LA PLATA, Md. — The College of Southern Maryland women’s basketball team begins its first full 26-game varsity schedule Wednesday with a matchup against No. 23 Bryant & Stratton (Virginia) at 4 p.m. in the CSM Gymnasium.
The Hawks enter the contest with a 1-9 record from last season’s abbreviated 10-game club-level slate, transitioning now to National Junior College Athletic Association Division III competition under Maryland JUCO Conference guidelines. Bryant & Stratton arrives undefeated at 2-0, bringing a potent offense that averaged 102 points in its most recent victory over Southern Maryland on November 2, 2024, at Atlantic Shores Christian School in Chesapeake, Virginia.
The game streams live at https://csmd.prestosports.com/stream. No audio broadcast, live stats or ticket sales apply for this non-conference opener. Since the program’s varsity inception in 2011, Bryant & Stratton holds a 6-2 series edge, including a current two-game winning streak. Southern Maryland’s last victory came November 6, 2021, via forfeit.
Returners anchor the Hawks’ core. Guard Cailyn Samuel, a sophomore from White Plains, led the team last year with 15.5 points per game across six starts, adding 2.8 steals and 4.2 rebounds while logging 39.7 minutes nightly. Her field goal percentage stood at 26.7 percent, with 1.3 three-pointers made per outing at 16.7 percent accuracy and free throws at 56.8 percent.
Sophomore Raylin Lee, a guard-forward from Nanjemoy, contributed 5.7 points and a team-high 6.5 rebounds per game in her six starts, including 2.7 offensive boards. She shot 26.4 percent from the field and 14.3 percent from three, with 1.5 steals and 0.5 blocks in 33.5 minutes per contest.
The roster absorbs losses from last season’s freshmen class. Guard Desiree Barnes averaged 7.0 points and 4.7 rebounds in six games, starting three, with 1.3 assists and steals each. Guard Andrea Harley paced scoring at 12.0 points per game across six starts, converting 64.7 percent of free throws and notching 2.3 steals. Center Iyanna Harris provided interior presence with 6.6 points, 8.6 rebounds and 1.4 blocks in five games, four starts. Wing-forward Lelia Iafeta appeared in four contests for 1.3 points and 2.3 rebounds. Wing-forward Countess Gordon added 4.5 rebounds in four games, three starts. Forward Akeylah McPherson grabbed 3.3 rebounds in six games, two starts.
New additions bring depth and prior experience. Sophomore guard-forward Amoni Taylor transfers from Stevenson University, where she averaged 6.4 points, 2.4 field goals at 36.3 percent and 0.8 threes at 27.3 percent over 24 games, five starts, with 0.6 assists and 0.5 steals in 20 minutes per game. Sophomore guard Sanaa Morrow arrives from Washington Adventist University, posting 3.7 points and 3.8 rebounds in 25 games, two starts, plus 1.9 assists and 1.4 steals in 20.2 minutes, shooting 27.7 percent from the field.
Freshmen include guards Kirnique Swales from Chopticon High School, who scored 13.9 points per game over 21 contests with 4.6 field goals, 1.1 threes and 3.2 free throws at 47.2 percent; Gabrielle Saunders, Heaven Sexton from Lackey High School and Demi Lathern from North Point High School, with no prior stats listed; guard-forward Trinity Howard from North Point; and center Samarra Hurt from Thomas Stone High School, who averaged 0.6 points and 0.9 rebounds in 14 games, with 0.6 blocks.
This season marks a rebuild for the Hawks under NJCAA guidelines, which classify Division III programs like Southern Maryland as non-scholarship entities focused on regional development. The 26-game slate includes Maryland JUCO Conference play starting later in November, with home games at the La Plata campus gymnasium, a 1,500-seat facility built in 2005 as part of the college’s athletic expansion to support community access along U.S. Route 301.
Bryant & Stratton, based in Richmond, Virginia, ranks 23rd nationally in NJCAA Division II, powered by a high-tempo style that forced 25 turnovers in its 102-43 win over Southern Maryland last month. The Bobcats’ 2-0 start features balanced scoring, with guards driving transition plays typical of Virginia-based programs drawing from urban talent pools.
For the Hawks, sophomore leadership from Samuel and Lee will test integration of newcomers against a ranked opponent. Taylor’s transfer scoring and Swales’ high school efficiency could spark perimeter threats, while Hurt’s shot-blocking adds frontcourt length lost with Harris. Practices since August have emphasized defensive rotations and ball-handling, per standard NJCAA preseason regimens that include 20 hours weekly under Title IX equity rules.
Maryland JUCO Conference schedules, coordinated through the Maryland Association of Community Colleges, prioritize in-state rivalries like upcoming games against Hagerstown or CCBC Essex, fostering recruitment from high schools in Waldorf, La Plata and surrounding areas. The Hawks’ 1-9 mark last year reflected adjustment to club play, but full scheduling allows eligibility for postseason Region 20 tournaments in March, where top teams advance to nationals in Rochester, Minnesota.
NJCAA Division III emphasizes student-athlete balance, with minimum 2.0 GPAs required for competition and academic advising integrated into training. Southern Maryland’s team maintains a collective 3.1 GPA from last season, aligning with institutional goals to retain 85 percent of athletes through graduation.
Wednesday’s tipoff sets the tone for a season targeting .500 in conference play, building on 2011-2023 averages of 8-15 records.
