Southern women's basketball continues trend of collective over individual

Southern guard Aniya Gourdine drives to the basket as FAMU guard Aina Subirats defends last season at the F.G.

Clark Activity Center.

Gourdine is one of the few Jaguars who are returning from last season's 15-14 squad.

STAFF PHOTO BY HILARY SCHEINUK Southern guard Aniya Gourdine (1) drives the ball around FAMU forward Sydney Hendrix (11), Monday, March 4, 2024, at the F.G.

Clark Activity Center on the campus of Southern University in Baton Rouge, La.

STAFF PHOTO BY HILARY SCHEINUK Facebook Twitter WhatsApp SMS Email Print Copy article link Save A quick look at the preseason Southwestern Athletic Conference preseason women's basketball poll coupled with its all-conference player selections offers a perfect illustration of Southern women's coach Carlos Funchess' philosophy.

The team is more important than an individual.

It is an approach that has utilized a 10-player or more rotation with a heavy emphasis on defense in recent seasons.

Although there have been team honors, it hasn't always translated into individual recognition.

A case in point was last month's SWAC media day in Atlanta where the conference's preseason predictions were revealed.

While Southern was picked to finish second overall in a poll of the league's head coaches and sports information directors, the Jaguars placed no one on the first- or second-team all-conference squads.

Even so, Southern is expected to improve on last year's third-place finish, when the Jaguars were 13-5 in league play behind Jackson State and Grambling.

Overall, Southern went 15-14 after a quarterfinal loss in the SWAC Tournament.

"I feel good about our roster," Funchess said.

"We've got nine new players.

We'll have to build with what we have, but I think we can keep it going." The Jaguars must replace eight players, including three graduated seniors who had been with the program the previous five years.

That trio Genovea Johnson, Chloe Fleming and Raven White had been roster mainstays since the COVID-shortened season of 2020.

During that time, Southern's regular-season SWAC finishes were one second, a trio of thirds and a fourth.

There also was a memorable run to the SWAC Tournament title in 2023, but it will take contributions from new faces if Southern is to continue that kind of success.

The newcomers are six transfers and three freshmen.

Four of the transfers come from SWAC schools, one comes from UL-Monroe and the other is a junior-college transfer.

"With the returnees and the transfers along with the freshmen, I think we're going to be solid.

We're going to be able to go 11 or 12 deep again," Funchess said.

Notable among the newcomers is Taniyah Lawson, a three-year starter at guard for Texas Southern.

Lawson averaged a team-best 10.9 points for Texas Southern and was third in the SWAC on free throws at 83.2%.

Another addition is point guard DaKiyah Sanders, who led Alabama State in minutes played.

She handed out a team-high 92 assists while averaging 4.0 points and 3.5 rebounds.

Of the returning players, seniors Aleighyah Fontenot and Aniya Gourdine are the top scorers.

Still remembered for her game-winning 3-pointer in the 2023 SWAC semifinals, Fontenot scored 8.5 points and made a team-high 55 3-pointers last season.

Gourdine added 7.5 points, 3.2 rebounds and shot 40% from 3-point range.

"Aniya can score at all three levels," Funchess said.

"She can shoot the 3, she can give you the midrange, and she can get to the basket.

She can also pass with the best of them, so she's a triple-double threat every night." Another scoring threat is former Liberty High star Diamond Hunter, who returns for her senior year after sitting out last season.

Hunter contributed 5.2 points and 3.4 rebounds in 2023.

On the inside, Southern will count on a pair of 6-foot-4 seniors, Tionna Lidge and Xyllize Harrison.

Lidge is expected to be the Jaguars' best inside presence while Harrison is back after an injury sidelined her last year..

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