2022-23 Tennessee Southern Women's Basketball Media Guide

TENNESSEE

QUICK FACTS

TENNESSEE SOUTHERN

Location Pulaski, Tenn.

Phone Number 931-363-9804

Founded 1870

Enrollment 936

Nickname Firehawks

Colors Orange, Red, Gray, and White

Mascot Flame Affiliation NAIA Conference Mid-South (MSC)

Interim Chancellor Dr. Linda C. Martin Athletic Director Brandie Paul Faculty Athletic Representative Dr. Chris Mattingly Athletic Center Coordinator Jennifer Carroll

Director of Sports Medicine Grant Fairchild

Assistant Athletic Trainer

WOMEN’S BASKETBALL HISTORY

Madison Bennett

Inaugural Season (four year era) 1993-94

All-Time Record 463-440

All-Time TSAC Record 253-312

All-Time SSAC Record 159-71

All-Time MSC Record 22-27

TSAC Tournament Apperances 16

Last 2012-13 Record 8-16 SSAC Tournament Apperances 7

MEDIA INFORMATION

Director of Sports Information Zach O’Kelley

Email zokelley@utsouthern.edu

Official Photographer Guy Shafer

Email gshafe1@utsouthern.edu

Director of A/V Techical Services Kevin Hood

Email khood11@utsouthern.edu

2021-22 TEAM INFORMATION

Overall Record 15-14

MSC Record 10-12 2021-22 Postseason MSC Opening Round

2022-23 TEAM OUTLOOK

Players Returning/Lost 11/7

Starters Returning/Lost 2/3 Newcomers 11 (10 Freshman, 1 Transfer)

RETURNING PLAYERS

Rylee Long G/F 6-0 So Beraya Piercy G 5-10 So Kyla Piercy

G.............. 5-10

So Takiyah Goff G 5-6 So Kamryn Nowlin G 5-6 So Xzandrea Moore F 6-0 Sr

Last 2019-20 Record

8-7

MSC Tournament Apperances 2

Last 2021-22 Record 1-2

NAIA Championship Apperances 5 Last 2019-20 Record 0-4

WOMEN’S BASKETBALL STAFF

Head Coach Billy Evans (Northeast Louisiana, 1977)

UTS Record 64-50

Career Record 336-290

SSAC Record 25-11

MSC Record 15-24

Email bevans34@utsouthern.edu

Assistant Coach Maria Zimdars Email mzimdars@utsouthern.edu

ARENA INFORMATION

Arena Curry Athletic Complex

Capacity 800

Aaryn Grace Lester G 5-8 Jr Halle Jones ........................ F............... 5-11

Jr Daejah Maklary G/F 5-8 So Rachael Baker G 5-11 Sr Faith Eubank F 5-10 So

NEWCOMERS

Mary Mackie

G.............. 5-6

Fr Sarah Arnett F 6-0 Fr Mary Jane Kinton G 5-7 Fr Skylen Casrill G 5-7 Fr Ayanna Kinnard G 5-6 So Janiyah Riley...................... G.............. 5-9

Fr Sydney Cooper G/F 5-10 Fr Destiny Newman G 5-7 Fr Anna Callahan F 6-0 So Anna Leatherwood G/F 5-9 Fr Michaela Gallion F 6-0 Fr Tyler Reischman

G.............. 5-6

Rs

YEAR-BY-YEAR RECORDS

All-Time Record: 463-440 (.513)

