LIVINGSTON, Ala. - Before they kick off their 2024-25 season, the University of West Alabama Athletic Department provides an in-depth look at this year's Women's Basketball team.
Head coach Tiffany Morton is set to make her head coaching debut in the 2024-25 season. Before arriving to Livingston and West Alabama this past Summer, Morton played collegiate basketball at UW-Milwaukee and UW-Whitewater before getting into coaching, being an assistant coach at Georgia State, Rice, Mercer, Wagner, LSU, Montevallo, and Wisconsin. Morton's head assistant coach, Kenisha Henry joined the UWA staff in the Summer with Morton after playing collegiate basketball at Delta State and being on staff at Central Arkansas and Abilene Christian.
With a new coaching staff, the Tigers saw some player movement this offseason, but returned their top players in Julia Rodriguez, Shayla Golden, and Kendall Lacoste. Rodriguez enters her second season at West Alabama after previously playing for Kennesaw State. Last season, Rodriguez led the Tigers in scoring with 9.5 points per game while grabbing 3.0 boards per game. Standing at 5'8", the guard is a pure slasher and has become a maestro at drawing fouls as she led the team with 102 free throw attempts, shooting nearly 70 percent from the line.
Golden is primed to have a big season for the Tigers after the senior averaged 7.8 points and 5.1 rebounds per game in 2023-24. The 5'10 forward has a nice touch around the rim and is active on the glass, making her a double-double threat on any given night.
As for Lacoste, she shined and made an immediate impact as a freshman last season, averaging 8.2 points per game. The 5'8" guard will most likely be the Tigers' starting two-guard all season as she is known around the league as one of the best shooters in the GSC.
While Morton brought back Rodriguez, Golden, and Lacoste, she also returned Kaedre Denson, Jordan Parker, Sydney Schwallie, Kiona McCallister, and Janiya Adams who all had their moments last season and will provide depth this year, while Logan McLennan is ready to make an impact after redshirting in 2023-24.
If UWA wants to improve upon their 6-22 record from last season, the newcomers that coach Morton and coach Henry brought in have to produce. Meridian CC transfer Callie Cowan headlines the group of newcomers and has a real shot to be the Tigers' PG1 this year. At Meridian CC, Cowan averaged 10.0 points, 2.2 assists, and 1.6 steals per game over the course of three seasons. Cowan's best season came in 2021-22 where she averaged 15.4 points, 3.0 assists, and 2.0 steals. The guard has the ability to run UWA's offense and also give them a much needed scoring punch after averaging 55 points as a team last season.
Other newcomers such as East Georgia State transfers Jasmyn Strobridge and Tianna Dismuke bring a mix of scoring, defense, and rebounding prowess to the team as Strobridge averaged 11 points and 4.5 rebounds last season while Dismuke averaged 6.0 points and 4.3 rebounds. Strobridge is sidelined with an injury, as of now, and it's unclear when she will be able to suit up for West Alabama.
Calhoun CC transfer Jada Colley is a spark plug that can catch fire at anytime. Much like Lacoste, Colley is a sharpshooter and will most likely be among the league leaders in three-point percentage after shooting 41 percent from deep in her JUCO career.
Coach Morton also secured a Division I transfer this past offseason in Antonia Whorley. Whorley joins the program after playing for Hampton last season. The forward didn't see much action with Pirates in 2023-24 but brings another level of grit and experience to West Alabama's roster.
A new era of UWA basketball is set to begin on November 12 at 5:30 p.m. when the Tigers open up their 2024-25 season with a home contest against Tuskegee. Before they officially kick off their campaign, West Alabama will head to Birmingham on Monday for a 12:00 p.m. Exhibition matchup against UAB.
