Merced College is located 46 miles north of the mid-point of the state, in the center of the San Joaquin Valley. With a population of 81,743, Merced is small enough for comfort and large enough for convenience. It has an average temperature range of 48-95 degrees, with 12.5 inches of annual rainfall. It is set in the agricultural richness of the Valley but is proximate to some of the most dramatic attractions in the state. The San Francisco Bay Area is two hours’ drive to the northwest; the Pacifi c Ocean beaches of Monterey and Santa Cruz are two hours due west; Los Angeles and Hollywood are four hours south; Lake Tahoe/Reno, four hours northeast, Yosemite, two hours due east. Students at Merced College fi nd a pleasant environment for obtaining a fi rst-rate lower division education. The faculty is dedicated; the administration and staff are student-centric. In athletics, we pride ourselves on balancing intercollegiate completion with successful matriculation of academic purpose. We offer articulate paths to an A.A. degree, to certifi cate completion, and to four-year school and transfer. Through a wide variety of college- level disciplines, we serve equally students with polished academic resumes and those who require remedial course work. The Merced College motto says it all: “Students are our focus, and we are known by their success.” WOMEN’S BASKETBALL ROSTER 2017 - 2018 No. Name Pos. Ht. Year Hometown 1 Tajaheray McMahan Pg 5’2” S Los Angeles 2 Maria Rodriquez G 5’4’ S Firebaugh 3 Trinity Washington Pg 5’2” S Fresno 11 Ayaka Nakashima G 5’4” F Kumamoto Japan 20 Jordan Pierce G 5’8” S Merced 22 Champelle Kelly G 5’4” S Fresno 23 Maya Smith G 5’6” F Utah 32 Briana Moore P 5’10” S Dos Palos 34 Suzuna Shoji G 5’3” F Hitachi Japan 50 Shea Glasglow-WilliamsG 6’0” F Turlock RS Heaven Mazon G 5’9” S Atwater RS Arlene Travis G 5’11” F Fresno Head Coach: Allen Huddleston Assistant Coach: Wayne Smith, Danny Crosby, Jessica Ramirez, Alvin Roberts, Allen Huddleston Jr. Athletic Director: Steve Cassady Trainers: Scott Lemberger, Yasuko Tanabe Sports Information Director: Pat Kelly Athletic Secretary: Nancy Bates Statisticians: Barbara Huddleston Video Staff: LADY BLUE DEVIL COACHING STAFF Allen Huddleston Head Coach Allen is in his twenty-fi fth year as a coach for the women’s basketball team, and twenty-fi rst year as Head Coach. In his 21 years he has an overall record of 401-233 (63.2%), and 168- 60 (73.6%) record in the Central Valley Conference. During this time he has won an average of almost 20 games a year. Allen is very active in recruiting. He does the setup the defensive side of the ball, scouts opponents, and works with the post players. Allen is a graduate of Merced College with an A.A. Degree in Liberal Studies. He received his BA from California State Stanislaus majoring in Kinesiology. He is currently working on his Masters Degree. Fulltime, Allen teaches classes in the Life and Fitness Division at Merced College. Allen lives in Merced with his wife Barbara. Their son Allen played basketball and graduated from Fresno State. He has joined Allen on the coaching staff this year. LADY BLUE DEVIL COACHING STAFF Wayne Smith Assistant Coach Wayne is beginning his sixth season coaching the Lady Blue Devils. The Memphis, Tennessee native is a graduate of Merced College in Physical Education along with more than eighteen years of coaching experience with all ages and school levels. Wayne has held coaching positions with McSwain Middle School and is presently the coach of the girl’s basketball program at Le Grand High School. In between Wayne’s coaching duties he is presently pursuing his bachelor’s degree in Physical Education. Wayne is the proud father of Angela, Ashley, and Benjamin Wayne. Danny Crosby Assistant Coach Dan returns with more than twenty years of coaching experience, two years playing experience at Modesto High School, and having played on a traveling basketball team while in the U.S. Army. Dan will be concentrating on the shooting guards for the Lady Blue Devils. Starting in 1994 Dan coached at LeGrand Jr. High School for two years. Dan was a coach at LeGrand High School from 1996 to 2010. He had been the freshmen boys head coach for two years, J.V. Boys one year, and Varsity Head Coach for two years. Dan coached the Varsity Girls basketball team, before accepting the position as girls varsity headcoach at Los Banos High School two years ago. Three of his LeGrand girls teams won league championships. While being an assistant coach at Merced College, Dan is the postmaster of LeGrand, California. Dan is married to Esidalia, and they have two children Adrian 21, and Monique 17. Jessica Ramirez Assistant Coach Jessica Ramirez is a former Blue Devil and honorable mention All-Central Valley Conference selection. After her two years at Merced College, she transferred to the division I school, the