Freshman Jillisa Briggs leads DACC in rebounds!

Former Trinidad and Tobago junior player 5-11 Jillisa Briggs is dominating the boards despite coming off the bench in her inaugural US Collegiate career. Briggs, best known locally for her offensive skills, is currently nationally ranked 12th in offensive rebounds (5.3rpg) and 26th in total rebounds (10.8rpg) playing for Danville Area Community College (DACC) in Region 24, National Junior College Athletic Association (NJCAA), Division 2.

On November 11, Briggs pulled down a career and game high 15rebs that included seven on offense, along with 7pts, as DACC scored a comfortable 78-56 non-conference home victory over Milwaukee Area Tech in Danville, Illinois. Compatriots 6-3 Stephanie Stephen and 6-3 Julissa Danglade also chipped in with 2pts, 2stls & 1blk; and 2rebs, respectively, in the victory. Both Stephen and Danglade are also in their first year at DACC. Together with Briggs, they are the first threesome from Trinidad and Tobago to play for the same US school.

In the previous game, Briggs tallied 10pts & 9rebs but in a losing effort, 60-100, against Kirkwood Community College (Iowa) on November 10. Stephen had 2rebs & Danglade, 1reb. On November 8, Briggs shared a team high 11rebs with 4pts, 1ast & 2blks in a close loss, 59-62, to John A. Logan College. Danglade added 2pts & 2rebs, while Stephen was not rostered to play. DACC next play another non-conference game against Franklin College JV on November 15.

Briggs is averaging 6.3ppg & 10.8rpg: 40.0%2FPM & 71.4%FT in four games. Meanwhile, Stephen is averaging 1.3rpg: 100%FT in three games. Danglade is averaging 1.0ppg & 1.8rpg: 25.0%2FPM & 100% FT from 4 games.

Down in Texas, Briggs’ niece 6-1 center Alysa Connelly enjoyed a shared team high five rebounds, including three on offense, coming off the bench as Howard College defeated rival Region 5 NJCAA D1 rivals Ranger College 53-39 on November 7. Connelly, who is a freshman, is coming off an injury that hampered her preparation for two weeks, prior to her first game. On November 10, Connelly played 11mins and tallied 2pts & 3rebs in a 49-69 loss to Pima Community College at the Gila Monster Shootout Tournament in Thatcher, Arizona. Howard next play rivals Cisco College on November 16. Connelly is averaging 2.3rpg & 0.8ppg from six games.

Over in Memphis, Tennessee, 6-3 center Nairobi Lewis grabbed 5rebs and shared a team high 2blks, in six minutes off the bench, helping LeMoyne-Owen College to a 56-51 non-conference victory over Mississippi College on November 11. Meanwhile, elder sister 6-2 Afrika Lewis contributed 2pts & 3rebs in 8mins off the bench as LeMonye outscored Harris –Stowe University 73-52 on November 4. LeMonyne-Owen next play Edward Walters University on November 17 and the following day against Benedict College in their Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Conference, NCAA D2, opening game.