Photo by: Rick Yeatts
Bearkat WBB Preview: Returners
11/4/2021 2:37:00 PM | Women's Basketball
HUNTSVILLE – The Sam Houston Bearkat women's basketball team enters its first season of competition in the WAC this week and is coming off a successful final campaign in the Southland Conference as they finished 15-8 and made a conference championship game appearance.
With the same staff in place, the Kats look to build on their previous success. The roster will be different, but the Bearkats return some key cogs that should be difference makers this season.
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Faith Cook | RSr | 5-2 | G | Baytown, Texas / Goose Creek HS / UTEP
Cook heads into her third season as a Bearkat as a preseason all-WAC second team selection. She has been a difference maker for the Bearkats since arriving on campus. In her first season with the Kats in 2019, she was the Southland Conference Newcomer of the Year. She is the catalyst of the team as the point guard and the offense will run through her.
Cook finished second on the team last season in scoring with 13.2 points per game and led the Southland with 4.3 assists per game. She has a knack for getting to the free throw line and can hit shots from all over the court. All signs point to Cook having a big year in the orange and white.
Courtney Cleveland | Sr | 5-10 | F | Arlington, Texas / Arlington HS / Pratt CC
Cleveland was an All-Southland Conference third team selection as well as an SLC All-Defensive team pick a year ago. She was a mainstay in the Kats starting lineup and provides rebounding, stellar defense, and an inside-out offensive game. She put up 12.3 points per game to go with 6.1 rebounds per game and managed to put up 20-plus points in three different games. Cleveland has improved her offensive game each year at the collegiate level and is ready to have a big senior season.
Kaylee Jefferson | RSo | 6-0 | F | Sulphur Springs, Texas / Sulphur Springs HS / East Carolina
Jefferson is back with Sam Houston for her redshirt sophomore campaign. She started many of the Kats games at forward but was also able to provide instant offense off the bench when needed. While playing forward, Jefferson has a nice jump shot that can pull defenders out of the paint. Averaged 5 points and 5 rebounds a game. She played all 40 minutes in both the Southland Conference semifinals and championship game.
Madelyn Batista | Jr | 6-2 | F | Orlando, Fla. / Winter Park HS / Daytona State CC
Batista is coming off a breakout year with the Bearkats, posting 8.3 ppg and 6.7 rpg in 2020-21. Her presence on the defensive side of the ball is felt, and she pulls down rebounds at a better clip than any Bearkat that remains on the roster from the past season. Some of Batista's biggest games came in the Southland Tournament. She put up 14 points and eight rebounds in a quarterfinal win over Nicholls and grabbed 10 rebounds in the championship game.
Sydnee Kemp | RFr | 5-5 | G | Kansas City, Mo. / Lee's Summit West HS
Kemp is entering her second year at Sam Houston and looks to provide quality depth at guard. She appeared in 22 games in the 2020 season, with her season high 14 points coming in her Bearkat debut in the first game of the season versus Midwestern State. With some added experience Kemp should provide a jolt of energy with minutes off the bench.
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Deondra Young| Fr | 6-0 | F | Bryan, Texas / Rudder HS
Young showed flashes of quality play in her true freshman season in 2020. She appeared in 15 games off the bench. In one of her best games of the season, she put up 5 points and 7 rebounds in a game versus UTSA. Young's season high point total came against HBU where she scored 11 points and snatched 4 rebounds. Young looks to gain more experience this season while learning from the older forwards on the roster while also showing she can make a mark in the rotation when the opportunity arises.
With the same staff in place, the Kats look to build on their previous success. The roster will be different, but the Bearkats return some key cogs that should be difference makers this season.
Â
Faith Cook | RSr | 5-2 | G | Baytown, Texas / Goose Creek HS / UTEP
Cook heads into her third season as a Bearkat as a preseason all-WAC second team selection. She has been a difference maker for the Bearkats since arriving on campus. In her first season with the Kats in 2019, she was the Southland Conference Newcomer of the Year. She is the catalyst of the team as the point guard and the offense will run through her.
Cook finished second on the team last season in scoring with 13.2 points per game and led the Southland with 4.3 assists per game. She has a knack for getting to the free throw line and can hit shots from all over the court. All signs point to Cook having a big year in the orange and white.
Courtney Cleveland | Sr | 5-10 | F | Arlington, Texas / Arlington HS / Pratt CC
Cleveland was an All-Southland Conference third team selection as well as an SLC All-Defensive team pick a year ago. She was a mainstay in the Kats starting lineup and provides rebounding, stellar defense, and an inside-out offensive game. She put up 12.3 points per game to go with 6.1 rebounds per game and managed to put up 20-plus points in three different games. Cleveland has improved her offensive game each year at the collegiate level and is ready to have a big senior season.
Kaylee Jefferson | RSo | 6-0 | F | Sulphur Springs, Texas / Sulphur Springs HS / East Carolina
Jefferson is back with Sam Houston for her redshirt sophomore campaign. She started many of the Kats games at forward but was also able to provide instant offense off the bench when needed. While playing forward, Jefferson has a nice jump shot that can pull defenders out of the paint. Averaged 5 points and 5 rebounds a game. She played all 40 minutes in both the Southland Conference semifinals and championship game.
Madelyn Batista | Jr | 6-2 | F | Orlando, Fla. / Winter Park HS / Daytona State CC
Batista is coming off a breakout year with the Bearkats, posting 8.3 ppg and 6.7 rpg in 2020-21. Her presence on the defensive side of the ball is felt, and she pulls down rebounds at a better clip than any Bearkat that remains on the roster from the past season. Some of Batista's biggest games came in the Southland Tournament. She put up 14 points and eight rebounds in a quarterfinal win over Nicholls and grabbed 10 rebounds in the championship game.
Sydnee Kemp | RFr | 5-5 | G | Kansas City, Mo. / Lee's Summit West HS
Kemp is entering her second year at Sam Houston and looks to provide quality depth at guard. She appeared in 22 games in the 2020 season, with her season high 14 points coming in her Bearkat debut in the first game of the season versus Midwestern State. With some added experience Kemp should provide a jolt of energy with minutes off the bench.
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Deondra Young| Fr | 6-0 | F | Bryan, Texas / Rudder HS
Young showed flashes of quality play in her true freshman season in 2020. She appeared in 15 games off the bench. In one of her best games of the season, she put up 5 points and 7 rebounds in a game versus UTSA. Young's season high point total came against HBU where she scored 11 points and snatched 4 rebounds. Young looks to gain more experience this season while learning from the older forwards on the roster while also showing she can make a mark in the rotation when the opportunity arises.
Players Mentioned
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