OVERLAND PARK, Kan. – The No. 2-ranked Johnson County Community College women's basketball team showed why they were tabbed No. 2 team in the NJCAA Preseason Poll after opening its 2024-25 campaign with a pair of blowout victories at the Highland Classic over the weekend.
In their season opener, the Lady Cavaliers set a program record for the fewest points allowed in a game. The Lady Cavaliers defense suffocated St. Louis Community College, and their offense was on full throttle in a 122-11 drubbing over the Archers.
The 11 points allowed broke the previous mark of 14 set against Fort Scott on November 3, 2012. Additionally, their 111-piont victory is now the second largest margin in program history, just one point behind the 112-point win over Missouri Valley on November 18, 1991.
Johnson County had six players score in double figures and they shot 60.7 percent as a team.
Jamya McPherson, a freshman guard from St. Thomas Aquinas, began her collegiate career with a team-high 23 points. She connected on 9-of-12 shots, including 5-of-6 from 3-point range. She also flirted with a triple-double finishing with nine rebounds and six assists. She also had three steals.
Freshman guard Layla Scott also knocked down five treys and finished with 19 points, three board and three assists. Overall, she was 7-of-14 from the field.
Sophomore forward Yar Manyiel recorded a double-double with 18 points and game-high 11 rebounds. The North Kansas City, Mo., native hit 7-of-10 shots and was a perfect 4-for-4 at the free throw line. Both her 18 points and 11 rebounds are new career highs.
Former Blue Valley Northwest guard Tamia Smith also had a hot hand, knocking down 6-of-7 shots along with a free throw to post 13 points, along with six rebounds, three assists and two steals.
Sophomore forward Aa'Mya Stacker also established new career highs in both points and rebounds finishing with 11 points and six boards. She was 5-of-8 shooting with a free throw.
Sophomore guard Aryanna Grassity, a transfer from Hutchinson Community College, nearly made it seven players in double figures. She posted a solid line of nine points, six rebounds a team-high four steals and three assists.
On Saturday afternoon the Lady Cavaliers improved to 2-0 with a 41-point win over Central Community College, 69-28.
Manyiel posted her second straight double-double with 10 points and 10 rebounds. She hit 5-of-10 shots and was 12-of-20 on the weekend for 60 percent accuracy.
Scott led the way with 14 points, making four 3-point baskets and two free throws. She also led the team with six assists and five steals and was a rebound shy of tying for the team high.
Also finishing in double figures were freshman guard Kara Strikliln and Stacker. Striklin also knocked down four 3-point baskets to finish with 12 points, and Stacker matched her point total from a day earlier with 11, hitting all three field goal attempts and all five free throws.
Other key efforts were posted by sophomore guard Taliyah Scott (7 points, 8 rebounds, 5 assists), McPherson (6 points, 6 rebounds) and Smith (5 points, 4 rebounds.)
The Lady Cavaliers return to the hard wood Tuesday, November 5 for their home opener against Bethany College JV. Opening tip is scheduled for 5:30 p.m.