ST. AUGUSTINE – The Flagler College women's basketball team opens the 2023-24 season tomorrow (Nov. 10) at the SAC vs. PBC Challenge at Morrow, Georgia. The Saints open with Anderson University at 3:30 p.m. at The Loch and Mason Barfield Court.

Head coach Maurice "Mo" Smith, who begins his fifth year at Flagler and 14^th overall, has seven returnees from last year's 6-22 club and he welcomes in seven newcomers. One of the key returnees for Smith is Sharale McCormick. The junior guard earned third-team All-Peach Belt Conference honors last year after averaging 16.5 points and 5.3 rebounds per game. She also shot 81 percent from the free throw line.

"We are excited with the pieces we have," said Smith. "We have a good balance where we are not super young. The young players we have from last year played a lot of minutes and have gained experience. It shows with their physicality and maturity in so many ways. We have added some transfers that gives us some much-needed experience. We are more athletic, have more ball handlers and we have bigger guards."  

BACKCOURT

McCormick leads the charges in Smith's backcourt. She had to do a lot of other things last year, but Smith's plan for McCormick is to focus in being a three, which allows her to be creative off the dribble. Jessica Dowdy is coming off a freshman season where she averaged 6.1 points per game, but more importantly, she started the last 11 games giving her valuable playing time. Dowdy is a versatile guard that played the point near the end of the season. Senior Beka Benge is a solid shooter and a hard worker who will be counted on to knock down some three-pointers.

A new piece for Smith this season is Santa Fe College transfer Se'Lah Reddick. She is projected to be a point guard this season, but earned all-conference honors at Santa Fe last year after averaging 10.0 points, a team-best 6.9 rebounds, and 3.3 assists per game. Then there's NCAA Division I transfer Dane Bertolina. The Appalachian State University transfer stands at 5-foot-10 and is a proficient shooter. Destiny McClendon, a transfer from the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga, is an athletic guard with very good offensive skills who can lock people up on defense as well.

Freshman Aspen Weeks gives Smith a lot of versatility at the guard position. Local product (Bartram Trail High) Lina Kouchis is a point guard who is an excellent facilitator. Freshman Teagen Becker is a wing who can shoot the ball and has good size (5-foot-8) and is strong.  

FRONTCOURT

Amuk Tong is among several returners at the post position. This is her senior year and she has progressed well year-to-year. Her strength, size, and experience has Coach Smith confident that she can mix it up with the best in the league. Maddie Erickson saw a lot of playing time as a freshman which benefited her. She has plenty of basketball savvy and someone that the offense can run through her. Laney Noreika only played a handful of games last year before sustaining a season-ending injury, but she has healed and is ready to go. Carleigh Grimm, a 6-foot-1 forward, is another freshman that played quite a bit and the experience will carry her into this season. She is another versatile player who can defend several different positions. Freshman forward Maria Paula Garcia came to Flagler last semester, but is on the mend from an injury. She is another strong and tough competitor in the paint.    

The Saints open their home schedule on Nov. 15 against Rollins College. Opening tip is scheduled for 6 p.m. at Flagler Gym.
 
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