GAME 1 • No. 6 Mississippi State

JACKSON STATE WOMEN’S

DETAILS JACKSON STATE NO. 6 MISSISSIPPI Sunday, Nov.. 29, 2020 TIGERS STATE BULLDOGS Time: 3 p.m. (Central) Location: Starkville Miss. 2019-20 Record: 19-10 (SWAC: 16-2) 2019-20 Record: 27-6 (SEC: 13-3) Venue:Humphrey Coliseum Rankings: NR Rankings: No. 6 Radio: MSU Radio Network Head Coach: Tomekia Reed Head Coach: Nikki McCray-Penson (1st Season) Career Record: 37-24 (28-8 SWAC) (3rd season) MSU Record: 0-0 (1st season) Key Returners: Career Record: 53-40 (4th season) Ameshya Williams, Dayzsha Rogan, Keshuana Luckett, J’Niya Tallie Key Returners: Jessika Carter, Rickea Jackson, Myah Taylor

GAME 1 GAME Newcomers to watch: Diamond Forrest, Ti’lan Boler, La’Genesis Johnson, Jariyah Covington, Che’Mya Carouthers, Jasmine Edwards

2020-21 SCHEDULE (H: 0-0) (A: 0-0) The Jackson State Lady Tigers basketball pro- The Lady Tigers continued to garner sev- (0-0 Overall, 0-0 SWAC) gram is set to take on No. 6 Mississippi State eral Preseason SWAC awards as Ameshya for the season opening tip-off tomorrow at Williams was named SWAC Preseason Player DATE OPPONENT TIME/RESULT NOVEMBER (0--0) 3 p.m. and Defensive Player of the Year along with 29 at No. 6 Mississippi State 3 p.m. senior Dayzsha Rogan being named to the DECEMBER (0-0) The Lady Tigers are coming off of a historic 1st Team All-SWAC list. 3 at Stephen F. Austin 6:30 p.m. season in which they finished 19-10 overall, 8 at Louisiana Tech 6:30 p.m. 12 at Nicholls State 2 p.m. 16-2 in SWAC play, while bringing home the “I’m extremely humbled and graciously 15 at Ole Miss 6 p.m. 2019-20 SWAC Championship regular season thankful for the conference to vote for 20 at Tennessee 2 p.m. trophy. JSU head coach Tomekia Reed enters Ameysha Williams and Dayzsha Rogan on the JANUARY (6-0) 6-0 SWAC) 2 vs Alabama A&M* TBA her third season at the helm of the Lady Preseason All Conference Team. These young 4 vs Alabama State* TBA Tigers basketball program after capturing the ladies certainly impacted our team and 9 at Alcorn State* 3 p.m. regular season SWAC championship in 2019- were paramount in our success” said Head 11 at Southern* 5:30 p.m. 20. Coach and SWAC Coach of the Year Tomekia 16 vs Prairie View* TBA 18 vs Texas Southern* TBA Reed. 23 vs Grambling* TBA In two seasons, Coach Reed has quickly 30 at Mississippi Valley State* 3 p.m. elevated the Lady Tigers to a 28-8 SWAC re- FEBRUARY (0-0, 0-0 SWAC) 1 at Arkansas-Pine Bluff* 5:30 p.m. cord, 22-4 record at home, and a 37-24 overall Williams was ninth in the conference in scor- 6 vs Alcorn State* 3 p.m. record. Mississippi State is coming off of a ing with an average of 12.8 points per game, 8 vs Southern* 5:30 p.m. season in which they finished 27-6 and 13-3 second in rebounds with 10.1 rebounds per 13 at Prairie View* 5:30 p.m. in the . game (116 offensive, 156 defensive), fourth 15 at Texas Southern * 3 p.m. 20 at Grambling State* 3 p.m. in percentage (.468), and twelfth in 27 Mississippi Valley State* 3 p.m. The two teams met last season on Nov. 21, percentage (.543). “It’s an honor to MARCH (0-0, 0-0 SWAC) 2019 on the campus of Jackson State in be selected for this award and recognized by 1 vs Arkansas-Pine Bluff* 5:30 p.m. 4 at Alabama A&M * 3 p.m. which the Lady Bulldogs defeated JSU by a so many people for my hard work” said Wil- 6 at Alabama State* 5:30 p.m. final score of 92-53. liams in regard to earning both of the con- ferences highlight individual awards, “with a * - Southwestern Athletic Conference (SWAC) Game The Lady Tigers and Lady Bulldogs are year like 2020, I’m grateful and thankful to be All times are listed as Central Time scheduled to tip-off this Sunday at 3 p.m. C.T. able to play another season.” at Humphrey Coliseum in Starkville, Miss. The game will be broadcasted live on the radio on The junior was named to the Preseason All- the MSU Radio Network. Fans will not be in SWAC 1st Team as well. “I’m also very excited attendance for the game. for Ameysha receiving two outstanding preseason honors. I’m thankful for the confer- SWAC Preseason Awards TIGERS PROBABLE STARTERS /// SOCIAL MEDIA ///

