UTICA- For the second season in a row, head coach Tomekia Reed has led the Hinds Community College Lady Bulldogs basketball team to an appearance in the NJCAA Region 23 Tournament at A. E. Wood Coliseum in Clinton, Mississippi for the 2017-2018 season. The Lady Bulldogs fell in the first round of the Region 23 Tournament to Copiah-Lincoln Community College (Co-Lin) in a close-fought battle finishing their season with a record of 16-10.
The Lady Bulldogs produced their second consecutive winning season which is something the Hinds women's basketball program has not been familiar with in recent years before Reed's arrival. The Lady Bulldogs experienced some ups and downs on the season starting this season on a tear, going 10-0 to kick-off the year. The team then hit a skid in which they lost 4 of their next 5 putting them behind in their conference record. The Lady Bulldogs proceeded to fight back the remainder of the season capping off the regular season with a win in their final home game to clinch a spot in the MACJC State playoffs and the NJCAA Regional playoffs.
Through the ups and downs of the season, the Lady Bulldogs were led by freshman guard, Victoria Johnson (Camden), who averaged 23.2 points per game which was good for second best in the NJCAA on the year. Also adding to the success of the Lady Bulldogs this season were freshmen Kirdis Clark (Natchez) and Antionette Womack (Jackson). Clark (guard) finished second on the team for points per game shooting an impressive 47% from the field while average 2 steals per game. Womack (forward) rounded out the Lady Bulldogs' attack by adding 8 rebounds and 2 blocks per game giving the team a firm defensive threat.
The Lady Bulldogs, though falling short of their goal of repeating an appearance in the Region 23 Championship in hopes of taking home the trophy this season, still produced a season worth remembering for the Hinds women's basketball program. The turnaround made by Reed and company seems to be pointing the program in a positive direction for upcoming seasons. The freshmen headliners add to this sense of optimism giving the feeling that the Lady Bulldogs are just one step away from capturing a Region 23 championship and appearing in the NJCAA Division I national tournament for the first time under Tomekia Reed.
