2024-25 Volunteer State Women's Mid-Season Review
By: Timothy M. Reece, Broadcaster, VolState Sports Network
The Volunteer State Lady Pioneers Basketball team finished the first half of the 2024-25 season with a record of 3-11 and 1-5 in conference play. The record may not be impressive, however, there is noticeable improvement from the 2023-24 season and cause for optimism for Head Coach Otis Key, in his 11th year with the Lady Pioneers. Team scoring has increased 4.5 points per game, but more notable is that points allowed is down over 12 per game, which equates to over a 16.5 point turn around. As a result, the Lady Pioneers are staying more competitive in games, and giving themselves chances to win.
Besides scoring and defense, the Lady Pioneers have shown improvement in other important statistical categories as well, having increased FG%, 3-PT%, FT%, rebounding, assists, and blocked shots. As a matter of fact, Volunteer State leads Division I NJCAA basketball in blocked shots per game (7.8) and total blocked shots (109). The overwhelming majority of those have come from 6'1" freshman post player, Kendall Myree (Clarksville, TN). Myree has already blocked 80 shots this season (5.7 blocks per game) and is leading the nation in both categories by more than double the next player.
Kendall Myree is also leading the Lady Pioneers in scoring (16.1), rebounding (9.8), FT% (70%), FG% (44.2), FT's made and attempted (49-70), and FG's made and attempted (88-199). She has scored double digits in all but one game, scoring a season high 25 points in three games, collected 14 rebounds four times and blocked 10 shots twice. She has a Triple Double (11 pts/11 reb/10 blk) against Motlow State; the only such accomplishment so far this season in the TCCAA. Myree also has seven Double Doubles, which also leads the conference. These statistical accomplishments resulted in Myree being named the TCCAA Women's Player of the Week twice (Week 1 and 3) in the first five weeks of the season.
The only returning players from last year's squad, sophomore's Ella Disney (Greenbrier, TN) and Kyra Shearon (Chapmansboro, TN), have played in all 14 games, with Disney being one of three players who have started each game. Disney is the 2nd leading scorer on the team, averaging 7.8 points/game overall, and 11.0 points per game in conference games. In back-to-back contests against Columbia State and Motlow State, Disney posted 22-point efforts, including six made 3 pointers in each contest. Disney leads the team with 3.6 assists/game, which is 4th in the conference.
Kyra Shearon, averaging 5.7 points/game, has struggled to regain her marksmanship from 3-point range this year after leading the conference in 3-pt shooting % (46.4) last year. She has started five games, had a season high 12 points against Cumberland JV and is a reliable ball handler and defensive player for the Lady Pioneers.
Three more freshmen, who have logged significant minutes playing in all 14 games, are Tishana Moore (Murfreesboro, TN), Skylar McMillan (Bethpage, TN), and Rielyn Freeman (Greenbrier, TN). Moore and McMillan, along with Disney, are the three players who have started every game. Moore posted a Double-Double in her first collegiate game, scoring 13 points and pulling down 10 rebounds against Southern Union. She leads the team (10th in the conference) in steals per game (2.4) and is 2nd in rebounding (5.1), assists (2.4), and blocked shots (0.9), which also puts her 10th in the conference.
Skylar McMillan has shown proficiency in all phases, including 3-pt shooting (35.8% - 3rd on the team), rebounding (3.7 – 3rd ), and assists (1.6 – 4th ). She has scored in double figures in four games, hitting three 3-point shots in three of those games. McMillan is also a reliable ball handler and defender.
Rielyn Freeman has been limited lately due to a lower body injury, however, earlier in the season showed glimpses of an effective scorer, with games of 20, 14, and 12. She is 3rd on the club in scoring, averaging 6.6 points/game, and leads the team in 3-pt % (48%), earning her the nickname of Rielyn "Threeman" on the VolState Sports Network YouTube channel.
Madziyonna Calloway (Nashville, TN) and Cheyenne Gregory (Portland, TN), both freshmen, have played valuable minutes off the bench and have provided sparks both offensively and defensively. Calloway had a season high 10 points against Calhoun CC, going 4- 5 from the field, including hitting her only 3-point shot attempt. She also had 3 steals in the loss to Columbia State and averaged 3 rebounds a game in the last five games before the break.
Cheyenne Gregory's season high of 10 points and 5 rebounds came against SWTN and included a perfect 6-6 at the free throw line where she has shown proficiency, shooting 91.7% for the year.
Freshmen guards Nyonna Parker (Nashville, TN) and Cheyenne Love (Jackson, TN), along with forward Asia Pirtle (Jackson, TN) are also new to the program and appeared in 11, 9, and 8 games respectively.
In the 2nd half of the season, which begins Saturday, January 4th at Vincennes University (Indiana), the Lady Pioneers will strive to put together four strong quarters in each game. In three conference losses, decided by six or less points, the Lady Pioneers have had at least one quarter of play in each game where they scored eight or less points in a quarter: a six-point quarter in the 67-61 loss to Columbia State, a four-point quarter in the 65-63 loss to Southwest Tennessee, and eight- and six-point quarters in the Cleveland State 51-50 loss.
If Coach Key and the Lady Pioneers can find a way to minimize the low scoring quarters and continue to play aggressive defense and rebound well, there is a good chance for success in the 2nd half of the season. There are seven home games in January and February, so come out to the Richard Moore Gymnasium inside the Pickle Fieldhouse and see these young Lady Pioneers endeavor to turn close losses into victories!