2025-26 Women’s Basketball Season Preview

Women's Basketball | 11/5/2025 9:00:00 AM

ITTA BENA, Miss. – The Mississippi Valley State University women's basketball program is coming into the new year with higher expectations than they have had in recent memory after winning its most SWAC games (6) in nearly a decade (2016-17) and notching their first SWAC Tournament victory since 2012-13 a season ago.

Below is a list of returners, losses, and an inside look regarding newcomers / freshmen.

Know Before You Go:

Time & Date
- Thursday, November 6 (12 p.m.)

Watch
- https://www.espn.com/watch/player/_/id/5dc2e450-e312-499e-9215-f7a1b2082e54 (ESPN+)

Listen
- https://troytrojans.com/showcase?Live=5686

Live Stats
- https://stats.statbroadcast.com/broadcast/?id=620560

Tickets
- https://troytrojans.evenue.net/list/BKB

Records
- Mississippi Valley (8-23, 6-12 SWAC)
  - 2024-25 Record
- Troy (1-0, 0-0 Sun Belt)

Location
- Troy, Alabama – Trojan Arena

Series History (Since 2004)
- Trojans Lead 2-1 (33.3%)

Last Meeting
- December 1, 2024
  - Itta Bena, Mississippi (R.W. Harrison HPER Complex)
    - Mississippi Valley – 66
    - Troy – 65

Winning Streak (Since 2004)
- Devilettes (W1) / Trojans' Last Win: November 24, 2018 (75-54)

Returners:

#3 Kylah McCullers (Guard / Junior / Madison, Wisconsin)

2024-25 / Career Stats
- Games – 24
- Points (Per Game) – 85 (3.5)
- Minutes (Per Game) – 241 (10.0)
- Field Goals (Per Game) – 27 (1.1)
- Field Goal Percentage – 28.7%
- Three-Pointers (Per Game) – 16 (0.7)
- Three-Point Percentage – 31.4%
- Free Throws Made (Per Game) – 15 (0.6)
- Free Throw Percentage – 68.2%
- Rebounds (Per Game) – 35 (1.5)
  - Offensive (Per Game) – 10 (0.4)
  - Defensive (Per Game) – 25 (1.0)
- Assists (Per Game) – 10 (0.4)
- Steals (Per Game) – 10 (0.4)
- Blocks (Per Game) – 1 (0.1)

#5 Jaeda Murphy (Guard / Sophomore / Chicago, Illinois)

2024-25 / Career Stats
- Games – 31
- Starts – 23
- Points (Per Game) – 196 (6.3)
- Minutes (Per Game) – 913 (29.5)
- Field Goals (Per Game) – 65 (2.1)
- Field Goal Percentage – 38.5%
- Three-Pointers (Per Game) – 15 (0.5)
- Three-Point Percentage – 25.4%
- Free Throws Made (Per Game) – 51 (1.6)
- Free Throw Percentage – 68%
- Rebounds (Per Game) – 101 (3.3)
  - Offensive (Per Game) – 24 (0.8)
  - Defensive (Per Game) – 77 (2.5)
- Assists (Per Game) – 77 (2.5)
- Steals (Per Game) – 44 (1.4)
- Blocks (Per Game) – 1 (0.1)

#7 Janiya Jones (Guard / Senior / Olive Branch, Mississippi)

2024-25 / Career Stats
- Games – 29
- Points (Per Game) – 115 (4.0)
- Minutes (Per Game) – 434 (15.0)
- Field Goals (Per Game) – 42 (1.4)
- Field Goal Percentage – 38.9%
- Three-Pointers (Per Game) – 27 (0.9)
- Three-Point Percentage – 34.2%
- Free Throws Made (Per Game) – 4 (0.1)
- Free Throw Percentage – 100%
- Rebounds (Per Game) – 52 (1.8)
  - Offensive (Per Game) – 13 (0.4)
  - Defensive (Per Game) – 39 (1.3)
- Assists (Per Game) – 24 (0.8)
- Steals (Per Game) – 11 (0.4)
- Blocks (Per Game) – 3 (0.1)

#10 Caiside Snapp (Guard / Junior / Joliet, Illinois)

2024-25 / Career Stats
- Games – 8
- Points (Per Game) – 3 (0.4)
- Minutes (Per Game) – 14 (1.8)
- Field Goals (Per Game) – 1 (0.1)
- Field Goal Percentage – 20%
- Free Throws Made (Per Game) – 1 (0.1)
- Free Throw Percentage – 50%

#11 Addison Howell (Guard / Junior / Olive Branch, Mississippi)

