The South Georgia Technical College Lady Jets remained 2nd in the nation for the second week in a row in the National Junior College Athletic Association’s (NJCAA) Division I women’s basketball poll released this week. This is the highest ranking ever achieved by the Lady Jets in their 18-year history. They first achieved the 2nd place national ranking in February of 2021 and then again last week.
The Lady Jets are 18 – 1 overall and their only loss of the year came at the hands of the top-ranked Gulf Coast State College, 76 - 61 in their opening game of the season. Gulf Coast moved to first place in the nation two weeks ago and are currently 16 – 0 overall.
Trinity Valley is ranked third in the NJCAA with a 14 – 1 record followed by Northwest Florida State (13-2) and Blinn (12-1). Eastern Florida State (16-1) is sixth in the nation followed by Southern Idaho (17-2), McLennan (12-1), Collin County (13-0), and Eastern Arizona (12-2).
South Georgia Technical College is still the only Georgia College ranked in the NJCAA Top 25 poll but East Georgia State College did earn an honorable mention. The Lady Jets will travel to Swainsboro on January 28th for a rematch with East Georgia. The Lady Jets defeated East Georgia in Americus 86 – 74 December 9th.
South Georgia Technical College Athletic Director and Lady Jets head coach James Frey is pleased with the rankings but also realizes that a ranking is only as good as the team is on any given night. “I am pleased that the NJCAA rankings are reflecting the amount of work our young ladies are putting in. But at the same time, we now have to go out and live up to that ranking every time we set foot on the court. As quickly as all this came in, it can go away, without humility and work,” explained Coach Frey, who added that they will continue taking it one game at a time.
In addition to the 2nd place ranking in the national poll, the SGTC Lady Jets also had five players to be recognized for their individual efforts on the court. The five Lady Jets featured in the national rankings include: sophomore center Fanta Gassama, sophomore Loes Rozing, sophomore Alexia Dizeko, sophomore Luana Leite and freshman guard Veronika Palfi.
Gassama, 6’ 1” center from Mataro, Spain, is currently listed as 3rd in the country in total rebounds with 243. She is also listed as 4th in defensive rebounds per game with an average of 8.8 and ranked 8th in total rebounds per game with an average of 12.8. She was featured in two other categories. She was 25th in total points scored with 258 this season and 21st in offensive rebounds per game with an average of 4.0.
Lady Jets sophomore guard Alexia Dizeko, 5’ 11” from Sion, Switzerland, is currently 10th in the nation in total points scored with 294. Sophomore guard Luana Leite, 5’ 7” from Sao Paolo, Brazil, and freshman guard Veronika Palfi are both ranked in three-point percentage shooting. Leite is making 49% of her attempts and is 7th in the nation while Palfi is making 41.5 of her attempts and is tied for 35th in the nation.
Sophomore point guard Loes Rozing, 5’ 10” from Heiloo, Netherlands is the other Lady Jet ranked and she is currently 30th in assists per game averaging 4.6.
The Lady Jets will play their next five games on the road. They travel to Denmark, SC on January 11th to play Denmark Tech at 4 p.m. Then they travel to Cuthbert on January 14th for a 1 p.m. game against Andrew College. They travel to Albany Tech on Saturday, January 21st for a conference match-up at 2 p.m. before returning to Denmark Tech on January 25th and Swainsboro to face East Georgia on January 28th. The Lady Jets next home game will be on February 1st against Central Georgia Tech at 5:30 p.m. as part of a double-header with the Jets and Andrew College at 7:30 p.m.