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10 4 24 11 35 TW: @GoJSUTigersWBB Keshuana Luckett Ameshya Williams Dayzsha Rogan Jariyah Covington Cherelle Jones

JACKSON STATE WOMEN’S BASKETBALL 1 GAME 1 • No. 6 Mississippi State Blake Weir WEEKLY SCHEDULE [email protected] Sunday Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday Saturday No. 6 Mississippi State Practice Practice Travel Game 2 Travel Practice at Stephen F. Austin No Availability (6:30 p.m. CT) No Availability

/// NEWCOMERS/// Newcomers Hometown: Haines City, Fla. Jackson State women’s basketball brought in a highly recruited class in 2020, High School: Haines City signing six new Lady Tigers. That list also included four Dandy Dozens: La’Gen- Club: Team Hype esis Johnson, Ti’lan Boler, Che’Mya Carouthers, and Jariyah Covington. The Tigers now have a total of six Dandy Dozens on the squad to go along with Edwards joined Haines City after transferring from Westland John Glenn High Ameshya Williams and Keshuana Luckett. The Lady Tigers six Dandy Dozens School in Detroit, Michigan. She was named to the 2018-19 Detroit Free Press are the most of any University inside the state of Mississippi. All-West Team. Edwards projects as a guard and can play 1 through 4 on the floor. La’GenesisJohnson Ht: 6-2 Coach Reed: “Jasmine is a crafty guard and provides instant depth because Position: Forward she can play the point. Shoots the ball exceptionally well from 3-point range Hometown: Weir, Miss. and attacks the rim. She’s from Detroit and plays with a different type of edge High School: Choctaw County High School and I’m excited to have the positive energy that she’ll bring to the program.”

As a senior at Choctaw County HS, Johnson played in a total of 22 games Jariyah Covington with an average of 24.3 minutes played per game. Johnson also averaged a Ht: 5-5 double-double with 16.8 points and 11.3 rebounds per game. Position: Guard Hometown: Starkville, Miss. Coach Reed: “She causes a lot of problems and a lot of mismatches for most High School: Starkville High School post players. She can shoot the outside shot, she can shoot the three-point Previous School: East Central Community College shot, but on the inside around the basket she can shots and alter shots, so she just brings so much to the game and it just makes her a threat all the Jariyah Covington, a 5-foot-5 combo guard, signed her letter of intent with way around.” Jackson State and will join the program this summer.

Ti’Ian Boler “I’m very excited to welcome Jariyah to our program,” said Tomekia Reed, the Ht: 5-11 2020 SWAC Coach of the Year. “Jariyah is savvy and plays hard on offense and Position: Guard defense. She’s a pure shooter from deep and a midrange assassin and will Hometown: Meridian, Miss. surely be a weapon for us. She brings a ton of experience and leadership to High School: Meridian the floor. Her energy will certainly rev the crowd and I can’t wait to get her on Club: MHSP Bobcats Wilson campus.”

Boler utilizes a combination of speed and length that makes her tough to Covington was a two-year starter at East Central Community College in Deca- defend. She’s a tenacious rebounder that doesn’t shy away from the paint and tur, Mississippi. This past season, the Starkville, Mississippi native was named she is a pure shooter. Last season she averaged 15 points and 12 rebounds to the All-MACJC team. Covington averaged a team-leading 15 points per per game. game. She also had 52 assists and 36 steals in her 23 games played.

Coach Reed: “Ti’Ian’s length at guard will put her ahead of the game in the Diamond Forrest Southwestern Athletic Conference. She’s long and athletic and can shoot the ball from the outside and is great off the stop and pop. She’s a great - Ht: 6-6 er and runs the floor well.” Position: Center Hometown: Smyrna, Tenn. Che’Mya Carouthers Ht: 5-8 Previous School: Wichita State University Position: Guard Hometown: Tupelo, Miss. Forrest transferred from Wichita State and played a reserve role last season. High School: Tupelo She also spent two seasons at Walters State Junior College. Club: MHSP Bobcats Wilson As a sophomore, she averaged 6.8 points and 3.0 rebounds, while shooting Carouthers was the leading scorer on a Tupelo team that went 22-9 last nearly 60 percent from the floor. Forrest helped Walters State clinch its eighth season and reached the second round of the 6A state playoffs. She’s been straight Region VII title in 2018 before ending the season in the second round starting on the varsity team since eighth grade. She averaged 15 points and of the NJCAA Division I Championship. In her final game at Walters State, 6.9 rebounds per game last season. Forrest scored a team-high 14 points.

