Stormers women’s basketball freshmen Emani Summers and SaNyai Mitchell were named to the NJCAA Region 4 All-Region Second Team. In the Midwest District A tournament, Summers was selected to the Second Team, and in the Midwest District B tournament, Mitchell earned a spot on the third team.
Summers and Mitchell
Both players played major roles in the team’s turnaround, from a 9-22 record last season to 16-15 this year. Summers and Mitchell’s honors reflect not only their individual growth but also the team’s push to elevate its standing within Region 4.
Head Coach Arom Murrell praised the duo for reshaping the team’s foundation, saying their impact accelerated the program’s turnaround and set a new standard for what the Stormers expect moving forward. “I am particularly proud and in awe of what these two young ladies accomplished this year as true first-year college freshmen,” he said. Coach Murell continues to highlight how the team overcame injuries and other circumstances throughout the year, but both Summers and Mitchell deserve recognition for their hard work from the NJCAA.
Overcoming Hurdles and Becoming Leaders
Early in the season, Mitchell overcame a lack of confidence and became one of the team’s most outspoken leaders by the end of the season. Meanwhile, Summers became one of the team’s most reliable scorers, often called upon to spark the offense or deliver a tough bucket when the team needed it most. “With these two young ladies in the Lady Stormers program, our future is bright. The turnaround from last year’s team to what these two young ladies bring to the program leaves us in a position to know that we will be among the region leaders, hopefully again, going into the next season,” Coach Murrell said.
Summer Career Stats
Summers had one of the most outstanding seasons, leading MATC with 392 points, 275 rebounds, 85 assists, 76 steals, and 25 blocks across 30 games. Her 9.2 rebounds per game ranked 19th in the region, and her 76 steals tied for 16th in Region 4. Summer expressed her gratitude for being honored on the NJCAA All-Region 4 second team. “It means a lot to me to make the All-Region Second Team. I feel like I put in a lot of hard work to get where I am today, earning this shows that the work is paying off,” she said.
Even with the honor, Summer says that she’s far from satisfied, hoping to reach 1,000 career points by the end of next season, and she is focusing on improving her shooting skills. “I’m not really a confident shooter yet; that’s what I’m working on. If I get my percentage up, I feel like I can be unstoppable,” Summers said.
Mitchell’s Career Stats
Mitchell delivered 292 points, 89 rebounds, 75 assists, 50 steals, and 4 blocks. Also, she became MATC’s most dependable perimeter shooter, with a career-high 24 points performance when the team faced Blackhawk Technical College on Feb. 16. Mitchell talks about how the coaching staff saw her potential on the team. “I want to get better at running offense so I’m not scared in certain moments,” she said. Mitchell continued, “There were times this season where I felt a little rushed, so I want to be more calm and patient heading into my sophomore year.”
This marks the women’s basketball team’s 12th year earning All-Region Honors.
