 2023-24 campaign at the Gulf South (GSC) and Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (SIAC) Crossover, with games on Friday and Saturday against two programs from the GSC.
Tuskegee will face off against West Alabama on Friday, Nov. 10 at 12 p.m. ET and host school West Georgia on Saturday, Nov. 11 at 2 p.m. ET, both inside of the Coliseum in Carrollton, Ga.
GAME INFORMATION vs. West Alabama
Date: Friday, November 10
Start: 12:00 pm ET
Location: Carrollton, Ga.
Site: The Coliseum
Watch Live: FloSports (FloHoops)
Live Stats: West Georgia Athletics (Sidearm Stats)
GAME INFORMATION at West Georgia
Date: Saturday, November 11
Start: 2:00 pm ET
Location: Carrollton, Ga.
Site: The Coliseum
Watch Live: FloSports (FloHoops)
Live Stats: West Georgia Athletics (Sidearm Stats)
Wester took over the helm in July, looking to make an impact on a program with recent success. This year's roster of 13 players features five newcomers, including freshmen Diara Diagne, Trinity Layton, and Malaysia Williams along with transfers Alana Roberts and Cynaye Bobbitt. The returners from last year's squad include seniors Sumaiyah Abdur-Rahim, Arielle McElroy, and Mikayla Malik, in addition to juniors Aaliyah Austin, Brittney Bolin, Philli King, and Jasmine Manuel, and sophomore Kei'lley Brown.
The pair of guards in Bolin and McElroy both earned Preseason All-SIAC Second Team honors, announced at SIAC Media Days in October. Bolin, a two-year starter, averaged 10.2 points, 3.4 rebounds, 3.3 assists, and 1.5 steals on 21 games as a sophomore leading the backcourt, while McElroy posted 8.8 points, 2.6 rebounds, 2.1 assists, and 1.6 steals per game as a junior for Tuskegee.
Both will look to step up more on the court and as leaders this season, after the Golden Tigers lost two-time SIAC Player of the Year Ashiala Jackson and two-time SIAC Defensive Player of the Year JuToreyia Willis to graduation.
West Alabama was predicted to finish seventh in the GSC preseason listing with 68 points, ahead of Alabama Huntsville's 63 and Montevallo's 60. The Tigers finished 13-16 last season and eighth in the conference with a 10-14 record. With six returners and nine newcomers, UWA and head coach Rusty Cram will look to continue to build on last year's totals. Highlighting the newcomers this season are the trio of Shayla Golden, Kendall Lacoste, and Julia Rodriguez were recognized on the GSC Newcomer Watchlist.
West Georgia head coach Joanna Reitz has eight newcomers on her 2023-24 squad, led by last year's GSC Freshman of the Year Aliyah Washington after leading the team with 11.2 points per game last season. The Wolves lost production on the glass to graduation, but filled the roles with experienced players with the additions of Jada Powell and K'Nari Holliday. Powell, a graduate transfer was the top rebounder in her league as a freshman at Des Moines Area Junior College. Holliday, the Sunshine State Freshman of the Year at Barry last season, shot 59.7 percent from the field and pulled down nearly three rebounds per game. The front court will return Katelyn Dunning, but also includes newcomers Zuriyah Davis and Mykah Anderson, who were standout JUCO players.
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Stay connected with Tuskegee Women's Basketball on Twitter (@Tuskegee_WBB) and Instagram (@tuskegeewbb). For complete coverage of Tuskegee University athletics, follow on social media at @MyTUAthletics (Twitter/Instagram), @GoldenTigerSports on Facebook, and visit the official home of Tuskegee University athletics at www.goldentigersports.com.