Coach Reed: “Che’mya is an extremely athletic and talented guard and can “We are extremely excited to welcome Diamond Forrest to Jackson State play 2 through 4 on the floor. Tremendous range from the 3-point line and University. Her size and height will definitely bring a dominant presence to will give us shots from the outside to breakup zones. She can attack the bas- our inside game and rev excitement from our fans,” said JSU head coach and ket and finish around the rim. Great energy and very sound on defense.” 2019-20 SWAC Coach of the Year, Tomekia Reed. “She brings an outside game and inside game with experience to the court. Our fans are really going to Jasmine Edwards enjoy watching her play.” Ht: 6-0 Position: Guard/Forward

JACKSON STATE WOMEN’S BASKETBALL 2 GAME 1 • No. 6 Mississippi State

/// GENERAL INFORMATION /// Location Jackson, Miss. Preseason Accolades Founded 1866 Enrollment 10,000 Mascot Tigers Ameshya Williams School Colors Navy and White Affiliation NCAA Division I FCS On top of sweeping the individual SWAC awards, Jackson State’s Ameshya Williams was also Conference Southwestern Athletic named to the Award Watch List for the top center of the year. Candidates for the Conference (SWAC) national center-of-the-year honor were announced by the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall Arena Lee E. Williams Athletics & Assembly of Fame and the Women’s Basketball Coaches Association on Friday, Nov. 13. Williams was the Center lone SWAC and HBCU student-athlete represented. Williams was ninth in the conference in Capacity 7,000 scoring with an average of 12.8 points per game, second in rebounds with 10.1 rebounds per President Dr. Thomas Hudson. game (116 offensive, 156 defensive), fourth in field goal percentage (.468), and twelfth in free Alma Mater Jackson State University throw percentage (.543). She also ranked in the top five in the country in rebounds and top Director of Athletics Ashley Robinson 15 in blocks and blocks per game.60 Saturday afternoon in Southwestern Athletic Conference Alma Mater Mississippi Valley State Associate AD for Sports Media Dennis Driscoll action at the Lee E. Williams Athletic and Assembly Center.holding GSU to 33.3 percent (20-of- Assistant Director for Sports Media Blake Weir 60) from the floor.

• Leslie Watch List Nominee (Top Center in the Country)

• Boxtorow 1st Team All-American in 2020 • 1st Team All-SWAC • SWAC Defensive Player of the Year • National rankings for Ameshya 2020-21 SWAC Predicted Order of Finish • #16 nationally in blocked shots Jackson State (159) • #11 nationally in blocked shots per game Texas Southern (148) • #26 nationally in Double doubles (14 double doubles of the season) Southern (132) Alabama A&M (112) • #47 nationally in rebounds Prairie View A&M (96) • #31 nationally rebounds per game (10.1 rebounds per game) Alabama State (81) • Averaged a double-double in 2019-20 Grambling State (70) Arkansas-Pine Bluff (65) • Tied for 7 th in the SWAC in Scoring (13.1 points per game) Alcorn State (46) • 2nd in the SWAC in rebounding (10.1 rebounds per game) Mississippi Valley State (26) • 1st in the SWAC in blocked shots (3.0 per game) Played in 28 games as a junior... logged a total of 625 minutes on the court... finished 147-of- 305 while 2020-21 SWAC Preseason Player of the Year making 48.2 percent of her shots... 72-of-133 from the free throw line... collected a total of 366 Ameshya Williams, Jackson State points for an average of 13.07 points per game... grabbed a total of 282 rebounds with 120 offensive 2020-21 SWAC Preseason Defensive Player of the rebounds Year and 162 defensive rebounds to average 10.07 rebounds per game... averaged a double-double Ameshya Williams, Jackson State for the season as she notched a total of 14 double-doubles... had 14 assists... 27 steals... and a confer- ence best 81 blocked shots 2020-21 Preseason All-SWAC First Team

