Last year, the University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff had to start nearly from scratch under a new women’s basketball coach.
A year later, Coach Erica Leak said Tuesday during SWAC Media Day in Birmingham, Ala., she is anticipating a much better season in 2025-26.
“We basically have revamped our entire squad of having only three returners from last year, so you’ll see a lot of new faces with great capabilities and very talented,” Leak said. “We are looking for a complete 360 turnaround for this upcoming season.”
Junior point guard Jailah Pelly, senior center Briontanay Marshall and senior forward Kristyna Boyd are the only returning players from Leak’s inaugural team last season. Pelly averaged 9.3 points per game and a team-high 2.6 assists per game. Boyd averaged 8.0 points per game, and she and Marshall each averaged 4.4 rebounds.
Independent reporting for Pine Bluff & Jefferson County since 1879.
The biggest loss from last year’s team was guard D’Arrah Allen, who transferred to Arkansas State after finishing as UAPB’s leading scorer with 14.3 points per game.
That team finished 3-25 overall and 1-17 in SWAC play, but Leak said having a full offseason this year rather than a shortened one due to the timing of her hiring has helped her and her coaching staff recruit a stronger roster.
“We spent a lot of time seeking out talented players that fit the system of basketball that I want to play, as well as high-character players, high-character people,” Leak said. “So, I think that’s been the most different than this year and last year of just having that time to really vet the players as players and people.”
UAPB will have a balanced roster with seven guards and seven forwards and centers this year.
When talking about the newcomers on this year’s team, the first name Leak mentioned was junior college transfer Khaniah Gardner, who started her career at Vanderbilt. Last year as a sophomore, “KG” averaged 12.5 points and 11.9 rebounds per game for Olive-Harvey College as a center.
Gardner is listed as both a center and forward on the UAPB roster. The other newcomers at forward are Southeast Missouri State transfer Briah Hampton, Southern Utah transfer Zoey Davis, freshman Tyra Taylor from West Memphis, and London native Ruth Banjoko.
Pelly is the only returner at guard. Leak said she and Pelly, having had a year together already, are on the same page. She expects Pelly to be an extension of her coach on the court.
“She’s going to lead us,” Leak said. “She’s going to push the pace, know when to push it, know when to hold back. We’ve talked a lot about knowing the system so well that you control it. You’re the quarterback out there, and once you get everyone organized, she has the ability to score.”
UAPB added six additional guards in the offseason, including Arkansas State-Three Rivers transfer Jasmine Davis. Leak said Davis can play point or shooting guard. The Little Rock native averaged 7.6 points per game last season.
Another newcomer at guard is Indiya Bowen, who averaged 7.9 points per game after starting 11 games last year. She and Hampton were teammates at SEMO.
The other guards are Emporia State transfer Jayla Cornelius and freshmen Jada James, Alaviah Price and Jakyra Jackson.
Leak said having so many new players makes it challenging to quickly build chemistry and teach her system to everyone, but she said that process has gone well so far.
“I think when you recruit high-character players, they are more susceptible to buying in, because they want to be great, and they want to be coached,” Leak said. “This year, I’m definitely hanging my hat on the defensive end. We are going to dictate, not react to what teams are doing. We’re going to be in control of that.”
After playing Little Rock in a preseason exhibition on Oct. 17, UAPB will open the season at Memphis on Nov. 3 before playing at Arkansas on Nov. 7. The Lady Lions will then host back-to-back games against Division I opponents at H.O. Clemmons Arena: Sam Houston State on Nov. 12, and Louisiana-Monroe on Nov. 16.
UAPB will then return to the road to play Leak’s alma mater, Louisiana Tech, on Nov. 18 with another four Division I road games and two non-Division I home games afterward.
Leak said she wanted a non-conference schedule which would best prepare the Lady Lions for the start of SWAC play on Jan. 1.
“I wanted to put our players in the best position to see everything,” Leak said. “You’re going to see press. You’re going to see dog man-to-man. You’re going to see zone. Just put them in a position where, when we come down to our conference play, it’s no surprises. We’re prepared, and we’re ready.”