SEASON RECORD WIN % COACH

1993-94 16-12 .571 Johnny Jones

1994-95 13-18 .491 Johnny Jones

1995-96 16-18 .471 Johnny Jones

1996-97 15-15 .500 Jana Williams

1997-98 18-12 .600 Jana Williams

1998-99 14-19 .424 Jana Williams

1999-00 10-23 .303 Jana Williams

2000-01 9-23 .281 Randy Roberts

2001-02 13-18 .419 Randy Roberts

2002-03 10-19 .345 Randy Roberts

2003-04 6-25 .194 Randy Roberts

2004-05 6-27 .182 Nikki Sullivan

2005-06 13-17 .433 Nikki Sullivan

2006-07 19-13 .594 Nikki Sullivan

2007-08 16-16 .500 Dee Bell

2008-09 18-11 .621 Dee Bell

2009-10 19-12 .613 Dee Bell

2010-11 16-15 .516 Ed Pipes

2011-12 19-13 .594 Jamie Bechler

2012-13 16-16 .500 Jamie Bechler

2013-14 23-9 .719 Kyle Bent

2014-15 25-8 .758 Kyle Bent

2015-16 22-12 .647 Kyle Bent

2016-17 21-11 .656 Kyle Bent

2017-18 26-8 .765 Kyle Bent

2018-19 19-12 .613 Billy Evans

2019-20 23-11 .676 Billy Evans

2020-21 7-13 .350 Billy Evans

2021-22 15-14 .517 Billy Evans

SOUTHERN STATES CONFERENCE CHAMPIONSHIPS

2017-18 Regular Season

NAIA CHAMPIONSHIP APPERANCES

2015, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2020

ALL-TIME COACHING WINS (Through 2021-22 Season)

COACH RECORD WIN % SEASONS

Kyle Bent

117-48 .709 5 (2013-18)

Billy Evans 64-50 .561 4 (2018-Present)

Jana Williams 57-69 .452 4 (1996-00)

Jamie Bechler 52-43 .547 3 (2010-13)

Johnny Jones 45-48 .484 3 (1993-96)

Nikki Sullivan 38-57 .400 3 (2004-07)

Randy Roberts 38-85 .309 4 (2000-04)

Dee Bell 35-28 .556 2 (2007-09)

Ed Pipes 16-15 .516 1 (2009-10)

1,000 CAREER POINTS CLUB

Player POINTS

Kim Loop Bracey 2,036

Faith Sherrow 1,683

Brooklyn Blanchard 1,599

Whitney Robison 1,521

Micah Anderson 1,489

Mendy Gallion Stotts 1,372

Vee Young 1,319

Jessy Christopher 1,318

Janaisa Williams 1,083

Kyoko Wade 1,049

Missy Harper Bottoms

Kim Cooper

Dr. Linda C. Martin

Linda C. Martin became the Vice President of Academic Affairs and Student Success at The University of Tennessee in November 2017. She earned her undergraduate degree in Animal Science from The Ohio State University, and M.S. and Ph.D. degrees in Animal Breeding and Genetics from Virginia Polytechnic Institute & State University and Colorado State University, respectively. Prior to her current position, Linda served as the Associate Dean and Director of Academic Affairs in the College of Food, Agricultural, and Environmental Sciences at The Ohio State University (2007-2017) and Assistant Dean for Academic Programs in the College of Agricultural Sciences & Natural Resources at Oklahoma State University (2002-2007) following 15 years of successful teaching and advising at Kansas State University.

In 2011, Linda was named the Sanford G. Price and Isabelle P. Barbee Chair in Teaching, Learning and Advising in the College of Food, Agricultural, and Environmental Sciences at Ohio State and in 2014, Linda was appointed Director of The Ohio State University’s Second-year Transformational Experience Program (STEP) with the Office of Academic Affairs in coordination with the Office of Student Life. In this role, Linda provided leadership for the University’s sec ond-year mentoring program which offered students the opportunity to engage in a transformational academic experience (internship, leadership, service learning & community service, study abroad, undergraduate research, or artistic & creative endeavor); engage with a faculty mentor; and enhance personal, professional and academic success.

Her leadership contributions to teaching are numerous. At Oklahoma State, Linda provided leadership for faculty development in the College of Agricultural Sciences and Natural resources (CASNR); worked with the CASNR Effective Teaching Committee to enhance teaching effectiveness college wide; and served in an advisory role to the OSU Institute for Teaching and Learning Excellence. At Ohio State, Linda provided leadership for academic programs in the College of Food, Agricultural, and Environmental Sciences (CFAES) including academic programs at the OSU Agricul tural Technical Institute (OSU-ATI) in Wooster. Her responsibilities at Ohio State included providing leadership for CFAES student recruitment, student development, faculty development, teaching excellence, academic advising, first-year experience, study abroad, undergraduate research, multi-cultural student services, and career development. Under her leadership undergraduate enrollment in CFAES grew over 25%; undergraduate participation in study abroad reached nearly 50%; and 4-yr graduation rate has climbed to over 70%.

