The FCSAA Preseason Region 8 Coaches Poll didn't reveal anything that the FSCJ women's basketball team was not expecting. With only two votes thrown their way after last season's late coaching hire, shortened 2021-2022 season schedule, seven player roster and a 2 -15 finish, the team is ready to "Turn the Tide" for the BlueWave program.
Even with a poor finish and small roster, first year Head Coach Diana Couch was able to help the team produce a second team All Conference player and all three sophomores received scholarships and moved on; Jayde Johnson to St. Thomas University, Bryana Henderson to Wheeling Jesuit University and Matae Boyd to Point University.
Now entering her second season with the FSCJ BlueWave program, Coach Couch is determined to turn the struggling program back around and spent much of the summer working to build a solid roster of local area and Florida players. With a foundation of notable returners; Ameera Thomas, M'Kayla Patterson, Danielle Caldwell and Jayd Dunlap will be called to lead.
Ameera Thomas, a 5'9 forward, will be coming off an 11 point per game season and looking to lead her team once again in scoring. Thomas was awarded the FCSAA Sandy Miller Award presented to the top women's basketball player for her athletic and academic performance, as well as community service. Also returning is M'Kayla Patterson, a 5'5 guard, who will bring some experience to this young team alongside local returners Danielle Caldwell from Bishop Snyder and Jayd Dunlap of Terry Parker High School.
This year's team is filled with 12 new faces that include transfers and a slew of local freshman talent. Johanna Bell, a 5'4 point guard, is a transfer from Clayton State College and a Florida high school product from Doral Academy. Savannah Hadley and Janyah Alicea are both guards and JUCO transfer from Shawnee Community College and Lurleen B. Wallace. All three are expected to bring some upper level experience to a young team.
Coming to FSCJ from other parts of the state are freshman Kahliya Gaitor, a 4'11 PG from Miami's Calvary Christian Academy, 5'11 post Emelyn Gonzalez from Osceola High School, guard Jacovya Major from Fort White High School and Colonial High School product forward Jaiden Ross.
Staying close to home this year are teammates Avery Cannon and Alyssa Pearson from Fleming Island, Daniela Garcia from Sandalwood, Emily Lee of Callahan High School and Raven Cherry from Terry Parker High School.
"We have 12 new players in the program," said Coach Couch. "We knew this upcoming season that one of the keys to us building a successful program is a solid roster and one that included local Jacksonville talent. With that comes the ups and downs of trying to quickly bring so many people together in a short amount of time to create a team. We have had over 6 weeks of conditioning and a month of practices to include three scrimmages, each day we are growing. This is a solid group of young ladies and we believe that we are going to have an exciting season ahead of us."
Head Coach Diana Couch is entering her second season for FSCJ alongside her assistant coaches; Brittany Campbell, Celia DeVoss and Jessica Eaton.
For more information on the FSCJ Women's Basketball Team, click here for the complete ROSTER