Women's Basketball Returns for Second Season

Women’s Basketball at Trinidad State Junior College will be entering its second year, following a 25 year absence from intercollegiate competition.

Last year the Lady Trojans successfully completed a 26 game schedule, which marks the largest Women’s Basketball Schedule in school history. Even though the team was able to muster only four wins, the Inaugural season did see a squad that ended up with a 3.4 team GPA. Which included an unprecedented six (6) young ladies named to the Region IX all-academic team for 2010-11.

Coach Rich Holden, who has built three other programs to respectability in his nineteen year TSJC career, is very optimistic for a much better season from the stand point of competitive basketball. “I felt that last year’s group did an outstanding job of representing TSJC in that first year back for Women’s basketball. Now, I have seen just how competitive Junior college women’s Basketball is. Having four solid players and individuals back that understand what I want, allows me to feel much more comfortable saying that we have a chance to be pretty good this year.”

Coach Holden is referring to the four young ladies who accepted his invitation to come back and lead the Lady Trojans to that next step in the building process. They are Ciera Jones a 5’6” shooting guard from Albuquerque New Mexico who averaged 8.5 points per game last year and started every game as a freshman. Tameka Manning a 5’3” point guard from Denver also started many games and logged about 18 minutes per game, averaged 7.2 points per game last season. Sandra Morales, 5’10” post from Wiley did an outstanding job inside for the Trojans and averaged about 12 minutes a game. Rounding out the returning four is Vanessa Garcia, a 5’2” guard, who is willing to do whatever it takes to help a team be successful, from Cripple Creek.

The Lady Trojans picked up three transfers that should help in both a leadership and competition capacity. Jackie Becker served a red shirt year at Northern Oklahoma and Eastern Arizona College in 2010-11. She has a great understanding of what it takes to be successful at the college level. Jackie is a 5’9” shooting guard from Edmond, Oklahoma who will give the Trojans a little more height on the perimeter. Another Transfer, also from Eastern Arizona is Jessica Small. Standing 5’10”, Jessica actually played several minutes for the Gila Monsters last year and will bring much needed toughness and depth to the post position. The other transfer to the Lady Trojans brings a local flavor to Trinidad State. Daniel Lewis known around here as “Danny” dazzled local basketball fans in the area two years ago with her part in Kim High schools undefeated run for the Colorado State Class A Championship in 2010. She signed early for the 2010-11 year with Adams State and contributed to the Grizzly’s RMAC championship in the first semester last year. Her point guard skills will bring added depth to the Trojans attack following the departure of 2010-11 stand-out, Jen Ingargiola.

Aside from all of that The Lady Trojans can also boast about a group of incoming freshman which coach Holden refers to as “Top Notch and mostly local.” Stretching geographically from Ruidoso, New Mexico to Colorado Springs, Colorado, this second true freshman recruiting class of Lady Trojan Basketball players gets coach Holden smiling. “I have always considered New Mexico and anywhere in Colorado local, and feel like there are great players in these states. I feel like we did an excellent job finding those young ladies and look forward to watching how they handle all of the changes required in developing their game to compete at the college level.”

Leading the way for the recruiting class of 2011 is All-State post payer 6’2” Destiny Bragman, who prepped at Monzano high school in Albuquerque, NM. She averaged seven points and 8 rebounds a game. Another All-State player, Abriana Herrera is also from New Mexico and also a post player standing 5’9” tall. Standout Trinidad High School Guard, Justine Gallegos is the first of a Colorado contingent of players who will all bring unique and special qualities to the 2011-12 Lady Trojans roster. Justine was a first team all-Tri peaks performer and is a tough competitor. Representing the Northern half of Colorado will be Lindsey Pippin. Lindsey is a 5’6” combination point and shooting guard from Weld Central High School in Keensburg, CO . She was a first team selection in the very tough Patriot league, and is the sister of Breann Pippin, whom many may remember as a TSJC All Region IX and Academic All-American Volleyball player in 2002.

The Remainder of the 2011 recruiting class is all from Colorado Springs and all had outstanding high school careers at large schools, each of which played in extremely competitive leagues. Coach Holden stated, “Colorado Springs is the closest metropolitan hot bed, for women’s basketball talent that we have in our area, it is important that we do well recruiting and retaining those athletes in our program. I thought for a new program we did well in the Springs, and hope that these young ladies will enjoy their experience enough in Trinidad, that they encourage younger players that they may know in that area to consider us in the future.”

These young ladies will be listed in the order that they committed to Trinidad State. Kylee Crumley , is a 5’11 Post player from Liberty High School and averaged very close to a double double in rebounds and points. She is very quick for a taller girl, and has a strong desire to succeed at the college level . Stephanie Knowels, 5’10” tall from Pine Creek High School is without a doubt one of the best athletes of the group. She is a high energy defensive player, who has the potential to develop into a tall wing shooting guard. Nicole Herrera has been part of a very successful 4-A program at Harrison High School and brings point guard skills to TSJC as part of her basketball package.

The Lady Trojans will open there season on November 1st, 2011 at Home against Frank Phillips College from Borger, Texas.