2024-25 / Career Stats
- N/A

#20 Ja'la Douglas (Forward / Sophomore / Louisville, Kentucky)

2024-25 Stats
- Games – 10
- Starts – 7
- Points (Per Game) – 21 (2.1)
- Minutes (Per Game) – 154 (15.4)
- Field Goals (Per Game) – 9 (0.9)
- Field Goal Percentage – 39.1%
- Free Throws Made (Per Game) – 3 (0.3)
- Free Throw Percentage – 75%
- Rebounds (Per Game) – 24 (2.4)
  - Offensive (Per Game) – 6 (0.6)
  - Defensive (Per Game) – 18 (1.8)
- Assists (Per Game) – 8 (0.8)
- Steals (Per Game) – 7 (0.7)
- Blocks (Per Game) – 11 (1.1)
Career Stats
- Games – 33
- Starts – 20
- Points (Per Game) – 123 (3.7)
- Minutes (Per Game) – 513 (15.5)
- Field Goals (Per Game) – 48 (1.5)
- Field Goal Percentage – 42.1%
- Free Throws Made (Per Game) – 27 (0.8)
- Free Throw Percentage – 61.4%
- Rebounds (Per Game) – 84 (2.5)
  - Offensive (Per Game) – 31 (0.9)
  - Defensive (Per Game) – 53 (1.6)
- Assists (Per Game) – 15 (0.5)
- Steals (Per Game) – 21 (0.6)
- Blocks (Per Game) – 16 (0.5)

#30 Keanna Coburn (Center / Sophomore / Olive Branch, Mississippi)

2024-25 / Career Stats
- Games – 7
- Starts – 1
- Points (Per Game) – 6 (0.9)
- Minutes (Per Game) – 39 (5.6)
- Field Goals (Per Game) – 2 (0.3)
- Field Goal Percentage – 28.6%
- Free Throws Made (Per Game) – 2 (0.3)
- Free Throw Percentage – 100%
- Rebounds (Per Game) – 7 (1.0)
  - Offensive (Per Game) – 2 (0.3)
  - Defensive (Per Game) – 5 (0.7)
- Assists (Per Game) – 1 (0.1)
- Blocks (Per Game) – 2 (0.3)

Losses:

Aaliyah Duranham (Forward / Sophomore)

2024-25 Stats
- Games – 29
- Starts – 4
- Points (Per Game) – 94 (3.2)
- Minutes (Per Game) – 305 (10.5)
- Field Goals (Per Game) – 42 (1.4)
- Field Goal Percentage – 42.9%
- Free Throws Made (Per Game) – 10 (0.3)
- Free Throw Percentage – 50%
- Rebounds (Per Game) – 79 (2.7)
  - Offensive (Per Game) – 49 (1.7)
  - Defensive (Per Game) – 30 (1.0)
- Assists (Per Game) – 7 (0.2)
- Steals (Per Game) – 26 (0.9)
- Blocks (Per Game) – 2 (0.1)
Career Stats
- Games – 52
- Starts – 13
- Points (Per Game) – 195 (3.8)
- Minutes (Per Game) – 643 (12.4)
- Field Goals (Per Game) – 82 (1.6)
- Field Goal Percentage – 40.4%
- Free Throws Made (Per Game) – 31 (0.6)
- Free Throw Percentage – 58.5%
- Rebounds (Per Game) – 149 (2.9)
  - Offensive (Per Game) – 66 (1.3)
  - Defensive (Per Game) – 83 (1.6)
- Assists (Per Game) – 17 (0.3)
- Steals (Per Game) – 41 (0.8)
- Blocks (Per Game) – 5 (0.1)

Serenity Echols (Guard / Junior)

2024-25 / Career Stats
- Games – 31
- Starts – 14
- Points (Per Game) – 85 (2.7)
- Minutes (Per Game) – 471 (15.2)
- Field Goals (Per Game) – 33 (1.1)
- Field Goal Percentage – 29.5%
- Three-Pointers (Per Game) – 8 (0.3)
- Three-Point Percentage – 15.4%
- Free Throws Made (Per Game) – 11 (0.4)
- Free Throw Percentage – 68.8%
- Rebounds (Per Game) – 79 (2.5)
  - Offensive (Per Game) – 35 (1.1)
  - Defensive (Per Game) – 44 (1.4)
- Assists (Per Game) – 6 (0.2)
- Steals (Per Game) – 8 (0.3)
- Blocks (Per Game) – 2 (0.1)

Mia Hardin (Center / Senior)