Position Name Classification School Dayzcha Rogan Hometown Guard Justice Coleman Senior Grambling • 2nd Team ALL SWAC State Baton Rouge, La. • Preseason 1 st team ALL-SWAC Guard Dayzsha Rogan Senior Jackson State Ripley, Miss. • Tied for 7 th in the SWAC in Scoring (13.1 points per game) Forward Niya Mitchell Senior Texas • 3rd in the SWAC in steals (2.4 per game game) Southern Bay City, Texas Played in 29 games for Jackson State... played a total of 789 minutes on the floor... finished Forward Dariauna Lewis Junior Alabama A&M Omaha, Neb. 133-of-327 from the field making 40.7 percent of her shots... made 51-of-140 shots from Center Ameshya Williams Junior Jackson beyond the arc... scored a total of 386 points for an average of 13.31 points per game... State Gulfport, Miss. collected 101 rebounds.... 31 assists... 70 steals JACKSON STATE WOMEN’S BASKETBALL 3 GAME 1 • No. 6 Mississippi State /// NUMERICAL ROSTER /// No. Player Ht. Yr. Pos. Hometown 1 Ti’lan Boler 5-11 Fr. G Meridian, Miss. 2 Anteionette Womack 6-0 Sr. C Jackson, Miss. 3 D’Asia Mitchell 5-6 Sr. G Natchez, Miss. 4 Ameshya Williams 6-4 Jr. C Gulfport, Miss. 5 Walneika Holmes 5-7 Sr. G Clarksdale, Miss. 10 Keshuana Luckett 5-6 So. PG Jackson, Miss. 12 Jariyah Covington 5’5 Jr. G Starkville, Miss. 13 Elexis Peyton 5-10 Sr. G Jackson, Miss. 20 J’Niya Tallie 5-4 Sr. PG Ashland, Miss. 22 La’Genesis Johnson 6-2 Fr. F Weir, Miss. 23 Che’Mya Carouthers 5-8 Fr. G Tupelo, Miss. 24 Dayzsha Rogan 5-4 Sr. G Ripley, Miss. 30 Diamond Forrest 6-6 Sr. C Smyrna, Tenn. 32 Jasmine Edwards 6-1 Fr. G Westland, Wisc. 35 Cherelle Jones 6-0 Sr. F Memphis, Tenn. Head Coach: Tomekia Reed (Third Season) Assistant Coach: Richard Bradley Assistant Coach: Juanita Ward Assistant Coach: LaShonda Cousin

/// ALPHABETICAL ROSTER /// No. Player Ht. Yr. Pos. Hometown 1 Ti’lan Boler 5-11 Fr. G Meridian, Miss. 23 Che’Mya Carouthers 5-8 Fr. G Tupelo, Miss. 12 Jariyah Covington 5’5 Jr. G Starkville, Miss. 32 Jasmine Edwards 6-1 Fr. G Westland, Wisc. 30 Diamond Forrest 6-6 Sr. C Smyrna, Tenn. 5 Walneika Holmes 5-7 Sr. G Clarksdale, Miss. 22 La’Genesis Johnson 6-2 Fr. F Weir, Miss. 35 Cherelle Jones 6-0 Sr. F Memphis, Tenn. 10 Keshuana Luckett 5-6 So. PG Jackson, Miss. 3 D’Asia Mitchell 5-6 Sr. G Natchez, Miss. 13 Elexis Peyton 5-10 Sr. G Jackson, Miss. 24 Dayzsha Rogan 5-4 Sr. G Ripley, Miss. 20 J’Niya Tallie 5-4 Sr. PG Ashland, Miss. 4 Ameshya Williams 6-4 Jr. C Gulfport, Miss. 2 Anteionette Womack 6-0 Sr. C Jackson, Miss.

Head Coach: Tomekia Reed (Third Season) Assistant Coach: Richard Bradley Assistant Coach: Juanita Ward Assistant Coach: LaShonda Cousin

JACKSON STATE WOMEN’S BASKETBALL 4 GAME 1 • No. 6 Mississippi State /// RADIO AND TELEVISION ROSTER ///

TI’LAN ANTIONETTE D’ASIA AMESHYA 1 BOLER 2 WOMACK 3 MITCHELL 4 WILLIAMS 5-11 • Freshman 6-0 • Senior 5-6 • Senior 6-4 • Junior Meridian, Miss. Jackson, Miss. Natchez, Miss. Gulfport, Miss.

