By Nicholas Huenefeld/Owens Sports Information
Toledo, Ohio---Briana Williams (Stebbins/Dayton, Ohio), a sophomore point guard for the Owens Community College women's basketball team, has signed with NCAA Division II West Virginia State University to continue her collegiate career.
Williams, who will leave Owens as the program's all-time career assists leader at 331, averaged 11.8 points, 3.4 rebounds, 5.8 assists and 1.7 steals per game as a sophomore. In addition to her career assist total, she produced 640 points in her career, which is the highest total among all five sophomores and the 28th highest in program history.
"Thinking back to two years ago, I'm so happy I made the decision to come to Owens," Williams said. "It means everything to me to know that I was able to be a big part of this program. It means a lot to me to know not only was I part of the program here at Owens, but to think of all the history we made together the past two years (is special)."
Williams was an integral member of the winningest sophomore class in program history. In her two years at Owens, she led the team to a 63-9 record, 33 and 17 game winning streaks, two Ohio Community College Athletic Conference (OCCAC) championships, a 28-0 conference record, two Region XII District I championships, a 10-2 postseason record, one National Junior College Athletic Association (NJCAA) Final Four appearance, one NJCAA Elite 8 Appearance and a program record 34 wins (2014-15).
"Moving on, I just look forward to making an impact on the team at West Virginia State and helping the program make history there and win a national championship. I think that's what the big picture or main goal in any program is. (Therefore), I'm taking the same expectations that I had for our program at Owens to West Virginia State."
As a sophomore, Williams recorded 209 assists, which was 17 shy of the program's single season record, scored in double figures in 25 of 36 games, including a season-high 21 points against Cincinnati State on Feb. 27, and produced the 27th highest single season point total in program history at 424. In her career, she posted averages of 9.1 points, 2.7 rebounds, 4.7 assists and 1.4 steals per game.
Following her sophomore year, Williams was named Honorable Mention All-OCCAC after averaging 13.7 points, 4.2 rebounds, 6.6 assists and two steals over 14 games. She finished 13th in the conference in scoring, second in assists and 10th in steals per game.
Additionally, Williams becomes the seventh player from the 2014-15 team to sign with a four-year school. She joins Ashley Tunstall (NCAA Division I Bowling Green State University), Sierra Harley (NCAA Division I Florida Gulf Coast University, LaKayra Carlisle (NCAA Division II Central State University), Kheri Motley (NCAA Division II Notre Dame College), Demy Whitaker (NAIA University of Northwestern Ohio) and Zhana Randolph (NAIA University of Saint Francis).
This year, Williams becomes the second player from the team to sign with a four-year school after Lakyn Gulley (South Side/Fort Wayne, Ind.) signed with NCAA Division I Southeast Missouri State University towards the beginning of this past season.
West Virginia State University, which competes in the Mountain East Conference, finished 13-16 overall last year, including a 10-12 mark in conference play. They will be led by Charles Marshall, who will be entering his first season at WVSU after spending three years at Glenville State College.
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 to 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.