2024-25 / Career Stats
- Games – 26
- Starts – 4
- Points (Per Game) – 46 (1.8)
- Minutes (Per Game) – 229 (8.8)
- Field Goals (Per Game) – 16 (0.6)
- Field Goal Percentage – 27.6%
- Free Throws Made (Per Game) – 14 (0.5)
- Free Throw Percentage – 60.9%
- Rebounds (Per Game) – 58 (2.2)
  - Offensive (Per Game) – 19 (0.7)
  - Defensive (Per Game) – 39 (1.5)
- Assists (Per Game) – 4 (0.2)
- Steals (Per Game) – 4 (0.2)
- Blocks (Per Game) – 8 (0.3)

Kearra Jones (Forward / Freshman)

2024-25 / Career Stats
- Games – 31
- Starts – 21
- Points (Per Game) – 231 (7.5)
- Minutes (Per Game) – 640 (20.6)
- Field Goals (Per Game) – 83 (2.7)
- Field Goal Percentage – 40.9%
- Three-Pointers (Per Game) – 4 (0.1)
- Three-Point Percentage – 18.2%
- Free Throws Made (Per Game) – 61 (2.0)
- Free Throw Percentage – 66.3%
- Rebounds (Per Game) – 137 (4.4)
  - Offensive (Per Game) – 47 (1.5)
  - Defensive (Per Game) – 90 (2.9)
- Assists (Per Game) – 28 (0.9)
- Steals (Per Game) – 26 (0.8)
- Blocks (Per Game) – 14 (0.5)

D'yanna Maxey (Guard / Junior)

2024-25 / Career Stats
- Games – 31
- Starts – 31
- Points (Per Game) – 336 (10.8)
- Minutes (Per Game) – 830 (26.8)
- Field Goals (Per Game) – 113 (3.6)
- Field Goal Percentage – 38.3%
- Three-Pointers (Per Game) – 14 (0.5)
- Three-Point Percentage – 22.6%
- Free Throws Made (Per Game) – 96 (3.1)
- Free Throw Percentage – 73.8%
- Rebounds (Per Game) – 118 (3.8)
  - Offensive (Per Game) – 38 (1.2)
  - Defensive (Per Game) – 80 (2.6)
- Assists (Per Game) – 67 (2.2)
- Steals (Per Game) – 45 (1.5)
- Blocks (Per Game) – 1 (0.1)

Sh'Diamond McKnight (Guard / Senior)

Accolades
- 2024-25
  - Preseason All-SWAC 1st Team
- 2023-24
  - SWAC Impact Player of the Week (February 27)
  - SWAC Co-Impact Player of the Week (January 16)
2024-25 Stats
- Games – 7
- Starts – 5
- Points (Per Game) – 81 (11.6)
- Minutes (Per Game) – 131 (18.7)
- Field Goals (Per Game) – 28 (4.0)
- Field Goal Percentage – 30.4%
- Three-Pointers (Per Game) – 5 (0.7)
- Three-Point Percentage – 15.6%
- Free Throws Made (Per Game) – 20 (2.9)
- Free Throw Percentage – 64.5%
- Rebounds (Per Game) – 20 (2.9)
  - Offensive (Per Game) – 9 (1.3)
  - Defensive (Per Game) – 11 (1.6)
- Assists (Per Game) – 17 (2.4)
- Steals (Per Game) – 24 (3.4)
Career Stats
- Games – 30
- Starts – 27
- Points (Per Game) – 396 (13.2)
- Minutes (Per Game) – 756 (25.2)
- Field Goals (Per Game) – 135 (4.5)
- Field Goal Percentage – 32.2%
- Three-Pointers (Per Game) – 25 (0.8)
- Three-Point Percentage – 19.5%
- Free Throws Made (Per Game) – 101 (3.4)
- Free Throw Percentage – 66.4%
- Rebounds (Per Game) – 113 (3.8)
  - Offensive (Per Game) – 42 (1.4)
  - Defensive (Per Game) – 71 (2.4)
- Assists (Per Game) – 89 (3.0)
- Steals (Per Game) – 95 (3.2)
- Blocks (Per Game) – 6 (0.2)

Teniya Morant (Guard / Freshman)

2024-25 / Career Stats
- Games – 3
- Minutes (Per Game) – 12 (4.0)

Mikaela Parris (Forward / Junior)

