Life after Coley begins after four successful years

Photo by Joseph Kosanke

Steven Rowell/ Staff Writer

Senior guard Jerica Coley’s collegiate career at FIU is now in the books and she closed it with an exclamation mark in the Conference USA tournament.

In a season of inconsistency and adjusting to playing with inexperienced the Panthers were forced to build chemistry throughout the season. With senior center Marita Davydova ruled ineligible at the beginning of the season the Panthers struggled their way en route to a 15-18 season and a 6-10 record in conference play.

“We obviously didn’t have the kind of season we wanted; it was tough with new players being in the rotation,” Coley said. “We had a couple good stretches and also Tynia [McKinzie] and Taylor [Shade] step up this season especially in the conference tournament.”

Despite team success not coming consistently, Coley’s production throughout the season was excellent. Coley averaged 29.5 points per game, a mark that led the nation.

Coley also averaged 6.8 rebounds per game and recorded six double-doubles for the season. The senior finished her career with over 3,000 points which makes her one of ten players to accomplish that feat.  Coley also racked up another All-American award.

Despite finishing below .500 this season saw the emergence of sophomore guard Taylor Shade and junior forward Tynia McKinzie. Shade emerged as another player showing ability to create off the dribble and combined with her shooting ability averaged 9.5 points per game after seeing limited action in her freshman season. This season Shade had 16 games of reaching double figures including a career high of 26 points in a game against Florida Atlantic University. Shade had two different stretches of scoring double figures in four consecutive games.

McKinzie emerged as a low post threat for the Panthers this season averaging 9.4 points per game. McKinzie reached double figures in 19 games this season with a career high of 18 points against Charlotte. The junior was successful on the boards as well averaging 7.4 rebounds per game and tallying double figure rebounds in 11 games and recording seven double-doubles this season.

McKinzie’s brightest moment in the C-USA tournament which arguably might have been the time FIU was at its best this season.

In the tournament FIU defeated three teams by double figures with two of the three beating FIU in the season by double figures previously. FIU reached the semifinals defeating Rice 85-65 avenging an earlier 18 point loss, then taking out East Carolina 87-75 and reaching the semifinals defeating Tulane 69-55 after previously losing to them by 11 points in the regular season. In the semifinals FIU lost to Middle Tennessee 64-57.

“In the tournament, I don’t know it just seemed like everything finally was clicking on the court for us,” Coley said.

McKinzie played well in the tournament recording double-doubles in three of the four games. Shade scored in double figures in three of the four games while Coley score 42 points against ECU and finished her final game against Middle Tennessee State University with 19 points and 12 rebounds.

As Coley departs FIU, she was asked about whether the performances of Shade and McKinzie in the tournament indicate their potential for next season.

“I think it does and that next year they both can step up even more and how they did in the tournament shows how confident they are,” Coley said.

When asked if the tournament was the best FIU played all season, Coley agreed.

As the Panthers will get ready for life without Coley on the court, the senior is focusing on finishing her degree and getting ready for final exams. With that being number one, the second thing Coley has in mind is preparing herself for a pro career after leaving behind big shoes to fill at FIU.

 

-sports@fiusm.com

 

Be the first to comment on "Life after Coley begins after four successful years"

Leave a comment

Your email address will not be published.


*