Lady Jets ranked 21st in NJCAA national poll
Published 2:31 pm Wednesday, November 27, 2019
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From Staff Reports
AMERICUS, GA – The South Georgia Technical College (SGTC) women’s basketball team moved up three spots to #21 in the most recent National Junior College Athletic Association (NJCAA) national rankings this week following an impressive 87-65 victory over conference opponent Georgia Highlands College. That victory was the 200th victory for SGTC women’s head coach James Frey. The Lady Jets are currently 6-1 overall and 3-0 in their conference.
SGTC was ranked 24th in the pre-season national poll. For the past three years, the Lady Jets have qualified for the NJCAA Women’s National Tournament in Lubbock, TX and they have qualified five times out of the last six years under Frey’s tenure.
Gulf Coast Community College is currently ranked #1 in the nation and is currently undefeated at 5-0. SGTC is the only Georgia junior college to be included in the rankings.
“Obviously, we are excited to be included in the national rankings, but this is still early in the season,” Frey said. “We recognize that we have a lot of growing to do to be able to earn another trip to the national tournament and, more importantly, to do well once we earn the right to go.”
The Lady Jets have a number of talented players this season, including four returning players plus two transfer sophomores and six freshmen. One of those freshmen has already begun to make a name for herself on the national stage.
Freshman center Femme Sikuzani, a native of Goma, DRC, is currently one of four Lady Jets who are ranked nationally for their performances on the court. Sikuzani, 6’ 5”, is currently ranked 10th in the NJCAA in rebounds per game and she is averaging 12.9 per game over the past seven games this season. She is listed as 10th in the nation in offensive rebounds with an average of 5.7 per game and 16th in the nation in defensive rebounds with 7.1 per outing. Sikuzani has a total of 90 rebounds, which has her at 13th in the nation in total rebounds. Her offensive rebounding skills have allowed her to be ranked 48th in the nation in field goal percentage shooting. She is hitting 57.1 percent of her shots.
In addition to Sikuzani, three other members of the Lady Jets have gained national attention for their aggressive offensive and defensive skills. Sophomore transfer Shamari Tyson, who transferred in from Southeastern Illinois College, is currently 8th in the nation in assists per game (6.3). Sophomore Niya Goudelock, who transferred in from Limestone University, is currently 39th in the nation with an average of 4.7 assists per outing.
Returning sophomore Anna McKendree from Flowery Branch, GA is the other Lady Jet to break into the national statistics. McKendree is currently 23rd in the nation in steals and is averaging 3.6 per game.
The Lady Jets will be hosting the Lady Jets Thanksgiving Classic in the Hangar on Friday and Saturday, November 29 and 30. SGTC will face Spartanburg Methodist at 6 p.m. on Friday and then take on Florida State College at 3 p.m. on Saturday.