2024-25 / Career Stats
- Games – 30
- Starts – 11
- Points (Per Game) – 104 (3.5)
- Minutes (Per Game) – 513 (17.1)
- Field Goals (Per Game) – 40 (1.3)
- Field Goal Percentage – 30.1%
- Three-Pointers (Per Game) – 13 (0.4)
- Three-Point Percentage – 25%
- Free Throws Made (Per Game) – 11 (0.4)
- Free Throw Percentage – 50%
- Rebounds (Per Game) – 50 (1.7)
  - Offensive (Per Game) – 25 (0.8)
  - Defensive (Per Game) – 25 (0.8)
- Assists (Per Game) – 16 (0.5)
- Steals (Per Game) – 10 (0.3)
- Blocks (Per Game) – 3 (0.1)

Clemisha Prackett (Center / Sophomore)

2024-25 / Career Stats
- Games – 16
- Starts – 13
- Points (Per Game) – 143 (8.9)
- Minutes (Per Game) – 398 (24.9)
- Field Goals (Per Game) – 54 (3.4)
- Field Goal Percentage – 44.3%
- Free Throws Made (Per Game) – 35 (2.2)
- Free Throw Percentage – 68.6%
- Rebounds (Per Game) – 121 (7.6)
  - Offensive (Per Game) – 47 (2.9)
  - Defensive (Per Game) – 74 (4.6)
- Assists (Per Game) – 7 (0.4)
- Steals (Per Game) – 15 (0.9)
- Blocks (Per Game) – 25 (1.6)

Jaylia Reed (Guard / Senior)

Accolades
- 2024-25
  - All-SWAC Tournament Team
2024-25 Stats
- Games – 31
- Starts – 21
- Points (Per Game) – 274 (8.8)
- Minutes (Per Game) – 818 (26.4)
- Field Goals (Per Game) – 90 (2.9)
- Field Goal Percentage – 27.2%
- Three-Pointers (Per Game) – 60 (1.9)
- Three-Point Percentage – 25.8%
- Free Throws Made (Per Game) – 34 (1.1)
- Free Throw Percentage – 68%
- Rebounds (Per Game) – 77 (2.5)
  - Offensive (Per Game) – 29 (0.9)
  - Defensive (Per Game) – 48 (1.5)
- Assists (Per Game) – 54 (1.7)
- Steals (Per Game) – 45 (1.5)
Career Stats
- Games – 54
- Starts – 42
- Points (Per Game) – 495 (9.2)
- Minutes (Per Game) – 1,579 (29.2)
- Field Goals (Per Game) – 163 (3.0)
- Field Goal Percentage – 28.2%
- Three-Pointers (Per Game) – 103 (1.9)
- Three-Point Percentage – 26.4%
- Free Throws Made (Per Game) – 66 (1.2)
- Free Throw Percentage – 68%
- Rebounds (Per Game) – 147 (2.7)
  - Offensive (Per Game) – 52 (1.0)
  - Defensive (Per Game) – 95 (1.8)
- Assists (Per Game) – 98 (1.8)
- Steals (Per Game) – 88 (1.6)

Newcomers / Freshmen:

#0 Taylor Crawford (Guard / Freshman / Douglasville, Georgia)

Previous School
- Hiram HS
Previous School Stats
- Career
  - Games – 78
  - Points (Per Game) – 949 (12.2)
  - Field Goals (Per Game) – 355 (4.6)
  - Field Goal Percentage – 40.1%
  - Three-Pointers (Per Game) – 34 (0.4)
  - Three-Point Percentage – 22.8%
  - Free Throws Made (Per Game) – 207 (2.7)
  - Free Throw Percentage – 68.3%
  - Rebounds (Per Game) – 488 (6.3)
    - Offensive (Per Game) – 202 (2.6)
    - Defensive (Per Game) – 286 (3.7)
  - Assists (Per Game) – 245 (3.1)
  - Steals (Per Game) – 225 (2.9)
  - Blocks (Per Game) – 17 (0.2)

#1 Poetrie Dace (Guard / Freshman / Riverdale, Georgia)

Previous School
- Morrow HS
Previous School Stats
- N/A

#2 Sydnei Marshall (Guard / Junior / Memphis, Tennessee)

Previous School
- Three Rivers CC
Previous School Stats
- Career
  - Games – 56
  - Points (Per Game) – 274 (4.9)
  - Minutes (Per Game) – 659 (11.8)
  - Field Goals (Per Game) – 93 (1.7)
  - Field Goal Percentage – 45.6%
  - Three-Pointers (Per Game) – 16 (0.3)
  - Three-Point Percentage – 26.2%
  - Free Throws Made (Per Game) – 72 (1.3)
  - Free Throw Percentage – 69.9%
  - Rebounds (Per Game) – 100 (1.8)
    - Offensive (Per Game) – 33 (0.6)
    - Defensive (Per Game) – 67 (1.2)
  - Assists (Per Game) – 37 (0.7)
  - Steals (Per Game) – 43 (0.8)
  - Blocks (Per Game) – 19 (0.3)

