CLINTON – After helping Northwest to a successful regular season record and to a runner-up finish in the NJCAA Region 23 Tournament, departing sophomores Kayla Freeman and Tamarah Sykes have signed with Mississippi College to continue their academic and athletic careers.

"Both Kayla and Tamarah were fierce and competitive every night for us," Northwest coach Troy Howell said. "Both are true winners and although they will be missed, I am excited to see what they can achieve at the next level."

Freeman, a transfer from Christian Brothers University, started in 15 of the Lady Rangers' 25 contests this season and averaged 7.5 points and 4.6 rebounds per game. Freeman collected a team-high 63 assists with a second-best 21 blocks and 115 total rebounds, good for third on the team.

Freeman posted nine double-digit scoring games including a 20-point, nine-rebound effort against Dyersburg State in November, earning her MACJC Player of the Week honors.

In her two seasons in Senatobia, Sykes played in 45 career games and earned nine starts. A solid option off the bench, the Aberdeen native compiled a career average of 6.9 points and 5.8 rebounds per game, while totaling 39 career blocks.

Sykes scored in double figures 11 times over her career with four double-doubles. Her best scoring performance came on Jan. 27, 2020 in a 79-62 victory against ASU Mid-South, where she led all scorers with 22 points.

Freeman and Sykes are the first two Lady Rangers to advance to the four-year level off the 2019-20 squad. Northwest finished 17-10 overall in Howell's first season as head coach.

Mississippi College competes at the NCAA Division II level as a member of the Gulf South Conference. The Lady Choctaws finished 13-14 last season with a 10-10 conference record and fell to Lee University in the first round of the GSC Tournament.