TAYLORSVILLE, Utah (Tuesday, November 21, 2023) – Salt Lake opens the holiday season with the annual SLCC Thanksgiving Tournament. This year, the Thanksgiving Tournament features the Eastern Wyoming Lancers and Odessa College Wranglers, along with the host Bruins.
GAME INFORMATION
GAME ONE
Salt Lake (3-3, 0-0 SWAC) vs. Eastern Wyoming (3-3)
DATE | TIME: Friday, Nov. 24 | 3 p.m. MT
LOCATION: Taylorsville, UT | Bruin Arena
LIVE STATS: Click Here
LIVE STREAM: Click Here
TWITTER: @SLCCBruins
GAME TWO
Salt Lake (3-3, 0-0 SWAC) vs. Odessa College (5-2)
DATE | TIME: Saturday, Nov. 25 | 3 p.m. MT
LOCATION: Taylorsville, UT | Bruin Arena
LIVE STATS: Click Here
LIVE STREAM: Click Here
TWITTER: @SLCCBruins
HOW TO TUNE IN
Fans can watch all Salt Lake Community College Athletics events at the ScenicWestNetwork.com/slcc. Listen to Bruins play-by-play analyst Brian Preece. Live stats are on SLCCBruins.com.
OPENING TIP
The Bruins open the SLCC Thanksgiving Tournament against Eastern Wyoming College (3-3) on Friday, November 24. at 3 p.m. MT. Salt Lake takes on the No. 22 Odessa Wranglers on Saturday, Novermber25 at 3 p.m. MT.
LAST TIME OUT
Salt Lake built an 11-point first-half lead and then held on down the stretch for a 67-60 win over Pima Community College.
Heaven Samayoa-Mathis played all 40 minutes for the second time this season. The sophomore from Sacramento, California packed the stat sheet with 17 points, seven rebounds, and three assists.
Sophomore Ines Gnahore added 13 points and five rebounds in a reserve role. Ana Oliviera Dias scored seven points and grabbed a game-high 14 boards.
Laura Di Stefano, a freshman out of Rome, Italy, chipped in nine points, five rebounds, three assists, and a blocked shot from the post position.
THE BRUINS
Coach Grayer and company return three players from last season's 22-9 team that lost to CSI in the Region 18 Championship game.
Mia Tarver averaged 4.9 points, 2.9 rebounds, and 1.1 assists as a freshman in 29 games. Karina Grayer averaged 3.3 points, 2.5 rebounds, and 1.1 assists as a freshman in 24 games (18 starts). Bati Assefa averaged 1.4 points and 1.5 rebounds as a freshman in 17 games.
Salt Lake's roster boasts six prep athletes out of Utah in Tarver (East), Grayer (Cyprus), Summer Larson (Corner Canyon), Cambree Tensmeyer (Green River), Kaija Glasker (Highland), and Cecilia Olevao (Highland).
SLCC also has an international flair to its roster with players from six different countries. Assefa (Sweden), Funmi Amode (England), Ana Oliviera Dias & Marcella Liete (Brazil), Ines Gnahore & Jeanne Rodriguez (France), Pilar Bernad (Spain), and Laura Di Stefano (Italy).
Heaven Samayoa-Mathis from Sacramento, California rounds out the Bruins 2023-24 roster.
IN THE RANKS
Salt Lake has not been able to crack the NJCAA DI Women's Basketball Rankings. The SWAC is well represented by No. 8 College of Southern Idaho and No. 14 Utah State Eastern.
HEAD COACH MARCILINA GRAYER
Marcilina Grayer is entering her fourth season as the head coach of the Salt Lake Community College Women's Basketball program. She was named as head coach of the Bruins in the spring of 2019, replacing longtime coach Betsy Specketer. She also serves as the Assistant Athletic Director for the department, assisting with eligibility and other administrative functions for the department.
A former SLCC player herself, she has brought a wealth of experience to the program. Grayer also fulfills the role of Eligibility Coordinator for the department. Grayer is currently a member of the NJCAA Board of Regents, representing Region 18 and the Scenic West Athletic Conference.
The SLCC alum has already created a notable reputation by coaching with the Bruins, with a set of accomplishments that landed her on the WBCA Thirty-Under-30 in 2018. The list recognizes the top 30 coaches in collegiate women's basketball under the age of 30.
Coach Grayer earned her bachelor's degree in Integrated Studies (Criminal Justice/Psychology) from Dixie State University and also obtained an associate's degree from SLCC. She holds a Masters Degree in Coaching and Athletic Administration from Concordia University - Irvine.
ABOUT THE LANCERS
Eastern Wyoming is 3-3 with all three losses coming on the road. The Lancers are averaging 67.2 ppg while allowing opponents to score 64.8 ppg. EWC is shooting 36 percent from the field making more than seven threes per game on 26.7 percent shooting.
Hailey Long is averaging team-highs with 14.3 points and eight rebounds per game. Ali Tripp (11.2 ppg), and Luna Moreno (10.3) also average double-digits for the Lancers.
The Bruins are undefeated in five previous matchups against Eastern Wyoming. SLCC beat the Lancers 59-54 last November.
ABOUT THE WRANGLERS
The No. 22 Odessa Wranglers enter the week with a 5-2 record and a four-game winning streak. The Wranglers are averaging 81.4 ppg while shooting 48.3 percent from the field and 25.3 percent from deep. Opponents have made 40.8 percent of their shots while scoring 66.4 ppg.
Sophomore G/F Ivana Krajina leads four Wranglers in double-figures with 19.3 ppg. Sarengbe Sanogo (13.8 ppg), Destinee Barnes (11.6 ppg), and Chelsy Bautista (11.6 ppg) round out the group.
Salt Lake is 3-3 all-time against the Wranglers, winning 69-66 against Odessa last November.
NEXT UP
Salt Lake (3-3) opens the home portion of its 2023-24 schedule by hosting Eastern Wyoming College and Odessa College in the SLCC Thanksgiving Tournament on November 24-25. The Bruins host Eastern Wyoming at 3 p.m. on Friday, Nov. 24 at Bruin Arena. Find tickets for all Salt Lake Community College events here.
FOLLOW THE BRUINS!
Fans can follow along during the 2023-24 season on social media (Twitter: @slccbruins | Instagram: @slccbruins |Facebook: www.facebook.com/bruin.athletics
