TAYLORSVILLE, Utah (Tuesday, November 28, 2023) – Salt Lake is set to play three more home games as they welcome in Western Wyoming early in the week before hosting the SLCC December Classic Basketball Tournament on December 1 & 2.
GAME INFORMATION
GAME ONE
Salt Lake (4-4, 0-0 SWAC) vs. Western Wyoming CC (2-5)
DATE | TIME: Tuesday, Nov. 28 | 4 p.m. MT
LOCATION: Taylorsville, UT | Bruin Arena
LIVE STATS: Click Here
LIVE STREAM: Click Here
TWITTER: @SLCCBruins
GAME TWO
Salt Lake (4-4, 0-0 SWAC) vs. Central Wyoming College (5-4)
DATE | TIME: Friday, Dec. 1 | 5 p.m. MT
LOCATION: Taylorsville, UT | Bruin Arena
LIVE STATS: Click Here
LIVE STREAM: Click Here
TWITTER: @SLCCBruins
GAME THREE
Salt Lake (4-4, 0-0 SWAC) vs. All-Stars
DATE | TIME: Saturday, Dec. 2 | 4 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 week against Region IX Western Wyoming before hosting the SLCC December Classic Basketball Tournament on Friday and Saturday, December 1 and 2. This tournament wraps up SLCC's 2023 home schedule.
Following this week of action, Salt Lake plays four more games in December before a holiday break. The Bruins will be in La Junta, Colorado for the Otero Tournament on December 8 and 9. SLCC then heads to Powell, Wyoming the following week for a pair of games to end the non-conference portion of its schedule on December 15 and 16.
AWARD WINNERS
Heaven Samayoa-Mathis was named the Scenic West Athletic Conference Player of the Week after averaging 19 points, five rebounds, 2.5 assists, and 2.5 steals per game in the Thanksgiving Classic. The sophomore guard helped lead the Bruins to a 1-1 finish in the tournament.
LAST TIME OUT
Led by Samayoa-Mathis and the defense of Ana Oliviera Dias, SLCC battled back from a double-digit second-half deficit to give themselves a chance in the final minute. Despite not being able to finish the comeback against No. 22 Odessa, the Bruins showed they could hang with any team in the country.
Heaven Samayoa-Mathis made 8-of-11 shots, including 6-of-7 from deep for a team-high 23 points. Mia Tarver was the only other Bruin in double-figures with 11 points, five assists, three rebounds, and three steals in the loss.
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 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 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 WESTERN WYOMING
The Mustangs (2-5) enter Bruin Arena looking to snap a three-game losing streak.
Led by second-year head coach Wesley Padilla, WWCC is scoring 70-4 points per game on 34.7 percent shooting and 27.6 percent from three-point range. Defensively, the Mustangs give up 74.9 points per game while forcing nearly ten steals per contest.
The Mustangs feature a dynamic duo of 5'8 sophomore guard Kayde Strauss and 5'10 sophomore Tamryn Blom. Strauss' 13.4 points per game lead Western Wyoming while Blom's 13.1 points and 10.4 rebounds per game will present a challenge for Salt Lake's defense.
NEXT UP
Salt Lake (4-4) opens the week against Region IX Western Wyoming before hosting the SLCC December Classic Basketball Tournament on Friday and Saturday, December 1 and 2. Tip-off against Western Wyoming at 4 p.m. (MT). 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
