Darton Lady Cavs No.10 in NJCAA preseason poll
Colorado Springs, Colo. – The NJCAA national office ranked Darton State College as No. 10 in the first D-1 poll of the 2013-2014 basketball season, today.
It is the highest ranking in the program’s history.
“I’m excited about it,” said Lea Henry, who is entering her third season as head of the Lady Cavs. “I think it shows our program some respect.”
The Lady Cavaliers finished the 2012-2013 season as 12th in the NJCAA. Darton won its first Region 17 title in over a decade before crushing Denmark Tech 75-55 to win the Lady Cavs’ first District J Championship title. Darton finished the season 30-4.
Now the NJCAA sees the bright program as a top ten competitor.
“It’s a compliment, but it lets you know there is a lot expected too,” Henry said.
Those expectations will fall onto returning starters Iesha Bonner and Kadayasha Jones, but a very talented class of recruits will provide an instant impact to the program as well.
Henry brought in a pair of NCAA D-1 transfers – 5’9” guard Cedricka Sweeting (Auburn) and 6’1” post-player and former Lee County High standout DaQuenna Moore (Alabama State) - who are expected to be on the court at Darton’s opening tip-off, Friday . Towering 6’2” freshman guard Shanea Armbrister, who comes to Darton from the Bahamas, looked great in preseason and will likely be on the floor as well.
Darton plays West Georgia Tech at 2 p.m., Friday, as the Lady Cavs open their season with their own Darton Classic tournament. Darton will play again at noon, Saturday, against Southern Union.