By Andreas Bulter/ Daytona Times
(Source Daytona Times):
The Bethune-Cookman University Wildcats women’s basketball team is making noise early this season.
The Lady Wildcats are fresh off an 80-76 win over rival Florida A&M in Moore Gymnasium on campus on Jan 7. It was the SWAC opener for both teams.
Bethune-Cookman (10-4, 1-0) has played well thus far. They were picked to finish seventh in the SWAC in preseason polls after going 11-18 overall and 10-8 in the SWAC last season. They are a win away from last season’s win total.
“SWAC play is what it is about. We have worked hard in non-conference play to get where we want to be but that first SWAC win is always tough. It’s big. It’s also a rivalry game. It wasn’t pretty but we won,” responded Janell Crayton, Bethune-Cookman’s head basketball coach.
B-CU returned 11 players from 2022- 23, including leading scorer graduate guard Chanel Wilson (13 ppg, 3.8 rpg, 3.8 apg), who is an All-SWAC First Team Pre-Season selection and has preseason All-American honors. She also had those accolades during the postseason last year.
Other key players
The Lady Cats also return rising sophomore guard DaShantae Edwards (6.9 ppg, 3.2 rpg, 2.1apg, 2.3 spg) and junior center/forward Kayla Clark (9.6 ppg, 7.6 rpg, 0.9 bpg). Edwards has led the conference in steals most of the year.
“Clark is gaining confidence offensively. The past two years she was just a rebounder and defender but now she is stepping up her game offensively,” said Crayton.
“Edwards knows only one speed, which is 30,000 miles per hour. We love it. Sometimes it gets us in trouble, but we’ll take it. She is developing offensively and becoming and all-around player.”
There is also junior guard Kerrington Dunn (9.4 ppg, 4.8 rpg, 2.6 spg, 2.1 apg, 0.5bpg) and senior guard O’Mariyah Tucker (6.9 ppg, 4.4rpg), who didn’t play in any SWAC games last season.
Crayton noted, “Dunn can be an offensive juggernaut, but she is locked in on defense. Tucker is a four who can rebound, run and shoot the three. They both add to us.”
The Wildcats brought in junior forward Chanelle McDonald (10ppg, 4.3rpg).
“McDonald brings a huge presence on the inside and is really hard to stop. She has a 15-foot jumper and a lot of post moves. Having her with Clark inside is big. We try to utilize them as much as possible,” said Crayton.
There is also junior forward Kayla White (4.8 ppg, 2.2 rpg, 2.2 apg) and sophomore guard Daimoni Dorsey (3.5ppg). Senior forward Nia Jordan (4.8ppg) and sophomore guard Karianna Woods (4.4ppg, 3rpg, 2.4apg) will return from injury.
Competitive season
Bethune-Cookman has played well in its non-conference slate picking up wins over mid-major teams Iona, Georgia State, Jacksonville, Valparaiso and Mercer.
The SWAC looks very competitive this season and has wins over major conference programs. Jackson State beat St. John’s, Southern defeated Oklahoma, Grambling topped Arizona State and Arkansas Pine-Bluff took down both SMU and Arkansas. Jackson State is the conference favorite.
“The level of play in the SWAC shows for itself. We have several teams that have beaten Power 5 teams and higher conferences. The level is there, the coaching is there,” expressed Crayton
“It is really about grinding it out. It’s Saturday and Monday from here out. I feel good about our team. In the pre-season people don’t really know what you have. We just focus on us. We must do what we do well. We do that then we’re tough to beat.”
The Wildcats know that this team is unique and special.
“I am the oldest on the team, but I appreciate the young energy on the team. I played with a lot of energetic teams, but this team takes it to another level,” said Wilson.
Crayton added, “We are very similar to last year but different. I think coming into the season we thought that but realized it’s a new team. This team is really buying in. We are watching them prove to themselves that they can do what we say they can do. Watching us be poised, make plays at the end and win close games have been special.”
In the end, the goal is to win the SWAC tournament.
“The biggest thing for us is our little saying, which is rebound, defend win. When we rebound and defend well things go well. We have good rebounders and good defenders. When we do those two things well. we do well,” emphasized Crayton.
Wilson echoed, “I believe it takes everyone embracing their roles and tuning into the finer details and doing what we must when the game comes down to crunch time. If we do that, we’ll be alright.”
