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Catamounts vs. ETSU

Women's Basketball Denise Gideon, Director of Media Relations

Catamounts Host Bluefield State to Open 2022-23 Season

Previewing the upcoming year

With Western Carolina women's basketball hosting Bluefield State at 7 p.m. Monday on Ingles Court in the Ramsey Center, in its home opener, here is a preview for the upcoming season.
 
Head Coach Kiley Hill enters his fourth season at the helm of the Western Carolina women's basketball program looking to guide the 2022-23 edition of the program to new heights.
 
"I'm a firm believer that things happen for us rather than to us, said Hill. "We went through some major trials as a program a season ago that have helped sharpen our focus, deepen our resolve, and develop our resiliency as  individuals and as a program for the 22-23 season and future."
 
Hill helped lead the Catamounts to the most wins since the 2016-17 season to close out the 2021-22 campaign. For the third-straight year, Hill helped guide players to postseason honors. Catamount junior Joi Reid earned a spot on the 2022 Southern Conference All-Defensive Team - a first in program history.
 
Along with seven newcomers for the upcoming season, the Catamounts have two new faces on the coaching side with Assistant Coach Eileen Van Horn and Director of Basketball Operations Jordan Worrell.
 
In addition to the seven newcomers, the Catamounts also have seven returners for the upcoming season. A highlight from the upperclassman is the return of graduate student Kyla Allison who missed the 2021-22 season due to injury.
 
"Our returners and new upperclassmen have shown an amazing ability to value time, words, and opportunity while our allowing our freshmen the chance to get their feet on solid ground," Hill admitted. "This has and will allow us to grow with the massive potential this group is blessed to solidify and enhance."  
 
Allison, a transfer form Middle Tennessee, was an instant impact player in her junior campaign in 2020-21. She led the team averaging 10.7 points per game and paced the team scoring 256 points on the season and dished out season-best 78 assists. In 2020-21, Allison scored in double figures 12 times and recorded the first double-double of her career, 12 points and 11 rebounds, in the win over ETSU.
 
Reid found her footing on the defensive side in 2021-22. Her spot on the 2022 Southern Conference All-Defensive Team was due in part to her team-leading 15 blocks and 4.7 rebounds per game.
 
The Catamounts' top returning scorer is junior Zanoria Cruz. The Orlando, Fla. native averaged 8.7 points per game and connected on 23 three pointers.
 
Long range shooter Bailey Trumm also returns to the Catamount lineup for her sophomore season. She led the team with 28 three-pointers in 2021-22 and this season will be joined by her sister and equally prolific shooter Reagan. As a senior at Powell High School, in Powell, Tenn., last season, Reagan broke the TSSAA all-time single season free throw percentage record (94.5 percent, 120-127).
 
Other returning players include Jacey Justice (sophomore), Audrey Meyers (junior) and senior Endia Holliday.
 
For the upcoming season, Hill added a trio of transfers to bring some seasoned depth to the lineup.
 
Mya Love comes to Catamount Country from Arkansas State. In three seasons of play for the Red Wolves she averaged 4.23 points, 2.4 rebounds, shot 38.7 percent from the field and scored a total of 313 points.
 
The Catamounts second transfer is Ewa Kielar from South Plains College in Levelland, Texas. She made the World Exposure Report preseason NJCAA D1 Women's Basketball Watch List and compiled an impressive 24-5 record in conference play. She helped the team win back-to-back Region V Tournament Championships at South Plains.
 
Shayane Poirot-Allard rounds out the transfers for the Catamounts. The Guard, from Cavalaire-Sur-Mer, France joins the team after spending a season at Western Nebraska Community College. In her lone season at Western Nebraska, she played in 32 games and started three. She shot 30 percent from the field and averaged five points per game and was a member of the France International team during the 2019-20 and 2020-21 seasons.
 
Other freshman newcomers for the Catamounts, besides Reagan Trumm, include Tamori Plantin (forward), Kehinde Obasuyi (guard) and Erin Stack (forward).
 
"As a team, we have a diverse group of talent that complement each other's abilities along with unquestionable work ethic," Hill said. "We were able to build some quality depth in key positions, and this has created a greater anticipation about the journey ahead and the vision we have been building toward to take another leap forward."
 
 
 
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