#4 Desiree Smith (Forward / Senior / Fayetteville, North Carolina)

Previous School
- Johnson C. Smith
Previous School Stats
- Career
  - Games – 24
  - Starts – 23
  - Points (Per Game) – 200 (8.3)
  - Minutes (Per Game) – 545 (22.7)
  - Field Goals (Per Game) – 62 (2.6)
  - Field Goal Percentage – 36.3%
  - Free Throws Made (Per Game) – 76 (3.2)
  - Free Throw Percentage – 51.4%
  - Rebounds (Per Game) – 143 (6.0)
    - Offensive (Per Game) – 59 (2.5)
    - Defensive (Per Game) – 84 (3.5)
  - Assists (Per Game) – 16 (0.7)
  - Steals (Per Game) – 37 (1.5)
  - Blocks (Per Game) – 15 (0.6)

#12 Nairobi Lewis (Center / Graduate Student / Port of Spain, Trinidad & Tobago)

Previous School
- LeMoyne-Owen
Previous School Stats
- Career
  - Games – 74
  - Starts – 20
  - Points (Per Game) – 261 (3.5)
  - Minutes (Per Game) – 1,018 (13.8)
  - Field Goals (Per Game) – 106 (1.4)
  - Field Goal Percentage – 47.1%
  - Free Throws Made (Per Game) – 49 (0.7)
  - Free Throw Percentage – 72.1%
  - Rebounds (Per Game) – 308 (4.2)
    - Offensive (Per Game) – 107 (1.4)
    - Defensive (Per Game) – 201 (2.7)
  - Assists (Per Game) – 26 (0.4)
  - Steals (Per Game) – 17 (0.2)
  - Blocks (Per Game) – 82 (1.1)

#15 Aliyah Taylor (Guard / Junior / Marion, Arkansas)

Previous School
- Northwest Mississippi CC
Previous School Stats
- Career
  - Games – 21
  - Starts – 17
  - Points (Per Game) – 177 (8.4)
  - Minutes (Per Game) – 517 (24.6)
  - Field Goals (Per Game) – 54 (2.6)
  - Field Goal Percentage – 29.8%
  - Three-Pointers (Per Game) – 33 (1.6)
  - Three-Point Percentage – 26.4%
  - Free Throws Made (Per Game) – 36 (1.7)
  - Free Throw Percentage – 64.3%
  - Rebounds (Per Game) – 47 (2.2)
    - Offensive (Per Game) – 12 (0.6)
    - Defensive (Per Game) – 35 (1.7)
  - Assists (Per Game) – 7 (0.3)
  - Steals (Per Game) – 21 (1.0)
  - Blocks (Per Game) – 5 (0.2)

#21 Ariel Jefferson (Forward / Graduate Student / Clarendon, Arkansas)

Previous School
- Arkansas Baptist
Previous School Stats
- N/A

#25 Sydney Thompson (Guard / Freshman / Lexington Park, Maryland)

Previous School
- St. Mary's Ryken HS
Previous School Stats
- Career
  - Games – 100
  - Points (Per Game) – 961 (9.6)
  - Field Goals (Per Game) – 310 (3.1)
  - Field Goal Percentage – 31.4%
  - Three-Pointers (Per Game) – 114 (1.1)
  - Three-Point Percentage – 24.5%
  - Free Throws Made (Per Game) – 227 (2.3)
  - Free Throw Percentage – 65.4%
  - Rebounds (Per Game) – 439 (4.4)
    - Offensive (Per Game) – 122 (1.2)
    - Defensive (Per Game) – 317 (3.2)
  - Assists (Per Game) – 154 (1.5)
  - Steals (Per Game) – 112 (1.1)
  - Blocks (Per Game) – 23 (0.2)

#44 Jakyrra Sandifer (Center / Junior / Itta Bena, Mississippi)

Previous School
- Mississippi Delta CC
Previous School Stats
- Career
  - Games – 8
  - Starts – 1
  - Points (Per Game) – 2 (0.3)
  - Minutes (Per Game) – 19 (2.4)
  - Field Goals (Per Game) – 1 (0.1)
  - Field Goal Percentage – 50%
  - Rebounds (Per Game) – 7 (0.9)
    - Offensive (Per Game) – 1 (0.1)
    - Defensive (Per Game) – 6 (0.8)

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