Former Lady Gator Hawkins leads Northeast women’s basketball growth
Jan 10, 2025- The Northeast Mississippi Community College women’s basketball team is moving on from one of the toughest non-conference schedules in the entire country to what matters the most.
The Lady Tigers begin their journey through the Mississippi Association of Community Colleges Conference (MACCC) by visiting East Central Community College on Monday, Jan. 13.
Northeast competed against three ranked programs, including defending national runner-up Northwest Florida State College. The Lady Tigers have also played eight games versus teams that appear in the top 100 of the Massey Ratings.
“We dropped a couple that we didn’t want to, but the growth that we’ve had and the way this team has come together has me so excited,” said Northeast head coach Chelsey Rhodes. “I think everybody has started to embrace their role. They’ve bought in.”
The Lady Tigers (8-7) are averaging 71.7 points overall, which is currently third best in the league. Northeast is balanced in scoring with five players producing 7.5 or more points per contest.
Jakeria Hawkins of Lake Cormorant leads the way for the Lady Tigers with 12.7 points. She accumulated her 500th point in a black-and-gold uniform during Northeast’s pre-Christmas victory versus Arkansas State University Mid-South.
A pair of newcomers are right behind Hawkins. Kamiyha Griffin adds 11.7 points in the paint on a team-best 43.3 field goal percentage while Katelyn Leavy is just outside of double figures with 9.2 points.
Northeast posted a season-high 114 points against Arkansas State Mid-South. It was the most points in a single game for the Lady Tigers since racking up 122 in a big win over then-Martin Methodist (Tenn.) College on January 20, 1998.
The Lady Tigers are fifth in the nation with 19.5 offensive rebounds and 18th with 45 total rebounds per game. Griffin guides that effort with 6.1 boards while Tyesha James follows with 5.6.
Northeast is also 30th and 31st nationally in steals and blocks, respectively. Audria Houston paces the Lady Tigers with an average of two steals while Griffin swats away right at one shot each outing.
Northeast’s first conference game inside Bonner Arnold Coliseum is on Thursday, January 16 against Hinds Community College. All MACCC contests will start at 5:30 p.m. both at home and away.
