SENATOBIA - LaTaryl Williams' first season commanding the Northwest Lady Rangers started off strong.

Northwest collected wins in each of its first three games and stood at 6-4 overall entering conference play. Unfortunately, an extended losing streak plagued the Lady Rangers throughout conference play and dropped the team to a tie for last place in the MACCC standings by the season's end.

"Last year was just a very unusual situation," Williams said, reflecting on last season. "I got the job in July and the roster was already in tact from the previous staff. So we just had to play the hand we were dealt and that group gave it everything that they had. Unfortunately, it didn't work out for us in the win column, but we were able to identify the areas where we needed to improve on. I think we have done that, by beefing up on the inside and getting stronger and more athletic in the perimeter."

"I think we are going to have a style of play that fits what we want to do here," Williams added. "We are going to be able to pressure the basketball, get out in full court and run in transition. This year, we're going back to the drawing board and go back to the running Rangers of the late 1990's that coach Don Edwards really strived for."

Despite the adversity faced in his first season with a freshman-heavy roster, Williams brings in a mix of returning starters and a bevy of newcomers, which includes some MACCC transfers. That mix of sophomores, transfers and talent-heavy freshmen should make the Lady Rangers much more competitive this season.

Northwest will benefit from the return of starting duo Kae'la Mitchell and Marian Jenkins, who respectively finished first and second in scoring. Mitchell, a guard from Little Rock, averaged 8.5 points per game last season and led the team in steals (32), while also finishing second in assists (43). 

"We are fortunate to have Kae'la back," Williams said. "She is very dynamic and quick, and she can really shoot from the perimeter. She can make herself hard to guard in transition as well."

As for Jenkins, the Madison native led the Lady Rangers in rebounding, averaging 7.7 per game. Forced to play the role of center last season, Jenkins will switch back to a true forward role, thanks to some of Williams' newcomers.

"She did a great job for us last season as an undersized post player," Williams said, on Jenkins. "She gets a chance to go back to her natural position as a forward."

Zaria Glover (Las Vegas, Nev.) and Lily Whitley (Marietta) round out the returning sophomores for Williams. Though both came off the bench last season, the duo made the most of their time on the floor, with Glover averaging 5.6 points per game, finishing third on the team in scoring.

A trio of JUCO transfers also highlight the Lady Rangers' roster this season, led by former East Central forward Angela Middleton. The Pontotoc native played for Williams as a freshman at ECCC and averaged 7.3 points and 3.5 rebounds off the bench.

McKenzie Amos (Hattiesburg) and JaQuasia Dorrough (Calhoun City) are the other two transfers on the roster this season, with Amos coming from Southwest Mississippi and Dorrough arriving from Northeast. Though hampered by injuries at Northeast, Dorrough finished as the team's second-leading scorer during the 2021-22 campaign.

Four true freshmen will also make their collegiate debuts this season, led by guard Mariah Reed-Jones. The Oxford native led Lafayette High School in points (15.1), assists (3.3), steals (2.8) and blocks (1.2) as a senior, while shooting 40 percent from the field.

"She has already drawn interest from four-year colleges," Williams said, on Reed-Jones. "She is a player that I think can take us to the next level as far as talent goes. She can post you up and has a nice mid-range jumper that we're really excited about."

Anaria Lee and Merciana Sandifer, both of Southaven, will also create an impact early for the Lady Rangers. The duo helped guide the Lady Chargers to a playoff appearance last season.

"We have been so impressed with her and what she has done," Williams said, on Sandifer, who will fill the role of the starting center. "She will be able to get us rebounds and she's going to demand the ball inside. Just having her for that inside presence will help us play how we want to play. Mikayla is also one of the most talented post players I have had the pleasure to coach, and she has great versatility. She can step out and shoot the three-pointer, she can drive inside, and she has a nice mid-range jumper as well. The most impressive thing about her is her basketball IQ."

As for the schedule, Northwest will see a similar look from last season to its non-conference slate. The Lady Rangers once again have a handful of MACCC opponents scheduled for non-conference play, while also taking on Freed-Hardeman JV, Dyersburg State, Arkansas State Mid-South and National Park College.

As expected, the conference games will be far from easy for Northwest. Jones College, Pearl River, Meridian and Mississippi Gulf Coast all finished in the top four last season, and all four teams are expected to be heavy favorites again. Meanwhile, teams such as Holmes, Southwest Mississippi, Coahoma and Copiah-Lincoln will once again battle to finish in the top tier as well.

With this year's roster however, Williams is hoping for Northwest to join the slew of aforementioned teams battling in the top half of the standings.

"A lot of our coaches in the conference have us picked to finish at or around fifth", Williams said. "That alone gives our girls something to look at, but it's also a testament to the talent that we have brought in and the product that we look to put out on the floor."

Friday's season-opener against Freed-Hardeman JV is scheduled for a 4 P.M. tipoff at Howard Coliseum. The Lady Rangers will also host Dyersburg State on Monday, November 6 at 5:30 P.M., with both games carried live on Ranger TV and Action News 5 Plus.