Marianna, FL – The South Georgia Technical College Lady Jets dropped back-to-back losses in the Chipola Classic in Marianna, FL over the weekend to fall to 3 – 7 on the season. They suffered a 71 – 66 loss to Bishop State Community College and then an 84 – 61 decision to the undefeated second-ranked Chipola State Indians.
The Lady Jets seem to be struggling under third year Athletic Director and Lady Jets head coach Jason Carpenter who put together a combined 46 – 18 record in his first two years and one national tournament appearance. He was 21 – 11 in his opening season and then 25 -7 last season with a trip to Casper, Wyoming for the National Junior College Athletic Association national tournament.
This season the Lady Jets have already suffered seven losses and are hoping to turn things around in January against their conference opponents. But before that happens, they will face the sixth nationally ranked Three Rivers Community College, the 13th ranked Shelton State team, second ranked Chipola College again, and previously ranked Eastern State College.
In November, the Lady Jets had a 3 – 5 record against some nationally ranked opponents and then started December off 0 – 2 after losing to the nationally ranked undefeated Chipola Indians. They will face nationally ranked Three Rivers College and Shelton State College in the Shelton State Classic in Tuscaloosa on December 13 and 14 and then St. Petersburg College, Chipola College and Eastern Florida State College in the Lady Jets Holiday Classic in Americus, December 28 – 30th.
No starters returned this season for the Lady Jets but freshman guard Ja’niya Broome from Hamilton in Harris County has proved to be one of SGTC’s top scorers this season. Broome scored 23 points in the match-up with Bishop State Community College in that 71 – 66 loss and had another 14 points in the 84 – 61 loss to the nationally ranked unbeaten Chipola College Lady Indians.
Broome was joined in double-digits with sophomore guard Taja Bennett from Dallas, TX, and freshman point guard Candice Ganga from Paris, France, who tossed in 14 points each against Bishop State. Sophomore guard Jaidyn Elam from Pontiac, MI, came away with eight points and led the team in rebounds with 13. Jada Jones tossed in five points and Nyla Buyck closed out the scoring with two points on the night.
The Lady Jets opened the game against Bishop State with a 22 – 13 lead at the end of the first quarter but Bishop State rallied in the second quarter to pull ahead 35 – 34 at the half. The Lady Jets tried to come back in the fourth quarter by outscoring Bishop 21 – 18 but still fell five points shy of the comeback.
Then in the match-up against the undefeated second-ranked Chipola College Indians, the Lady Jets were outscored in all four quarters to wind up with the 84 – 61 loss. Sophomore guard Taja Bennett, sophomore guard Jaidyn Elam from Pontiac, MI, and Broome from Hamilton, GA were the top scorers with 16, 15, and 14 points respectively. Elam led the team in rebounds with 11.
Freshman point guard Candice Ganga tossed in seven points, Nyla Buyck, Jada Jones, and Jahmaica Clegg closed out the scoring with 4, 3, and 2 points respectively.
The Lady Jets will travel to Tuscaloosa, AL for the Shelton State Classic on December 13 and 14 before returning home to face St. Petersburg College at 7 p.m. on December 28th and then Chipola College and Eastern Florida State at 8 p.m. and 7 p.m. on December 29 and 30 in the Lady Jets Holiday Classic.
They open up the conference season on January 7th at 5:30 p.m. against Central Georgia Tech in the Hangar. The men follow at 7:30 p.m. in the double-header action.