Lady Sharks Working Through Tough Stretch At Start Of 2023-24 Season

The Miami Dade College women’s basketball team is slogging through a tough start to the 2023-24 season that saw them lose nine of their first eleven games.

Those losses include three by at least 30 points, including a 45-point defeat to Northwest Florida State College to start the regular season on Nov. 10.

But the team has been in several close games, including a 65-62 loss to South Georgia Technical College on Nov. 25 and a 72-67 loss to Western Wyoming Community College on Dec. 1. They had a big road win (63-57) versus St. Petersburg College on Dec. 13.

“We’ve lost many close games by two or three points where we were right there,” said Lady Sharks Head Coach Susan Summons. “We’re growing and we’re learning to close out in the third and fourth quarter.”

With only three returning players—guards Tayler-Dae Walker and Iva Cholakoska and forward  Madison Snowden—from last season on the roster, Summons has counted on eight freshmen to carry the load as the season progresses deep into conference play in January and February. 

“I’ve bonded with my team this year,” said Walker, who is contributing 2.5 points per game. “I feel more like one with this group of teammates.”

Two additions to the Lady Sharks squad who have made major impacts this season are 5-foot-8 inch point guard Shameir Quimby and 6-foot-1 inch center KaMariya Simmons both of whom played at Fort Walton Beach High School last season.

Quimby leads the team in scoring with 18.5 points per game. She is second on the squad in rebounds with five per contest while having a 46.8 shooting percentage.

Simmons leads the team in rebounds with 7.6 per contest while averaging 4.8 points.  

Other key contributors include guard/forward Jamica Davis, who is averaging 7.8 points,  guard Farida Khaled Hassan Radwan, who is averaging 6.1 points, and point guard Renae Brant, who is contributing six points per contest.

Summons and first-year assistant coach Mario Miller are counting on growth from that group to see improvement this season. 

“My motto is don’t worry about how we started, focus on how we want to finish,” Summons said. “See yourself qualifying and see yourself at the State Tournament.”

Click here to subscribe to our bi-weekly newsletter, The Hammerhead. For news tips, contact us at mdc.thereporter@gmail.com.