In women's collegiate basketball, it is a rarity to win 20 games, finish four games above .500 in conference play, and miss the playoffs.
It was that trifecta that the Temple College Leopards' basketball endured in 2024.
Temple was 20-11 overall, with a 10-6 season, better record on the road (10-4 versus 8-5), and still missed the playoffs.
Like the Temple College men's basketball team, the Leopards did not play a game that was decided by three points or less.
In fact, their 86-80, two-overtime thriller at home Angelina College at Kirby Johnson Gymnasium was the closest decision of the season.
"With any team, it does not matter if you had a good season or a bad one, you can always lessons learned as a coach and apply them to the next season," Temple College women's head basketball coach Amber Taylor said. "There are things you can take away to become a better coach, and to make your program better. There are always things at the end of the year that you can reflect on."
In September, Taylor brought on board Meleanna Williams as the new women's basketball assistant coach. Williams, a former standout at Killeen High School who made her collegiate mark at Arkansas State University MidSouth, is a coach that Taylor can lean on with regards to knowing the rigors of a student-athlete, not being far removed from the game.
"It is always tough to lose staff, especially staff that has been with you for multiple years. You get a routine going," Taylor said. "Coach Mel has come in and has done a great job of filling the role as an assistant coach. Being a college basketball player, she just sees things differently than someone who has not played college basketball. She is able to relate and to explain things. She was a great player at Killeen High School and we are lucky to have her on staff."
Another key addition to the staff is a new position: women's basketball strength and conditioning coach. Avery Drake, who was a decorated athlete at Belton High School and former softball standout at Houston Baptist University/Houston Christian University and Longwood University, was added recently added.
"It is our first opportunity to have a strength and conditioning coach on staff," Taylor said. "I felt that strength and conditioning is something that we needed more focus on this year. I always feel that you hire people that can compliment your weaknesses. It was definitely an area that I was happy to have someone take care of that role. Avery is great, being a former collegiate athlete herself, so she gets the daily grind and the ins-and-outs of being a student-athlete, preparing, and training."
In October, the Leopards loaded up their scrimmage season with teams at the Dallas Uprise JUCO Jamboree, Shalin Hoops Scrimmage Showcase, and a trio of nationally-ranked opponents, two in the NJCAA (Kilgore College and Trinity Valley Community College) and one in NCAA Division III (University of Mary Hardin-Baylor).
"This scrimmage season has been about building chemistry," Taylor said. "Finding the right rotations. Things can be great in practice, and once you start playing different people, you may see some things in players that your have not previously seen. We used the scrimmages to get a good look at everybody."
Just two players remain from the 2024-2025 team that will play in 2025-2026: Center Gabby Edo and guard Kyla Clark. The Leopard brought in experience in sophomores Chyna Nixon, Ky'Myreul Wheaton, Kania Prichett and Emori Lasalle to go with freshmen Raniyah Hunt. Ma'Leah Duvall, Sy'Nariea, Antronea Jackson, Daija Mitchell, Arianna Prichett, JoeMoriah Ben, and Zoe Parker.
"It is a new team every year in JUCO," Taylor said. "Rarely you have a group that stays together like the one three years ago with the six returners and the great sophomore class. The makeup of this team is two returners and a solid mix of transfers and freshmen, just about every level that you can get on the JUCO level. We are an older team, but we have a great freshman class that are playing very good and well get a good deal of minutes. It is a good deal for this season, and hopefully into next year as well."
After a challenging pre-season schedule, the Leopards will host Palo Alto College at 2 pm Saturday at Kirby Johnson Court. Following a 5:30 pm contest with Coastal Bend College on Nov. 4, the Leopards begin tournament play against National Park College and Tyler Junior College on Nov. 7-8. After games at Angelina College and against Blinn, the Leopards will take on Western Texas College, Howard College, and Western Gulf Collegiate at the WTC Classic in Snyder Nov. 20-22. TC wraps tournament play Dec. 5-6 by hosting Tyler and Angelina in the Temple Classic.
"I always feel that it is important to learn to win on the road just because it is so hard to win in this conference," Taylor said. "We wanted a pre-conference schedule where you have to battle. A soft schedule will not help us. Our conference is a battle, night in and night out. So, we need to be tested and this schedule will certainly do that.
The Leopards host Ranger College on Jan. 7 to begin North Texas Junior College Athletic Conference play.
Temple College Women's Basketball roster
No. Cl. Name Pos. Hometown
1 FR Raniyah Hunt G Little Elm, TX.
2 FR Ma'Leah Duvall G Killeen, TX.
3 FR Korina Garcia G Converse, TX.
4 SO Gabby Edo P Austin, TX.
5 SO Ke'Myreul Wheaton G Madisonville, TX.
10 FR Sy'Nariea Snow P San Antonio, TX.
11 SO Chyna Nixon G Killeen, TX.
12 FR Antronea Jackson F Wills Point, TX.
13 SO Daija Mitchell F Killeen, TX.
20 SO Kania Prichett G Austin, TX.
21 FR Arianna Prichett G Austin, TX.
22 FR JoeMoriah Ben G Beaumont, TX.
23 SO Kyla Clark G College Station, TX.
24 SO Emori Lasalle G Crosby, TX.
25 FR Zoe Parker G Killeen, TX.
Head coach – Amber Tayor, Assistant Coach – Meleanna Williams.
2025-2026 TC Women's Basketball schedule
(home games in bold, played at Kirby Johnson Court and broadcasted on Temple College's PlaySight page)
Date Time Opponent
Nov. 1 2 pm Palo Alto College
Nov. 4 5:30 pm Coastal Bend College
Nov. 7 5 pm National Park College ^
Nov. 8 3 pm Tyler Junior College ^
Nov. 12 6 pm at Angelina College
Nov. 20 7 pm Western Texas College +
Nov. 21 11 am Howard College +
Nov. 22 1 pm Western Gulf Collegiate +
Dec. 3 5:30 pm at Coastal Bend College
Dec. 5 7 pm Tyler Junior College %
Dec. 6 12 pm Angelina College %
Dec. 13 2 pm Blinn College
Jan. 2 1 pm Western Texas College
Jan. 3 1 pm at Blinn College
Jan. 7 5 pm Ranger College *
Jan. 10 2 pm at Collin County Community College *
Jan. 14 7 pm at Grayson College *
Jan. 17 4 pm Hill College *
Jan. 21 5 pm at Weatherford College *
Jan. 24 2 pm Southwestern Christian College *
Jan. 31 2 pm at McLennan Community College *
Feb. 4 5 pm Cisco College *
Feb. 7 2 pm at Ranger College *
Feb. 11 5 pm Collin County Community College *
Feb. 14 2 pm Grayson College *
Feb. 18 5 pm at Hill College *
Feb. 21 2 pm Weatherford College *
Feb. 25 5 pm at Southwestern Christian College *
Mar. 4 5 pm McLennan Community College *
Mar. 7 2 pm at Cisco College *
^ - Tyler Junior College Classic, Wagstaff Gymnasium, Tyler, TX.
+ - Western Texas College Classic, WTC Coliseum, Snyder, TX.
% - Temple Classic, Kirby Johnson Court, Temple, TX.
* - North Texas Junior College Athletic Conference game.