Meridian Community College sophomore Norianna Haynes returns to lead the Eagles after earning honorable mention All-American status as a freshman with 20 points per game.

    For the Meridian Community College women’s basketball team, watching Copiah-Lincoln celebrate an NJCAA Region 23 championship last year was a bittersweet pill to swallow. However, with a new season comes new opportunities and, for the Eagles, the time is now.

     “We were extermely disappointed last year,” MCC coach Hilary Allen said. “But through disappointment comes resolve. Each member of this team has worked harder to make this a better team.”

    Coming off a 27-win campaign in 2010, MCC was led by a freshmen class that was second to none. In 2011, those freshmen are now sophomores and make the Eagles a favorite to win the Miss-Lou Conference once again.

    “Having four sophomores in the starting lineup is a big plus,” Allen said. “Having more sophomores coming off the bench with 33 games experience is a big plus as well.”

    The Eagles come into this season led by former Northeast Lauderdale star Norianna Haynes, who averaged 20 points per game as a freshman. Haynes finished the 2010 season as an All-American honorable mention. Joining Haynes on the court this year is Miss-Lou Conference MVP Chasity Kearney, who averaged 19 points and 10 rebounds, Arnissa Galloway, who averaged 12 points and 11 rebounds, and Kia Norris. Norris missed the first half of last season because of eligibility issues but came on board for the second half of the year.

    “We had an outstanding freshmen class last season,” Allen said. “Now, a year older, The kids know my system and have bought into my system. We have taken a step in the right direction.”

    Joining the sophomores is another talented freshmen class led by Gelese Lampton from Hattiesburg, and Ashtin McNichols from Newton High School.

    “We are expecting big things from the newcomers,” Allen added. 

    The year will not be easy. The schedule is filled with strong teams highlighted by visits from Pensacola State College and Georgia Perimeter College. 

    “We feel like we have a strong schedule,” he said. “We have scheduled teams that are going to test us.

    “Baton Rouge was runner-up last year in the conference. In the state of Mississippi, Copiah-Lincoln, Jones (County), East Central and  East Mississippi all have fine programs.”

    The Eagles tip off their season Monday when they take on Alabama Southern at 6 p.m.