Sports 
Looking for a rebound season
By
Saeli Gutierrez
Saeli.gutierrez001@mymdc.net
Coming off an 11-15 (6-6 in the Southern Conference) season, the Miami Dade College women’s basketball team is hoping to rebound thanks to the infusion of new talent.
The Lady Sharks incoming freshman class includes McDonald’s High School All- American guard/ forward Kiana Morton, Melanie Ducott, a point guard transfer from Broward County, power forward, Tanisha Bradshaw, from Miami Senior High School, Smiljana Cook, a post player from Odessa College in Texas, and Jelena Ciric, who played high school basketball last year in Virginia.
“We’ve stepped up a few notches,” Ducott said. “We can compete at any level.”
Head Basketball Coach Susan Summons said she is excited about the new roster, and the team’s overall natural chemistry.
“Teamwork makes the dream work,” Summons said. “They are family.”
Returning players from last year’s team are All-State forward Ashley Wilkes—who averaged 18.9 points per game last year— All Conference point guard, Tori Stephens, forward Kandis Frederick, who is returning to the team this year after breaking her foot, and guard Camila Mejia.
Summons has high expectations for the upcoming season.
They include a Southern Conference title, a 20 win season, and a state championship.
The Lady Sharks have been hitting the weight room in hopes of adding muscle, after getting are also focusing on improving the team’s speed, defense and rebounding.
They say that last year was not good enough.
“It made us realize that it’s not [going to] cut it,” Wilkes said.
The Lady Sharks start their season against Southern Conference opponent—Daytona State College—on Monday, Nov.1 at the Gibson Center located at the Kendall Campus, 11011 SW 104 St.
They are poised, they say, to make their mark, but it will take a full team effort to keep improving.
“We need to come together and help each other,” Stephens said.