In her Vice President role, Linda works closely with campus chief academic and student affairs officers to oversee academic and student affairs for the UT System. She coordinates the development of academic strategic plans, academic policy, new academic programs, admission and retention standards, faculty handbook revisions, and system-wide student success efforts. In her role as Vice President, she serves as staff to the Education, Research, and Service Committee of the UT Board of Trustees and works closely with the Tennessee Higher Education Commission (THEC) on higher education initiatives across the state. Most recently (2021-22), Linda served as the Interim Senior Vice Chancellor and Senior Vice President of the University of Tennessee Institute of Agriculture (UTIA) overseeing the UT College of Veterinary Medicine; Herbert College of Agriculture; AgResearch; and Extension.

Both nationally and regionally, Linda remains highly involved with professional affiliations and teaching improvement. She served as the Academic Programs Section (APS) representative to the Board on Agriculture Assembly (BAA) Policy Board of Directors and as the past Vice-Chair; served as the Chair of the Board of Directors for LEAD21 Leadership Development Program; provided leadership for the second residential session of the Food Systems Leadership Institute (FSLI); served on the Executive Board of AG*IDEA; and is a past Chair of the North Central Region Aca demic Programs Section (APS) of APLU. Additionally, Linda served on the Board of Directors for the American Society of Animal Science (ASAS); as the Central Regional Director and National President for the North American Colleges and Teachers of Agriculture (NACTA); as a member of the NACTA Committee for Improvement of College Teaching of Agriculture; and chaired the Undergraduate/Graduate Teaching Committee for ASAS/ ADSA/PSA.

Linda is known nationally for her record of teaching and advising excellence, and her dedication and commitment to teaching improvement. During her career Linda has received of over 25 different college, regional and national awards for teaching excellence including the North Amer ican Colleges and Teachers of Agriculture Distinguished Educator Award (2007); American Society of Animal Science Distinguished Teacher Award (2006); North American Colleges and Teachers of Agriculture (NACTA) Teaching Award of Excellence (2001); and the National USDA Excellence in College and University Teaching in Food and Agriculture Sciences Award (1998). Linda is a Food Systems Leadership Institute (FSLI) Fellow and holds the distinction of being the first woman inducted into The Ohio State University Animal Science Hall of Fame (2005).

Brandie Paul

Brandie Paul begins her 3rd season as Director of Athletics, after leading the transition from Martin Methodist College to the University of Tennessee Southern.

Since her 2001 arrival, Coach Paul has accumulated 700-plus career victories with 14 consecutive postseason appearances and 13 straight seasons with a record above .500, including a program record 47 wins in the 2016 season. Coach Paul is one of the top ten winningest coaches in NAIA softball history. She has earned two conference Coach of the Year awards, led three teams to the NAIA national tournament, and guided the program to multiple national ranked seasons. Historically, her teams hold one of the top two athletic team GPAs each year. Under the direciton of Coach Paul, the program has had multiple NAIA All-Americans. Alongside coaching, she has been spent numerous seasons as an NAIA national ranker, NAIA national tournament committee member, and conference softball chair. In addition to her duties with the softball program, Paul spent seven-plus seasons as an Associate Athletic Director.

“Coach Paul is the winningest coach in Martin Methodist Softball history,” La Branche said. “She has a proven record of success, passion, and commitment to the program. This past year has been a trial by fire, as she helped lead the department through a host of challenges related to the pandemic while fulfilling her head coaching duties. We are blessed to have her as we start a new chapter in athletics with the pending transition to University of Tennessee Southern.”

