Women’s Basketball gets started on Halloween

PERKINSTON — Mississippi Gulf Coast women's basketball coach Hope Adams is in her ninth year in charge, and she brings back a pair of talented players from last year with a crop of recruits she hopes can turn into a championship squad.

"We're just trusting the process to make sure that when we get into conference, we're peaking at the right time," she said. "We want to keep everyone healthy and make the run at the right time."

Gulf Coast opens the season Friday with a trip to Baton Rouge to play a two-day event there, starting with Southern-Shreveport at 2 p.m. They'll play the host on Saturday at 5 p.m.

Their first home game is Nov. 10 when Meridian visits for a non-conference matchup. The first conference game will be in January.

The Bulldogs went 14-14 last season and finished tied for sixth in the MACCC with a 7-7 record. They made it to the NJCAA Region 23 quarterfinals.

One of the key contributors to last year's squad was Taelar Felton (So., Clinton/Clinton), the sparkplug guard. She averaged 14.2 points, 5.3 rebounds and 2.3 steals on the way to an All-NJCAA Region 23 Team spot.

"She's gone through that freshman year, so she's more experienced," Adams said. "She's understanding the system, and she's ready to go."

Katelyn Brinkley (So., Ridgeland/Ridgeland), a skilled 6-foot-2 forward, is working back from a season-ending injury. She averaged 10 points and 6.9 rebounds before missing the last four games.

"She dedicated herself to rehab," Adams said. "Her body looks great. She's looking strong and she's ahead of schedule to get released, so we're really excited about those two pieces."

The Bulldogs have brought in three transfers, including two from Pensacola State. Nautica Bouie (So., Panama City, Fla./Rutherford) is a hard-nosed, high-motor guard, and Keela Bryan (So., Brunswick, Ga./Camden County), a super-athletic guard. Ariana Peaglar (So., Hoover, Ala./Hoover) is a four-time state champion guard who was at Southern Illinois last year.

The deep freshman class includes Roniya Ellis (Fr., Natchez/Natchez), a 5-foot-10 combo guard with a lot of versatility. Caleah Kennedy (Fr., Natchez/Natchez) can shoot from the 3-point line at 6-foot-2 and can score in the paint.

Shayla Fortenberry (Fr., Prentiss/Jefferson Davis County) and Zya' Walker (Fr., Prentiss/Jefferson Davis County) will be strong defenders at the forward position, and Riley Bishop (Fr., Gulfport/Hancock) comes from a winning high school program.

Kelis Vickers (Fr., Bay St. Louis/Bay) will also be a contributor at guard, as well CC Toles-Frierson (Fr., Oxford/Oxford) and Kam McLaurin (Fr., Mendenhall/Mendenhall) at forward. Adams said her squads have never been this deep.

"This league will be wide open," Adams said. "I'm excited about this year. I think the team will focus on all the small details on this team that's going to get it done."

For more information on MGCCC's 12 intercollegiate athletic teams, follow @MGCCCBulldogs on Twitter and MGCCCBulldogs on Facebook, and go to mgcccbulldogs.com.