The Tribune

By RENALDO DORSETT

Sports Reporter

rdorsett@tribunemedia.net

SHE has excelled thus far at the junior college and international level for the Bahamas. Now, high scoring wing player Shanea Armbrister is expected to be a major contributor for an SEC powerhouse programme.

Armbrister is expected to join the Georgia Lady Bulldogs this fall after she completed a two-year stint at Darton State.

Lady Bulldogs’ head coach Joni Taylor said the addition of Armbrister and several talented newcomers will supplement the experienced return players.

“We have a great balance of experience to go along with a strong group of newcomers who I think will be key contributors for us,” Taylor stated. “I think our non-conference schedule will provide highly-competitive matchups that will help prepare us as we approach January and the beginning of conference play. It’s always exciting to finalise the schedule and start looking forward to the season.”

An incoming junior transfer, Armbrister will supplement four seniors on the roster as they look to contend in a heavily talented SEC. “As always, the SEC will be one of the best and most competitive conferences in the nation,” Taylor said. “We are excited about this year’s schedule and look forward to seeing all of our Lady Bulldog fans create a great homecourt advantage for our team at Stegeman Coliseum this season.”

Georgia will be featured in five nationally televised games, including the January 3 home opener against Texas A & M, broadcast live on the SEC network.

“No other league in the country gets the exposure that we have in the SEC,” Taylor said. “We have passionate fans and it’s great that, whether they are in Stegeman Coliseum or watching on television, they can follow us all season long.”

Armbrister closed out her JuCo career with the Darton State Cavs in the NJCAA Region 17 Tournament championship in an 82-66 loss, despite her game high 31 points.

She averaged 26.9 points per game for the season, shooting 59 per cent from the field and 87 per cent from the free throw line. She also averaged 7.2 rebounds and 2.7 assists per game.

The Cavs finished the season at 28-5, 16-2 in conference play.

This summer on the international scene, Armbrister led the Bahamas to the Caribbean Basketball Championship title and in the process qualification for the 2016 CentroBasket Tournament.

It marked the third time that the Bahamas has won the title, but the first time since the organisers changed it from Caricom to the CBC.

Armbrister was named the game’s most valuable player after she led the Bahamas with a game high 16 points, seven rebounds, four steals and one blocked shot in the 55-51 win over defending champions Jamaica.

The Bahamas had to come back from a 15-point second half deficit to secure the title at the Multi-Purpose Sports Complex in Road Town, Tortola.

Locally, Armbrister attended TA Thompson Jr High before relocating to complete her studies in the United States.