Davis reveals Warhawk newcomers for season
MONTGOMERY, Ala. (aumathletics.com) — Auburn Montgomery head women’s basketball coach Dan Davis announced the addition of seven newcomers to the program for the 2016-17 season.
Joining the Warhawks for the upcoming season are twins Shanna (Jr., Guard, Woodland, Ala./Southern Union CC) and Shalyn Strain (Jr., Guard, Woodland, Ala./Southern Union CC), Nadia Stewart (Jr., Guard, Meridianville, Ala./Shelton State CC), Danielle Gaines-Jordan (Jr., Forward, Winchester, Tenn./Snead State CC) and Tyra Caudle (Jr., Forward, Huntsville, Ala./Snead State CC), as well as freshmen twins Ashton (Fr., Guard, Canton, Ga./Woodstock HS) and Chandler Sutton (Fr., Guard, Canton, Ga./Woodstock HS).
“This was a big recruiting class for us, but we felt it was necessary as we move forward in the Division II process,” Davis said. “We really wanted to focus on adding high-character student-athletes, who want to compete and be great teammates, to our program. The guards we added can all really shoot and have the ability to put the ball on the floor. I think this team has the potential to be our best 3-point shooting team since I have been here. The one post player we added gives can play both inside and outside. She will bring an aggressive approach to our post play this season. “
(Shanna) Strain is joining the Warhawks following two years at Southern Union Community College in Wadley, Ala. As a sophomore, she averaged 8.5 points, 2.5 assists and 2.3 rebounds per game, scoring in double figures 11 times. Strain scored a season-high 18 points against Southern Crescent Community College, adding six rebounds, three assists and a pair of steals. During her freshman season, she contributed 7.5 points, 2.8 rebounds and 2.2 assists per game. Strain enjoyed a standout prep career at Woodland High School, where she set the Bobcats career record for points (1,756) and steals (545). She, along with Shalyn, led WHS to the 2013 and 2014 Alabama High School Athletic Association Class 2A State Championships.
Also a two-year letter winner at Southern Union, (Shalyn) Strain averaged 4.8 points, 2.3 rebounds and 2.3 assists per game as a sophomore. She scored a season-best 12 points against Lawson State Community College, while tallying eight points, five assists, four steals and four rebounds against Enterprise State Community College. She averaged 5.3 points, 3.2 rebounds and 1.3 assists per game as a freshman, chipping in a career-best 18 points against Gadsden State Community College.
Stewart comes to AUM following a two-year playing career at Shelton State Community College in Tuscaloosa, Ala. Last season, she helped the Lady Bucs to a 34-2 record, the ACCC state championship and a third-place finish in the National Junior College Athletic Association Women’s Basketball Championship. She averaged 5.6 assists per game in just 14.2 minutes per game, while adding 3.7 points and 2.1 rebounds per contest. Stewart converted 39.6 percent of her shots from the floor, including 31.7 percent from behind the arc. She scored in double figures twice, including a 10-point, 11-assist effort against Wallace State Community College-Hanceville. As a freshman, Stewart averaged 5.1 assists, 4.2 points and 2.2 rebounds per game and helped Shelton State to a 29-3 record.
A two-year letter winner at Snead State Community College in Boaz, Ala., Gaines-Jordan ranked second on the Parsons in scoring at 12.2 points per game last season. She scored in double figures 20 times last year, including a season-high 24 points against Cleveland State Community College. Gaines-Jordan added 4.8 rebounds and 1.9 assists per contest, while shooting 42.7 percent from the floor. As a freshman, she also averaged 12.2 points and 5.1 rebounds per game, scoring a career-high 29 points against Gadsden State.
Caudle also played last season at Snead State, where she averaged 8.0 points and 5.9 rebounds per game. Her 89 offensive rebounds ranked fifth in the conference, while her 196 total rebounds were good for 10th. She finished with 37 blocked shots, a mark that ranked tied for sixth in the league. Caudle enjoyed a season-best 17-point, eight-rebound, two-block performance against West Georgia Technical College and helped the Parson to a 21-12 record as a sophomore. Caudle spent her freshman season at Wallace-Hanceville, where she averaged 4.7 points and 4.1 rebounds per game.
(Ashton) Sutton was a three-sport standout at Woodstock High School, lettering in basketball, cross country and track and field. As a senior, she led the Wolverines to a 26-4 record and an Elite 8 appearance in the GHSA Class AAAAAA State Tournament. She earned Region 5-AAAAAA Player of the Year, honorable mention all-state and all-county honors, after averaging 15.0 points and 3.0 steals per game, while setting the school season record for 3-pointers made with 75. Sutton also led the team with 89 steals and scored a game-high 32 points against Wheeler High School.
Chandler Sutton, who lettered in basketball, lacrosse, cross country and track and field at WHS, help the Wolverines to a pair of regional championships. During her senior season, she established a new school record with 16 assists in a contest and 141 in a season. She averaged 4.7 assists per game en route to first-team all-region honors and second-team all-county accolades.
“This is a class full of winners,” Davis concluded. “They all came from programs that won more than 20 games last year. I think it shows they want to win and are willing to do what it takes to win. We feel they are just great fits for our program on and off the court. We are excited to get started.”