“I want to say that I am truly honored to be the fourth and final Athletic Director at MMC,” Paul said. “I am excited to lead the way into this new era as we transition to UT Southern. I feel as if my winning traditions on the field of play as well as the strong relationships I have built with my colleagues will help me serve our student-athletes in a greater capacity. I want to thank Dr. La Branche for the opportunity and guidance to move forward in my professional career. I look forward to my new role at MMC/UT Southern.”

In addition to becoming the final AD in Martin Methodist’s 151-year history and the first in the UT Southern era, Paul also is the first female to lead the department.

A Mobile, Alabama native, Coach Paul graduated from Huntingdon College in Montgomery, Alabama in 1995 with a B.A. in accounting, and earned a Master’s degree in sports coaching from the United States Sports Academy. Prior to her time at MMC/UTS, Paul led the softball program at Jefferson Davis Community College in Brewton, Alabama, where she turned an 8-37 program into a national power in three seasons. At Huntingdon, Paul was a four-year starter for the Lady Hawks, earning Player of the Week honors in her freshman and junior seasons. The Hawks were ranked in the top ten in NAIA polls all four years, making National Tournament appearances in 1992 and 1994. She was named as an All-Conference shortstop as a junior, and placed on the All-Tournament team after helping her team to a 3rd place finish at the 1994 National Tournament.

Jennifer Carroll Athletic Center Coordinator

Grant Fairchild Director of Sports Medicine

Madison Bennett Athletic Trainer

Zach O’Kelley Sports Information Director

Kevin Hood Director of A/V Techical Services

Guy Schafer Official Photographer

Trent Maxwell Public Address Announcer

Tyler Robb Athletic Center Coordinator

Blaine Milham Shot Clock Operator

Tennessee Southern Firehawks

No. Name

2022-23 FIREHAWKS NUMERICAL ROSTER

Pos. Cl. Ht.

Hometown/Previous School

00 Mary Mackie G Fr 5-6 Lebanon, Tenn. / Father Ryan HS

3 Rylee Long G/F So 6-0 Summertown, Tenn. / Summertown HS

4 Sarah Arnett F Fr 6-0 Mandeville, La. / Mandeville HS

5 Beraya Piercy G So 5-10 Harrogate, Tenn. / James Frank White Academy

10 Mary Jane Kinton G Fr 5-7 Fairview, Tenn. / Fairview HS

11 Kyla Piercy G So 5-10 Harrogate, Tenn. / James Frank White Academy

12 Takiyah Goff G So 5-6 Murfreesboro, Tenn. / Riverdale HS

13 Skylen Casrill G Fr 5-7 Linden, Tenn. / Perry Co. HS

14 Ayanna Kinnard G Fr 5-7 Nashville, Tenn. / East Nashville Magnet HS

15 Janiyha Riley G Fr 5-9 Columbia, Tenn. / Columbia Central HS

20 Kamryn Nowlin G So 5-6 McMinnville, Tenn. / Warren Co. HS

21 Sydney Cooper G/F Fr 5-10 Murfreesboro, Tenn. / Middle Tennessee Christian

22 Xzandrea Moore F Sr 6-0 Milan, Tenn. / Freed-Hardeman University

23 Destiny Newman G Fr 5-7 Murfreesboro, Tenn. / Oakland HS

24 Aaryn Grace Lester G Jr 5-8 Lebanon, Tenn. / Lebanon HS

25 Anna Callahan F So 6-0 McKenzie, Tenn. / Tennessee-Chattanooga

30 Anna Leatherwood G/F Fr 5-9 Dickson, Tenn. / Dickson Co. HS

33 Halle Jones F Jr 5-11 Mt. Juliet, Tenn. / Mt. Juliet HS

35 Michaela Gallian F Fr 6-0 Waynesboro, Tenn. / Wayne Co. HS

42 Daejah Maklary G/F So 5-8 Watertown, Tenn. / Watertown HS

45 Rachael Baker G Sr 5-11 Remlap, Ala. / Montevallo University

55 Faith Eubank F So 5-10 Hendersonville, Tenn. / Station Camp HS

RS Tyler Reischman G Fr 5-6 Culleoka, Tenn. / Culleoka HS

ROSTER BREAKDOWN

By Class:

Senior: (2)

Xzandrea Moore

Rachael Baker

Junior: (2)

Aaryn Grace Lester Halle Jones

Sophomore: (8)

Rylee Long

Beraya Piercy Kyla Piercy

Takiyah Goff Kamryn Nowlin Anna Callahan Daejah Maklary Faith Eubank

Freshman: (11)

Mary Mackie Sarah Arnett

Mary Jane Kinton Skylen Casrill Ayanna Kinnard Janiyah Riley Sydney Cooper Destiny Newman Anna Leatherwood Michaela Gallian Tyler Reischman

By Position:

Guard: (13) Mary Mackie Beraya Piercy Mary Jane Kinton Kyla Piercy Takiyah Goff Ayanna Kinnard Janiyha Riley Kamryn Nowlin Destiny Newman Aaryn Grace Lester Rachael Baker Tyler Reischman

Guard/Forward: (4) Rylee Long Sydney Cooper Anna Leatherwood Daejah Maklary

Forward: (6) Sarah Arnett Xzandrea Moore Anna Callahan Halle Jones Michaela Gallian Faith Eubank

5-Foot-6: (4) Mary Mackie Takiyah Goff Kamryn Nowlin Tyler Reischman

5-Foot-11: (2)

Halle Jones Rachael Baker

5-Foot-10: (4)

Beraya Piercy

Kyla Piercy Sydney Cooper Faith Eubank

6-Foot-0: (5) Rylee Long Sarah Arnett Xzandrea Moore Anna Callahan Michaela Gallian

5-Foot-9: (2) Janiyha Riley Anna Leatherwood

5-Foot-8: (2)

Aaryn Grace Lester Daejah Maklary5-Foot-7: (4)

Mary Jane Kinton

Skylen Casrill Ayanna Kinnard Destiny Newman

BILLY EVANS

Hometown: Lake Providence, La.

Northeast Louisiana (‘77)

5th Season at UTS

Entering 22nd Career Season

UTS Record: 64-50

Career: 336-290

Career Coaching Record

School Year Record

HC

Win %

Belhaven 2001-02 12-12 .500

Belhaven 2002-03 17-12 .586 Belhaven 2003-04 8-21 .276 Belhaven 2004-05 11-20 .355 Belhaven 2005-06 11-16 .407 Belhaven 2006-05 9-20 .310 Belhaven 2007-08 14-15 .483 Belhaven 2008-09 17-14 .548 Belhaven 2009-10 14-17 .452 Belhaven 2010-11 24-9 .727 Belhaven 2011-12 26-7 .788 Mobile 2012-13 16-17 .485 Mobile 2013-14 23-12 .657 Mobile 2014-15 15-15 .500 Mobile 2015-16 16-17 .485 Mobile 2016-17 22-13 .629 Mobile 2017-18 14-15 .483 Martin Methodist 2018-19 19-12 .613

Martin Methodist 2019-20 23-11 .676

Martin Methodist 2020-21 7-13 .350 Tennessee Southern 2021-22 15-14 .517 Tennessee Southern 2022-23