University of New Orelans. A native of Le Grand, Jessica returns this year to the coaching staff working with the posts. When she is not coaching she works as a care giver in the area. She currently lives in the Merced metroplex area. LADY BLUE DEVIL COACHING STAFF Alvin Roberts Assistant Coach Alvin Roberts hometown Leggett, North Carolina population 65, attended nearby North Edgecombe High. Upon graduation in 1975, he sat out a year while his twin brother Calvin played basketball for Merced College under Hall of Fame head coach Don Reid. Calvin convinced Alvin to join him in Merced for the 1977-78 school year. In Calvin’s second season, Alvin’s fi rst, the Blue Devils won the Division (( state basketball championship. The following year, 1978-79, Alvin played on a second consecutive state championship Merced College team. Alvin transferred to Fresno Pacifi c University after the 1980 season, where he studied and played two more intercollegiate years. Along the way, he married Feli- cia Butler, and they had a daughter, Nina. Alvin worked as an area basketball offi - cial for nearly a decade. His marriage dissolved, and he returned to North Carolina. Eventually he joined Calvin in the Middle East , playing international professional basketball for a team in Israel. Years passed. Alvin never lost his desire for participation in basketball. In April, 2017, he returned to the Valley and reconnected with Merced College. “I always stayed in touch with one of my friends from those championship Blue Devil teams,” he says. “Allen Spencer Huddleston, Allen asked me to help with the ladies, and here I am.” Allen Huddleston JR Assistant Coach Allen Jr. was born and raised in Merced. The son of head coach Allen Huddleston, he is a graduate of Merced High School, and Fresno State University with a bachelors degree in journalism. In high school Allen played basketball and is still the all-time leading scorer at Merced High. Playing at the division I level, Allen scored over 1,000 points for his career. .Allen begins his fi rst yeat of coaching basketball and is responsible for working with the players on individiual skills. Tajaheray McMahan 5-1 PG 1 Full Name: Tajaheray Dionque McMahan Birthdate: March 3, 1997 Parents: Jessica Wakes, and Stevie Wakes Hometown: Los Angeles, CA High School: Leuzinger/Bo Corona Place of Birth: Inglewood, CA Nickname: T-Ducky, TaJa MaRey Year: Sophomore Major: Social and Behavioral Sciences Hobbies: Singing, basketball, and cooking Favorite Quote: “Hard work beats talent when talent doesn’t work hard.” College/University Goals: Undecided where or what I want to do. High School or College Honors and Awards: High School - 2014 Dean’s List, Team MVP, Best Defensive Player, Best Teammate, Best All-Around Player, and Most Outgoing Maria Rodriguez 5-4 G 2 Full Name: Maria Cristina Rodriguez Espinoza Birthdate: February 29, 1996 Parents: Maria Espinoza Hometown: Firebaugh, CA High School: Firebaugh/Betty Camona Place of Birth: Colima, Mexico Nickname: Mrod, and McBuckets Year: Sophomore Major: Psychology Hobbies: Singing, dancing, eating, and basketball Favorite Quote: “You, me, or nobody is gonna hit as hard as life. But it ain’t about how hard ya hit it’s about how hard you can get hit and keep moving forward.” Rocky Balboa. College/University Goals: Graduate with an A.A. and move on to a four-year school. High School or College Honors and Awards: High School - 2014 Dean’s List Ayaka Nakashima 5-6 G 11 Full Name: Ayaka Nakashima Birthdate: September 27, 1997 Parents: Miwa Nakashima Hometown: Kumamoto, Japan High School: Ozu/Yoshihisa Uemara Place of Birth: Gyokato, Japan Nickname: Gyotato Year: Freshman Major: Liberal Studies Hobbies: Eating and sleeping Favorite Quote: “Life isn’t about waiting for the storm to pass. It’s about learning to dance in the rain.” College/University Goals: Graduate. High School Or College Honors And Awards: H.S. - Champions of Prefecture Trinity Washington 5-2 PG 3 Full Name: Trinity Tiona Lovette Washington Birthdate: November 1, 1992 Parents: Casandra Kinchen & Dexter Washington Hometown: Fresno, CA High School: Roosevelt/Mark Gradoville Place of Birth: Hanford, CA Nickname: Trin Year: Sophomore Major: Nursing Hobbies: Playing basketball, working out and buying shoes Favorite Quote: “Work hard, play hard.” College/University Goals: Transfer to a school with a good nursing program and get my degree. High School Or College Honors And Awards: H.S. - 2009 Varsity champs, 2010 “MVP”, “Best Defense”, “Hustle Award”; College - “Best Defensive Player Champelle Kelly 5-5 G 22 Full Name: Champelle Denise Kelly Birthdate: June 21, 1997 Parents: Rommendia Reed and Norman Cooper Hometown: Los Angeles, CA High School: Roosevelt/Jerry Taylor Place of Birth: Inglewood, CA Nickname: CK, and Pelle Year: Sophomore Major: Business Hobbies: Dancing and rapping Favorite Quote: “Kleary with a K.