SSU WBB receiving votes in NAIA Women's Basketball Coaches Top 25 Poll
Over the past three seasons, DeWayne Burroughs' squad has continued to get better at every turn.
The work that the women's basketball program at Shawnee State has put in has paid off during the 2024-25 campaign -- as the Bears are receiving votes in the latest NAIA Women's Basketball Coaches Top 25 Poll as released by national officials Wednesday morning.
Paws Up!
Shawnee State, who received six votes in Wednesday's poll release, is 42nd overall in terms of the amount of points earned by national voters. By receiving those six tallies, the Bears earned their first national mention in the NAIA Women's Basketball Coaches Top 25 Poll in nearly three years and nine months, as the Feb. 24, 2021 version of the poll was the last time that the Shawnee State women's basketball program was ranked.
Defensive excellence
Off to a 7-1 start -- which is also the Bears' best start since going 9-0 to begin the 2020-21 season -- the unit, led by Burroughs and assistant coaches Marnae Holland, Keisha Anderson and Chianne Gloster, has been terrific defensively through its first eight contests to start the year.
On the defensive end of the floor, Shawnee State has continued to pound down the opposition as the Bears are one of just 11 programs in the NAIA to allow under 55 points per contest. Easily the River States Conference's No. 1-ranked defensive unit as a result, the Bears are third nationally in defensive points per game (51.6), 22nd in defensive field goal percentage (34.7) and 40th in rebounding margin (plus-7.6).
The Bears, who hold a plus-19.7 scoring margin over its opposition this season, have won by eight or more points in each of its seven wins. Shawnee State's lone setback was a 12-point defeat to No. 7 Cumberlands, a game where Shawnee State rallied from a 16-point deficit after the opening quarter to come within a possession with six minutes left in the nonconference road test before dropping a 78-66 decision.
Team effort
While SSU has been led by its two double-figure scorers, 5-10 junior guard/forward Markayla Holland (17.7 points, 5.8 rebounds, 2.5 assists, 2.5 steals, 2.2 blocks, 44.2 percent shooting) and 6-0 senior forward Cianna Gloster (13.5 points, 9.6 rebounds, 2.5 assists, 2.5 steals, 49.4 percent shooting), the Bears are deep in multiple facets as Sanaya Gregory and Lexi Deaver have been steady ballhandlers up top while Jariah Steele has been a two-way threat and is a physical slasher.
Emily Maynard and Jonilyah Chambers, who each started against West Virginia Tech and Cedarville respectively, have offered shooting and explosiveness to the lineup, while Lauren Hawthorne's versatility in multiple areas has provided Shawnee State with a needed spark at various times. Miyoshi Ellis has served as an excellent change of pace guard off of the bench and Jada Johnson's physicality on the low block has been a strong compliment to Hawthorne's game with the two making an impact together off of the bench. Amiya Latham's shooting range is one to be respected, while Addison Edmondson, Molly Howard, Bella Thornburg, Jaden Tucker and Laken Williams round out a deep and talented roster as each of those five individuals have four years of playing eligibility still left.
Additional
Shawnee State has two major tests in front of it this weekend as the Bears face Lindsey Wilson (Ky.) at 8 p.m. ET/7 p.m. CT Friday, Dec. 13, then No. 3 Campbellsville (Ky.) at 1 p.m. ET/12 p.m. CT at the upcoming US Bank Classic, which will be held at Biggers Sports Center in Columbia, Ky.