Totals 21 Seasons 336-290 .537

MARY MACKIE

SARAH ARNETT

Stats

MARY JANE KINTON

Stats

KYLA PIERCY

TAKIYAH GOFF

SKYLEN CASRILL

Stats

AYANNA KINNARD

Stats

JANIYHA RILEY

KAMRYN

Stats

COOPER

XZANDREA

DESTINY NEWMAN

AARYN GRACE

ANNA CALLAHAN

ANNA LEATHERWOOD

Stats

GALLIAN

DAEJAH MAKLARY

RACHAEL BAKER

FAITH EUBANK

TYLER REISCHMAN

POINTS

Kim Loop Bracey 2,036

Faith Sherrow 1,683

Brooklyn Blanchard

1,599

Whitney Robison 1,521

Micah Anderson 1,489

Mendy Gallion Stotts

1,372

Vee Young 1,319

Jessy Christopher 1,318

3 POINT FIELD GOALS MADE

Faith Sherrow

Jessy Christopher 207 Brooklyn Blanchard 152 Jennifer Moss

Becca Smithson

Nina Mills

Karson Mullens

Treasure Hunt

Crystal Poindexter

REBOUNDS

Kyoko Wade

Kim Loop Bracey

Whitney Robinson

Kyra Knight 675

Rachel Brown 601

Vee Young

595

Micah Anderson 588

Keri O’Neal 565

Janaisa Williams

Nina Mills

Erin Freeman

Jessica Ezell

1,049

1,083 Kyoko Wade

Lorraine Sutton

Luckett

Destiney Williams

Jennifer Villarin

Danielle Proudfit

Jessica Ezell

Rachel Brown 822

Kelsey Nowlin 819

Haley Rutledge

Keely Ellison

Janaisa Williams

Taylor McNairy

559

493

Lacy Reed 452

Jessy Christopher 421 Brooklyn Blanchard

406

Abby Clayton 403

Jemia Carpenter 398

Becca Smithson

814 Jennifer Moss 813

Taylor McNairy 793 Kyra Knight

749 Lacy Reed 725

FIELD GOALS MADE

Whitney Robison

642

Brooklyn Blanchard 585

Faith Sherrow 570

Vee Young

517

Micah Anderson 478

Janaisa Wiliams 421

Jessy Christopher................................ 420 Erin Freeman

Kelsey Nowlin 317 Kyoko Wade 314

Jennifer Moss

Kyra Knight

Taylor McNairy

Rachel Brown

Jessica Ezell

Lacy Reed 274

Becca Smithson

Nina Mills 261

Jemia Carpenter 260

Teairra Luckett

Rachel Brown

Erin Freeman

Ashley Meeks

Danielle Dyer

Taylor McNairy

FREE THROWS MADE

Micah Anderson

Kyoko Wade 421 Nina Mills

Brooklyn Blanchard

Jessy Christopher

Vee Young

Whitney Robison

Jessica Ezell

Janaisa Williams

Sherrow........................................

Brown

Clayton

Kelsey Nowlin

Freeman

Taylor McNairy

Lacy Reed

Kyra Knight

Keri O’Neal

Becca Smithson

Torian

Faith Sherrow........................................ 397

Nina Robinson 382

Mickey Head 362 Nina Mills

328 Erin Freeman 325

ASSISTS

Jessy Christopher................................ 529 Brooklyn Blanchard 483

Taylor McNairy 410

Nina Mills

296

Kaneka Brown 275

Lorraine Sutton 229 Diane Frost 218

Janaisa Williams

212 Jennifer Villarin 172

Micah Anderson 167

Faith Sherrow........................................ 165

Karson Mullens 156

Kyoko Wade 144

Teairra Luckett

141

Jennifer Moss 133

Jana Bachrata 131

Erin Freeman 126

Kelsey Nowlin

120 Ashley Nichols 113 Shawra Ricks 111

STEALS

Brooklyn Blanchard

McNairy

Jessy

Lorraine Sutton

Freeman

Janaisa Williams

Mills

Robison

Vee Young

Wade

Sherrow

Micah Anderson

Jemia Carpenter

Moss

O’Neal

Frost

Villarin

Franklin

Brown

Vee Young

Head

Kayla Beaty

O’Neal

Wade

BLOCKS

Robinson

Kyra Knight

Janaisa Williams

Jemia Carpenter

Robison

Lacy Reed

Brooklyn Blanchard

Zuzana Janesikova

Brionna Taylor

Amellia Toole

Wyeshia Edwards

Black

Freeman

Nakisha Strickland

Latoya Torian

Mill Street

Tennessee 38462

Downtown Branch

1214 Church Street, Suite 100

Nashville, Tennessee 37246 (615) 687-4801

Donelson Branch

2340 Jackson Downs Blvd.

Nashville, Tennessee 37214 (615) 687-4801

Indian Lake Branch

270 Indian Lake Blvd.

Hendersonville, Tennessee 37246 (615) 687-4801

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