Women's Basketball Season Comes to an End

Women's Basketball Season Comes to an End

ARNOLD, MD – Anne Arundel Community College's women's basketball team has concluded their 2016-17 season. Their latest, and last contest was a loss, 79-35, to NJCAA DII Region 20 Cecil College.

The women's team finished at 6-16 for the season and 3-10 in the Maryland Junior College Athletic Conference.

The Riverhawks faced some tough opponents this season playing against defending NJCAA DIII national champions Roxbury Community College, nationally ranked DI Harford Community College, Region 3 powerhouse Onondaga Community College, as well as the rest of the already competitive teams within the Maryland Junior College Athletic Conference.

"I would say that with the trials and tribulations of the season, along with the strength of our schedule (in and out of the conference) the program is heading to a different level," stated Head Coach Lonnie Makell. "We went from having three or four interested players at the beginning of October, to finishing the season with nine young ladies."

Makell adds that six of those players are freshman who plan on returning for next year. "That will allows us to utilize our offseason strength and conditioning to bond and improve; coming in better condition for next October."

The three student-athletes who will not be returning next year are sophomores Alexxis Evans, Megan Young, and Jasmine Wallace.

Alexxis Evans started her basketball career at AACC in the 2014-15 season, and finishes her basketball career with this 2016-17 season. For the two seasons, Evans started in 42 out of the 43 games she participated in, averaging 11.3 points per game. This season, Evans recorded 5 double-doubles and scored a season high 27 points in a, 67-53, win over Howard Community College on December 5^th.

Megan Young participated in the 2015-16 and 2016-17 seasons for women's basketball. Young started in 24 out of the 36 games she played in, stepping up into her role this year starting in 20 out of 22 games. Megan averaged 5.2 points per games this season, 4.5 ppg for her career. An eleven points against Chesapeake College marked Young's season high.

Along with Young, Jasmine Wallace was a two-year member of the 2015-16 and 16-17 seasons, starting in 36 of the 39 games she played in. Wallace averaged 10.2 points per game for her career, 11.8 ppg this season. Also this season, Wallace recorded 5 double-doubles and scored a season high 21 points in the, 63-56, win over Frederick Community College. Jasmine is also currently ranked 5^th in conference for steals averaging 3.7 steals per game.

Head Coach Makell also credits his players for their outstanding performance in the classroom, posting a team GPA of 2.88 (Fall); the highest it has been since he has coached here.

"As the season transitioned into the new semester, we didn't lose any players due to academics – proving we are not only recruiting basketball players but student-athletes with the goal of graduating from AACC or continuing their education at a four year institution."

Five players – Cailin Jones, Megan Young, Michaela Cousins, Alexxis Evans, and Alesha Moses each received extinguished academic recognition when they earned spots among the Fall 2016 Athletic Director Student-Athlete Honor Roll finishing with a 3.00 or better grade point average.

Freshman Alesha Moses debuted her basketball career at AACC this season in standout fashion – starting in all 22 games. Moses averaged 12.1 points per game with a season high 23 points in the win, 68-44, over the Community College of Allegheny County-Allegheny. Alesha also posted an impressive 7 double-doubles this season.

Coach Makell concludes his thoughts with, "Our theme this year was 'Finish What We Start' – and we did that in my eyes."