Lady Indians jump out to 3-0 start

MARIANNA, Fla. – The John Marcum Era of Chipola Women's Basketball started 3-0 and included a double-digit win over a top ten ranked opponent.

Marcum, hired in April, had only three returning players from last season's 11-14 Lady Indians' squad. Among those three, only one started and saw significant playing time. Additionally, only one of the players that was signed prior to Marcum's arrival stayed with her commitment.

To make matters worse for Marcum in his first season, two potential starting players went down with injuries while another waits out eligibility issues.

All of the bad fortune did not stop Marcum and the Lady Indians from starting the season off with three wins at home in front of a group of Chipola fans eager to see the team's new look. Players from nine different countries make up the Chipola roster.

The Lady Indians vaulted into the NJCAA Rankings this week after their hot start at #20. In the NJCAA Region 8 Women's Basketball Coaches' Poll, Chipola is fourth behind three other teams from the Panhandle.

After the three-game start at home, the Lady Indians will be on the road for eight games in three states. #20 Chipola will travel to Perkinston, Mississippi to play in the Bulldog Invitational, November 16-17. Chipola will play Mississippi Gulf Coast Community College on Thursday at 6 PM and Meridian Community College at 2 PM on Friday.

Game Recaps

November 3, 2023 - Chipola 99   Georgia Highlands 22

The Lady Indians dominated in their first game of the 2023-24 season and routed the Lady Chargers from Rome, Georgia, 99-22. Chipola held Georgia Highlands to single digits in each of the four quarters while burning up the nets with a 44% shooting percentage.

• Jasmine Jones and Victoria Morales led the Chipola attack by scoring 24 and 21 respectively. Tahnyjia Purifoy and Marieme Diouf added 11 followed by Mekhila Brown and Marie Felicite Akenda Avile Wembadjonga.
• Morales started off her Chipola career by picking up a double-double (21 points, 10 rebounds). Purifoy was a rebound shy of picking up a double-double.
• The Lady Indians have not lost their first game of the season since the 2002-2003 season when they fell on the road to Walters State.

November 10, 2023 – Chipola 68   Shelton State Community College 54

In the Visit Jackson County Women's Basketball Tournament sponsored by the Tourist Development Council, the Lady Indians picked up a huge win by defeating perennial NJCAA Tournament team and tenth-ranked Shelton State Community College from Tuscaloosa, Alabama.

Playing only seven players, Chipola battled through foul trouble to take down the Lady Bucs. Chipola's leading scorer, Jasmine Jones, along with their force in the paint Marie Felicite Akenda Avile Wembadjonga fouled out in the fourth period with several minutes remaining in the game. Despite being called for 26 fouls to Shelton's 16, the Lady Indians were able to extend their lead and come away with the victory.

• Jasmine Jones lead all scorers and tied her career-high set a week prior, with another 24-point performance.
• Tahnyjia Purifoy had 18 for Chipola and Victoria Morales scored 15.
• The Lady Indians outscored Shelton State 18-5 in the second quarter to lead 35-19 at halftime. Shelton State fought back in the third quarter and cut the lead to six heading into the final ten minutes.
• Purifoy and Morales scored a combined 14 of the team's 18 fourth quarter points while the Lady Indians' defense held the Lady Bucs to 10 in the final period.
• Chipola shot 28-of-52 from the floor (53.8%) for the game.

November 11, 2023 – Chipola 65   DME Academy 36

Jasmine Jones topped her previous career-high and nearly outscored the Lady Indians' opponent by herself, as Chipola moved to 3-0 with a 65-36 victory over DME Academy.

Chipola struggled from the floor in the final game of the Visit Jackson County Women's Basketball Tournament sponsored by the Tourist Development Council but used a stifling defense to keep the visitors from Daytona Beach at bay. The Lady Indians forced 28 turnovers and outrebounded DME, 31-9.

• Jasmine Jones scored 31 points to set a new career high and Mekhila Brown picked up her first double digit game of her young Chipola career with 10.
• Tahnyjia Purifoy dished out nine assists, a career high, in the win.