WALNEIKA KESHUNA JARIYAH ELEXIS J’NIYA 5 HOLMES 10 LUCKETT 12 COVINGTON 13 PEYTON 20 TALLIE 5-7 • Senior 5-6 • Sophomore 5-5 • Junior 5-10 • Senior 5-4 • Senior Clarksdale, Miss. Jackson, Miss. Starkville, Miss. Jackson, Miss. Ashland, Miss.

LA’GENESIS CHE’MYA DAYZSHA DIAMOND JASMINE 22 JOHNSON 23 CAROUTHERS 24 ROGAN 30 FORREST 32 EDWARDS 6-2 • Freshman 5-8 • Freshman 5-4 • Senior 6-6 • Senior 6-1 • Freshman Weir, Miss. Tupelo, Miss. Ripley, Miss. Smyrna, Tenn. Westland, Wisc.

CHERELLE TOMEKIA JUANITA RICHARD LA’SHONDA 35 JONES REED WARD BRADLEY COUSIN 6-0 • Senior Head Women’s Assistant Women’s Assistant Women’s Assistant Women’s Memphis, Tenn. Basketball Coach Basketball Coach Basketball Coach Basketball Coach JACKSON STATE WOMEN’S BASKETBALL 5 GAME 1 • No. 6 Mississippi State Lady Tigers Head Coach Tomekia Reed

Tomekia Reed Career Record: 37-24 (28-8 SWAC) (3rd season)

Tomekia Reed was named Jackson State Head Women’s Basketball Coach in April of 2018. Reed enters her third season at the helm of the Lady Tigers basketball program after capturing a 16-2 SWAC record and the regular season SWAC championship in 2019-20. She was named the 2019-20 SWAC Coach of the Year.

In two seasons, Coach Reed has quickly elevated the Lady Tigers to a 28-8 SWAC record, 22-4 record at home, and a 37-24 overall record. Prior to Coach Reed’s arrival in 2018, the Lady Tigers had posted a 27-29 record overall, 16-21 in the SWAC, and 16-11 home record in two seasons.

The Lady Tigers current roster includes six Dandy Dozens from the state of Mississippi, the most by any University in the state, as well as two First Team All- Conference returners in Ameshya Williams and Dayzsha Rogan.

Reed came to Jackson State following a successful three-year stint as coach of the Hinds Community College women’s basketball team. Hinds CC won a combined 47 games under Reed, including consecutive winning seasons in 2016-17 and 2017-18. Reed led Hinds CC to the NJCAA Region 23 title game in 2017.

A native of Jackson, Miss., Reed was Jackson State’s women’s basketball recruiting coordinator from 2006-2009. While there, she served as the top assistant also worked with post players at JSU and served as the team’s academic liaison. Other responsibilities included strength and conditioning liaison, player development, community service coordinator and summer basketball camp coordinator.

During that time, the Lady Tigers claimed the SWAC regular season championship and made a WNIT appearance in 2006-07. The 2007-08 JSU squad captured the SWAC Tournament championship and made an appearance in the NCAA Tournament.

Reed replaces former coach Surina Dixon, under whom Jackson State compiled an 82-93 record (55-53 SWAC; 1-3 SWAC Tournament) over the past six seasons.

Reed also had assistant coach stops at Southern Miss, Louisiana Tech, Louisiana-Lafayette, and New Orleans, serving as recruiting coordinator at each school during her respective stints. She has assisted in bringing several high-ranking recruiting classes, including the 2014 class at Louisiana Tech, which garnered a national Top 50 ranking and was the second-highest ranked class in Conference USA.

At Southern Miss, Reed also assisted in signing the 42nd-ranked recruiting class in the country (No. 4 among non-AQ programs) in 2010 and the No. 1 ranked recruiting classes in the state of Mississippi in both 2010 and 2011.

Reed began her collegiate playing career at Southern Miss, helping lead the program to a WNIT appearance before transferring to Hinds CC for the 2000-2001 season.

It was at Hinds that Reed led the Mississippi Association of Community and Junior Colleges (MACJC) in rebounds per game and was also second in the conference in scoring. She was chosen as an All-State first teamselection.

Reed transferred to Georgia Southwestern State University after her time at Hinds, where she led the team in scoring (finishing second in the conference) and earned the team’s most valuable player award.

She earned an associate’s degree in sports medicine from Hinds in 2001 and a bachelor’s in exercise science from Georgia Southwestern in 2003.

Reed began her coaching career at South Georgia Technical College, where she served as assistant women’s basketball coach for three seasons. She signed two of Georgia’s top athletes and one of Mississippi’s finest Dandy Dozen players.

JACKSON STATE WOMEN’S BASKETBALL 6