ELLISVILLE – Fresh off its first-ever NJCAA Final Four appearance, the Jones College women’s team is ranked No. 7 in the Division I Women's Basketball Preseason Poll released Monday.
The six-time defending Region 23 champions and back-to-back MACCC champions are the lone representative from the state in the Top 25.
Jones closed the 2021-22 regular season with losses in three of its last four games, but won 10 straight in the postseason to sweep the conference and region tournaments. The Bobcats then knocked off three consecutive Top 20 opponents New Mexico JC, Blinn College (Texas) and Eastern Florida State to reach the program's first-ever Final Four.
Jones returns two of its top three scorers and five players overall off last year's 25-8 team in Florida State commit F Sakyia White (16.8ppg/11.9 rpg) and G Meloney Thames (16.3 ppg). White is from Tuscaloosa, Alabama, and Thames prepped at Choctaw Central.
The Bobcats welcome eight newcomers to the squad, including Clarion-Ledger Dandy Dozen guard Carly Keats (Neshoba Central) and transfers Tasionna McDowell (Delhi, Louisiana) from Louisiana-Monroe, En’Dya Buford (Olive Branch) from Memphis and La’Genesis Johnson (Weir) from Jackson State.
Head coach Missy Bilderback is an outstanding 172-29 overall in seven seasons at the helm, an average of 25 wins per year. Her teams have been equally impressive in conference play with a combined 86-11 mark.
