Size, scoring coming for Tide
Departures
The Tide graduated seniors Ciera Johnson, Ashley Knight and Amber Richardson.
Redshirt junior center Shelby Gibson medically retired.
Returners
The Tide only lose one starter (Richardson) and return its leading scorers Jordan Lewis and Jasmine Walker and top rebounders, Walker and Ariyah Copeland. The team’s 6’0 sophomore De’Sha Benjamin, who previously broke her left foot, broke her right foot in late February.
Arrivals
The Tide has three JUCO additions, one transfer and one 2020 incoming freshman.
Forward Alana Busby-Dunphy – At Dodge City Community College, she averaged 4.5 points, 5.5 rebounds and totaled 75 total blocks.
Center Ruth Koang – the 6’5 sophomore at South Plains College, she averaged 10.6 points per game while shooting 60 percent from the field and averaged 7.2 rebounds.
Guard Taylor Sutton – She spent two years at Middle Tennessee State and in 2019-20 started every game, averaging 12.6 points per game and 2.9 rebounds. The 5’4 guard brought in 40 steals and 40 assists. Sutton was the 2019 C-USA Freshman of the Year.
Guard Keyara Jones – At Jones County Community College, she averaged 13.1 points in her sophomore season and had a career total of 81 career assists, 70 steals and 17 blocks. She was a two-time NJCAA All-American.
Guard Myra Gordon – A four-star ESPN recruit who can score at 5’11. During her junior season, she averaged 27 points, eight rebounds, three assists, and two steals.
Head Coach Kristy Curry has complimented Sutton’s basketball IQ, Koang’s rim presence and Busby-Dunphy’s shot blocking ability, Gordon’s versatility and Jones’ toughness.