Lady Bulldogs work toward success in 2010-11

Size and depth have been two key ingredients missing from the Mississippi Gulf Coast Community College women’s basketball team in recent years.

But in 2010-11, Lady Bulldog head coach Melanie Stone thinks she may have filled in those gaps on her team with eight incoming freshmen and two sophomore transfers. The new recruits will mesh with four returning sophomores.

“The returning sophomores will be challenged both mentally and physically by our signing class,” said Stone, who’s entering her fourth season as the team’s head coach. “I feel the experience that the returning sophomores bring to the table will help them step up and lead this team to great achievements both on and off the court.”

The returning Lady Bulldogs feature sophomore guard Deonica McCormick (5’7”/Biloxi), who came on strong late in 2010 and averaged 13.5 points per game. She’ll team with dangerous three-point shooting threat Brianne Collins (5’3”/Erwinville, LA.) to make up the team’s backcourt. Sophomores Ebony Davis (5’10”/Moss Point) and Nicole Edwards (6’0”/Harrison Central) return in the frontcourt along with sophomore transfers Brianna Blunt (5’9”/Jackson State) and Roxyali Munoz (5’6”Puerto Rico).

The 2010-11 freshman class includes Talicia Barnes (5’11”/Hattiesburg), Cara Beverin (6’1”/D’Iberville), Ricille Davis (5’10”/Warren Central), Tineshia Evans (5’6”, Newton), Tatyana Haywood (5’9”/Mobile), Delainna Lyons (5’6”/Long Beach), Katie Shepard (5’7”/Enterprise), and Sabria Wells (6’0/Biloxi).

“We are very pleased with this years recruiting class,” Stone added. “We have so much talent at every position, and we have good size in our forwards and posts, and a lot of speed and quickness in our guards. We will have a lot of depth this year and that will make this team very exciting to watch throughout the season.”