Women's Basketball | 11/1/2024 10:16:00 AM

FRANKFORT, Ky. – The Kentucky State women's basketball enters the 2024-25 season coming off one of the best seasons in program history. The Thorobreds earned a share of the SIAC West Division regular-season title, and finished as runner-up at the SIAC Women's Basketball Championship.
 
Entering her second season as head coach, Amani Williams guided her team to a 21-7 overall record, including a 15-4 mark in conference play, while being the youngest head coach in NCAA Division II basketball. Her achievements during the 2023-24 season earned her the SIAC Coach of the Year honors.
 
Kentucky State has six players returning who all played made noteworthy contributions during the 2023-24 season. However, there is one void that the Thorobreds must fill. Gracen Kerr, who was last season's SIAC Player of the Year, a four-time SIAC Player of the Week and led the conference averaging 17.2 points per game and 4.9 assists per game.
 
Despite Kerr's departure, there are six Thorobreds returning.
 
Senior Naja Fenelon is back at point guard after starting in 10 games and playing in 27 last season. In the conference championship she led her team with a season high of16 points that included a season high of five field goals.
 
Senior forward Mondrea Williams makes her return who not only scored but grabbed rebounds as well. In her junior season she had two doubles, averaging 5.5 rebounds per game and a total of 144 rebounds on the season. She also averaged 5.2 points per game during the season as well.
 
Kentucky native Jordan Isom enters her senior season and during her junior year she started in six games and played in 210 minutes throughout the season while having a game high of five points against Allen (12/16/23).
 
Seniors Kayla Thompson and Jeana Weatherspoon are both returning alongside
 
 
Guard Jeana Weatherspoon, Forward Kayla Thompson and Forward Aniyah Jenkins are making their return as well.
 
This year's roster includes five junior transfers with playing experience. Three of them are guards: Diara McBroom from Los Angeles Trade Tech, Amyah Adiar-Mars from Union County College, and Shannon Niles from Iowa Western Community College. The roster also features two forwards: Khalia Bryant from Washington, D.C., and Bailey Lee from Jackson State Community College.
 
The roster will also feature six freshmen, including two Kentucky natives: guard Jasiyah Franklin from Bowling Green High School (Bowling Green, Ky.) and Aaliyah Hayes from Holy Cross High School (Covington, Ky.). Additionally, guard Rhianna Williams joins from Brush High School (Lyndhurst, Ohio), Amaris Timmons from Kolbe Cathedral High School (Bridgeport, Conn.), Brittany Campbell from Winton Woods High School (Cincinnati, Ohio), and forward Bailey Lee from Beech High School (Hendersonville, Tenn.)
 
Kentucky State will begin their 2024-25 campaign in an exhibition matchup at Loyola University Chicago on Monday, Nov. 4th at 6 p.m. Following the exhibition the Thorobreds will travel to in-state opponent Kentucky Wesleyan on Friday, Nov. 8th at 6:30 p.m.
 
Following their final exhibition at Western Kentucky on Saturday, Nov. 9 the Thorobreds will open their home schedule to Trevecca Nazarene on Tuesday, Nov. 12 at 6 p.m. inside the William Exum Center.
   
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