SENATOBIA – The Northwest Mississippi Community College women's basketball team are looking to build on a season that left them at 10-15 and 6-8 in conference last year as they bring back a strong group of returning players with a balance of post and guard play.
The team was very young last season and will be bringing back seven sophomores and two red-shirt freshman who are all expecting to contribute on the court and that experience at the college level has Head Coach LaTaryl Williams, who is entering his fourth season at the helm, excited about how far this team can go.
"I'm excited about the growth and maturity this team has displayed from last season to this season. I feel we have the team to make a deep run into the playoff," he said.
Defense will be key for the Rangers going into the season, looking to use and up-tempo style of play to control the pace and get opponents uncomfortable.
"We want to apply pressure on our opponents to get them out of their comfort zone," Williams said. "We are looking to generate turnovers that will let to transition opportunities on the offensive end. When we are in the half court setting, we are looking to attack inside-out by playing through our post or attacking the basket with our guards."
The Rangers are expecting to be strong in the post, returning second team All-MACCC selection Alorian Story who led the team in scoring with 14 points per game and 9.8 rebounds per game and was second on the team in blocks with 23 on the season. Joining her for their second season with the Rangers is Takera Bland who was third in scoring with 9.4 points per game and rebounding and led the team in blocks with 39 on the season.
Layla Hampton will be returning as the most experienced guard on the roster after starting 23 of the 24 games last year and leading the team in assists with 108 and pairing it with an average of 8.1 points per game. She was also last season's team leader in steals with 51.
Head Coach LaTaryl Williams said the trio will be big in leadership roles this season with each bringing different key aspects to the game for the roster.
"Hampton will bring her leadership and experience that we will need at the point guard position," he said. "Bland will also bring some leadership and experience to the team along with her versatility on both ends of the floor. Story will also bring some leadership and experience to the team along with her scoring and defense in the paint.
Joining the roster as a transfer from Mississippi Gulf Coast Community College is DeKyra Mitchell who was an All-Conference performer for the Bulldogs last season, averaging 13 points per game along with three assists and two steals.
"Mitchell will also bring some leadership and experience to the team along with her scoring and playmaking ability," Williams said.
Only two major starters are not back with the squad this season as Mariah Reed-Jones who was named an All-MACCC honorable mention and Aaliyah Taylor. Reed-Jones signed to play for NCAA Division I Jackson State University and Tayor will also be staying in state with Mississippi Valley State University. The two combined for 21.4 points per game and eight rebounds per game that the Rangers will be needing to make up for this season.
The early season with test the Rangers with two matchups against teams that were in the NJCAA Division I Women's Basketball National Championship last year. The Rangers will face off with #6 Three Rivers College (MO), who have made it at least to the Elite Eight in each of the last three seasons, on November 10th and will take on #8 Kilgore College (TX) who made it to the second round in Casper as a part of the Guaranty Bank Holiday Classic on November 22nd.
The Holliday Classic will also feature national power Trinity Valley Community College on the 21st in the second of two games with the Cardinals who enter the season as #16 in the opening preseason polls. The first will be at the Paris JC Classic where the Rangers will also take on Blinn College who made the national tournament field in 2024.
Key games in the conference schedule for the Rangers include a pair of home games against the Region 23 representatives at the national tournament last season. Itawamba Community College will make the trip to Howard Coliseum on January 20th, and the regular season MACCC champion Pearl River Community College will travel to Senatobia on February 5th.
In another feature conference home game, Northwest will take on Northeast on January 26th. The Tigers finished fourth in the conference standings in 2024-25.
The home season will close on February 26th with sophomore night scheduled against East Central Community College.
Key road games for the Rangers include a trip to Coahoma Community College on January 22nd against the third-place team in last season's standings and they will close out against Mississippi Delta Community College on the road on March 2nd as they prepare for the conference tournament against the Trojans in Moorhead.
You can find the full schedule for the Northwest women's basketball team at nwccrangers.com. Also keep up with any news and happenings from NWCC women's basketball by following the Rangers on social media.
