Charlotte, NC – Former Johnson C. Smith University women's basketball guards
Shakeena Cunningham (Buffalo, NY) and
Terrica Jones (Raleigh, NC) have recently joined teams out of the Carolina Region of the Women's Blue Chip Basketball League (WBCBL). Cunningham made the roster for the Winston-Salem Lady Warcats and Jones will be playing for the RDU Sting. The two will square off on Saturday, May 12, 2012 in the season-opener.
The Women's Blue-Chip Basketball League (WBCBL) is a new semi-professional league for women basketball players. The WBCBL's mission is to provide highly competitive basketball for women age 20 and older. The competition level ranges from former college players to former NWBL and WNBA players, as well as current international players.
In addition, the WBCBL has built a networking relationship with professional international basketball scouts and agents to broaden the possibility of higher-level professional jobs being offered.
The league is comprised of 56 teams in 12 regions throughout the United States. The Carolinas Region is the largest with seven teams, which include the Asheville Lady Panthers, Charleston Lowcountry Fire, Fayetteville Lady Rush, RDU Sting, South Carolina Storm, USA Elite, and Winston-Salem Lady Warcats.
Cunningham played two seasons at JCSU after transferring from Division I Robert Morris University. During her senior season (2010-11), JCSU women's basketball won a school record 26 games. The Golden Bulls advanced to the CIAA and NCAA DII Atlantic Regional Tournament Finals and ended the year ranked 22nd in the USA Today/ESPN Coaches poll. JCSU made a sixth appearance in the regional tournament, but won their first ever tournament contest.
Cunningham played and started all 31 games in the backcourt her final season. She averaged 24.9 minutes, 6.7 points, and 2.3 assists per game. Cunningham shot 31.9% from the field, 70% from the free throw line, and connected on three of her 20 three-point attempts (15%). She earned NCAA DII Atlantic Region All-Tournament honors.
Jones just recently completed a four-year playing career with the Golden Bulls (2008-12). In addition to being a member of the 2010-11 team with a record setting 26 games won; Jones helped bring home the first ever CIAA Tournament Championship in 2009. She is also a part of the winningest recruiting class in JCSU women's basketball history that tallied 86 victories in four seasons.
During Jones' senior year (2011-12), she played in 29 games and started in 22. Jones averaged 21 minutes, 5.4 points, and 2.3 rebounds per game. She shot 32.1% from the floor, 63.2% from the foul line, and made seven of 46 three-point attempts. Jones contributed to JCSU advancing to the CIAA Tournament Finals and making their second consecutive regional tournament appearance.
Cunningham's Lady Warcats and Jones' Sting will tip off against each other to open the 2012 season on Saturday, May 12th at 3:00 p.m. The game will take place inside the Herbert C. Young Community Center located at 101 Wilkinson Avenue in Cary, NC.
For more information on the WBCBL, please visit
www.wbcbl.com.
