By Nicholas Huenefeld/Owens Sports Information
PHOTOS - here
Toledo, Ohio---Tazhia Petitt, a 5'11" power forward from Canton McKinley High School in Canton, Ohio, has signed a letter of intent to become the latest member of the 2016-17 Owens Community College women's basketball recruiting class.
Petitt, who is a 2015 graduate of Canton McKinely, earned All-Stark County and Second Team All-District honors while there. She was also a four-year letterwinner.
Stay tuned to OwensExpress.com this week as the 2016-17 recruiting class grows. This past Friday, Owens signed 6'4" center Kamryn Troike from St. Wendelin High School in Fostoria, Ohio and 5'6" combo guard Essence Cowan from Lima Senior High School in Lima, Ohio. On Monday, the team inked 6"1' forward/center Kaylah Ivey from Westerville South High School in Westerville, Ohio.
The additions of Ivey, Troike and Petitt add to what is shaping up to be an impressive front court next year as Owens is scheduled to return 6'0" forward Jeryn Reese (Mansfield/Mansfield, Ohio), who was named a National Junior College Athletic Association (NJCAA) Division II Second Team All-American this past year, and 6'0" center Aysah Ingram (Trotwood-Madison/Trotwood, Ohio), who averaged 12.1 points and 10.1 rebounds as a freshman.
Notes
The Owens women's basketball program recently finished a 29-7 season that included the program's fourth straight Ohio Community College Athletic Conference (OCCAC) championship, a Region XII District I championship and a fifth place finish at the National Junior College Athletic Association (NJCAA) Division II National Tournament. The team advanced as far as the NJCAA Elite 8.
It was the program's second straight and third appearance in the past four years at the NJCAA Division II National Tournament, where they have recorded three top 10 finishes in the past 4 seasons (7th in 2012-13, 3rd in 2014-15 and 5th in 2015-16). In 2014-15, the team advanced to the NJCAA Division II Final 4. The team has also captured five of the past six OCCAC championships and three of the past four Region XII District I championships.
Furthermore, the program has won at least 25 games in each of the past seven seasons. During that time, the program has compiled a 195-37 record (.841 winning percentage), including an 81-9 record (.900 winning percentage) in OCCAC play.
Head coach Michael Llanas, who recently completed his 12th season at Owens, has compiled a 294-96 record during that time. Furthermore, he has achieved a 127-29 record in OCCAC play with six OCCAC championships.