PRINCESS ANNE, Md. – As the 2024-25 collegiate basketball season begins, the University of Maryland Eastern Shore women's basketball team is set to compete with a veteran roster under first year head coach Malikah Willis.
 
ABOUT THE COACH
Hired in April, Willis brings over 23 years of collegiate coaching experience to UMES, including recent positions at Kennesaw State, Mississippi State and Texas Tech. Known as a top recruiter, she has helped assemble seven top-25 recruiting classes, signed two McDonald's All-Americans, and coached 16 all-conference players along with five WNBA draftees. At Kennesaw State, Willis was instrumental in the program's historic achievements, including its first 3-0 and 4-0 starts in Atlantic Sun play and a six-game ASUN winning streak, while leading the conference in double-doubles and offensive rebounds per game.
 
Read more about Coach Willis on umeshawksports.com

Listen to Coach Willis talk about UMES basketball on the Urban Sports Scene and Delmarva Sports Network:
Urban Sports Scene
Delmarva Sports Network
 
 
Veteran Leadership Powers Hawks for a Big Season
The UMES women's basketball program debuts a completely new coaching staff featuring assistants Adria Crawford, Capree Garner and JaMarcus Walker. The staff will look to build on a core of eight returning players, including three transfers, three graduate students, two seniors, seven juniors, one sophomore and one freshman.
 
 
This year's roster includes:
0:    Chaniqwa Gilliam                         G                5-8             Gr                Norfolk, Virginia / Lake Taylor
1: Aleah James                                     G                5-7              Jr                Brooklyn, New York / Stuart Country Day
2: Mahogany Lester                             F/C             6-0             Gr               Virginia Beach, Virginia / Princess Anne H.S.
3: Amira Ofunniyin                               F                6-0             So               Cary, North Carolina / Panther Creek H.S.
11: Zamara Haynes                               F                 5-7              Gr              Philadelphia, Pennsylvania / Imhotep Institute Charter
12: Brianna Barnes                              SF               5-11            Jr                Bronx, New York / World View High School
21: Jayla Butler                                   G                 5-5             Jr                Milwaukee, Wisconsin / Milwaukee School of Languages
22: Amiaya Morgan                             G                 5-9             Sr               Sicklerville, New Jersey / Timber Creek Regional High School
23: Ce'nara Skanes                              F                 6-0             Jr                Oklahoma City, Oklahoma / Putnam City West High School
24: Lesley Thomas                               F/C             6-0             Sr               Browns Summit, North Carolina / Winston Salem Christian
25: Ashati Lynch                                  G                5-9              Jr               Hookerton, North Carolina / North Lenoir High School
30: Kiarra Kennedy                             G/F              5-11            Sr               Bronx, New York / Middletown H.S.
31: Candela Sabater Sánchez               F                 6-0             Fr               Elda, Alicante, Spain / Santa María Del Carmen
33: Lainey Allen                                   F                 6-2              Jr               Plymouth Meeting, Pennsylvania / Plymouth Whitemarsh High School
35: Dakieran Turner                             F                 6-1              Jr               Annapolis, Maryland / St. Frances Academy
 
 
Setting the Stage: Hawks' Early Season Battles
The UMES women's basketball team opens its season at VCU on Nov. 6. The Hawks will also play Dayton and Illinois in the Music City Classic on Nov. 25-26 in Nashville, Tennessee, followed by the Battle on the Banks in Piscataway, New Jersey, featuring games against Georgia Southern and Marquette.
 
The team's non-conference schedule rounds out hosting Mississippi State on Friday, Dec. 20 and a visit to Georgetown on Saturday, Dec. 28. MEAC play will begin on Jan. 4, with the Hawks taking on defending regular-season champions Norfolk State.

View the full 2024-25 schedule
 
 
MEAC Preseason Awards and Predictions
Lester earned preseason Second Team All-MEAC honors for the second consecutive year, leading the Hawks in several statistical categories. She averaged 7.4 points per game with a 47.5 shooting percentage across 30 starts, while adding 174 rebounds, 28 assists, 46 steals and 14 blocks last season.

Haynes secured preseason Third Team All-MEAC recognition after averaging 8.6 points per game in 30 appearances, including a season-high 23 points against UMBC. She contributed 103 rebounds, 56 assists, 37 steals and three blocks. UMES was predicted to finish sixth in the MEAC this season, as voted by the conference's head coaches and sports information directors. Norfolk State and Howard tied for first, with Norfolk State receiving 11 first-place votes to Howard's five.
 
The 2025 MEAC Basketball Tournament will be held March 12-15 at the Norfolk Scope Arena in Norfolk, Virginia.
 
For more information on MEAC basketball, visit: https://meacsports.com/sports/wbball
 
 
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