2003-2004 Women's Basketball
The New Mexico Junior College Women’s Basketball Team finished the 2002-2003 season with a 25-5 record. That was good enough for a 2nd place finish in the very difficult Western Junior College Athletic Conference and a berth in the Region V tournament last March. The 2003-2004 squad looks to improve on last season’s finish and continue to add to the winning tradition that has been established at NMJC.
The Lady Thunderbirds return nine sophomores, including 4 starters, from last
season. This strong sophomore class is led by returning starters Miranda
Swearengin, Toni
Atherley, Eva
Vodrazkova, and Johnice
James. Swearengin, a 5’6 point guard, returns after a great freshman
season which saw her named to the Western Junior College Athletic Conference
All-Conference team as well as the Region V All-Region team, NMJC’s first
All-Region performer since Anita Vuletic in 1996. Miranda is an explosive offensive
player, who has proven to be an impact player for the Lady Thunderbirds and
one of the top returning players in the nation. Atherley, a 5’8 guard,
returns after being named to the Western Junior College Athletic Conference
All-Conference Honorable Mention team. Toni is a fierce competitor who has shown
the ability to make big plays at critical times. Vodrazkova, a 6’2 forward,
returns after a stellar inaugural campaign in which she was the nation’s
leading shot blocker. Eva is an extremely gifted offensive player, but her greatest
asset is as one of the premier interior defenders in the country. James, a 5’11
forward, returns as one of the most exciting players on this year’s roster.
Johnice’s intense, aggressive style of play is entertaining to watch and
a nightmare for opposing teams. The remaining 5 returners and 1 transfer help
round out one of the strongest sophomore classes to ever come through New Mexico
Junior College. Catherine
Coley, a 6’2 post player, returns after a very solid freshman season.
Catherine’s physical play on both ends of the floor will be very important
to the success of this year’s team. Angel
Sparks, a 5’9 forward, returns after proving to be a very valuable
commodity last season. Angel, a former high school post player, is a terrific
athlete who excels defensively as well as in the transition game. Becky
Thompson, a 6’0 post player, returns after showing many bright spots
in her freshman season. Becky has steadily improved her game since arriving
on campus and has shown a knack for doing the little things that are vital to
a team’s success. Schmoca
Stills, a 5’9 guard, returns after an injury plagued freshman season.
Schmoca is a very sound player on both ends of the floor and being completely
healthy, may turn some heads in her second season. Serena
Lopez, a 6’1 post player, also returns from an injury riddled first
season. Serena has a tremendous amount of ability offensively and will have
an opportunity to provide the Lady T-Birds with some much needed interior scoring.
The sophomore class also includes one transfer, Haley
Dunlap, from Adams State University. Haley, a 5’8 guard, is a great
perimeter shooter, who may prove to be a great addition to this year’s
squad.
The freshman class while small in number, is a diverse and talented group, blending
athleticism with fundamentals and savvy. Angelique
Baulding and Alena
Batovska will look to solidify this year’s backcourt. Up front, Orma
Fisher and Marissa
Williams should provide talent and productivity to the post position.
The key to this season could be how quickly the team blends its talent and finds the necessary chemistry to be successful. The season begins quickly when the Lady Thunderbirds open the season with national power Salt Lake City Community College, Rend Lake Community College, and Cochise Junior College in the Lady T-Bird Classic. The non-conference schedule doesn’t get any easier with trips to Tyler Junior College in Tyler, TX and Region V rival Weatherford College in Weatherford, TX. The coaching staff is extremely excited about the upcoming season and anxiously awaits the opening of WJCAC play.
:2002-2003 Season: :2003-2004 Schedule & Scores: :2003-2004 Roster: :2003-2004 Player Profiles: :2003-2004 News: :2004-2005 Season: :2004-2005 Schedule & Scores: :2004-2005 Roster: :2004-2005 Player Profiles: :2005-2006 Season: :2005-2006 Schedules & Scores: :2005-2006 Roster: :2005-2006 Player Profiles: :2005-2006 News: :2006-2007 Season: :2006-2007 Schedules & Scores: :2006-2007 News:
