The Northern Oklahoma College Lady Mavericks open the 2021 season Jan. 20 when the Mavs host Cowley County at 5:30 p.m. at Foster-Piper Fieldhouse.
The Lady Mavs are under the tutelage of head coach Greg Krause entering his 39th season at NOC Tonkawa. The Lady Mavs suffered a number of injuries in 2020 finishing the year at 3-26.
In a normal year, the Lady Mavs would have opened the season in November but due to Covid-19, the NJCAA season opens Jan. 20.
“It’s been a big adjustment,” Krause said. “We’ve tried to keep our routines the same but it’s been a challenge. We didn’t see our players for 60 days and now we play in two weeks so we are going full go to get ready for our first game against Cowley. We are excited to get started and compete.”
The Lady Mavs return five letter winners from 2020 including guards Mia Brown, Celeste Moore, and Caitlin Bailey along with forwards Radina Zhivachka and Lauren Coates as pictured from left to right. Brown and Moore missed most of last year with injuries.
“We have a solid returning group,” Krause said. “Mia (Brown) has a chance to be a special player, she can shoot the ball well and has the ability to make things happen with the dribble. Radina (Zhivachka) is a post player that is very versatile, she can shoot the 3-pointer but can also post up well in the paint. Celeste (Moore) is a tremendous athlete while Lauren (Coates) and Caitlin (Bailey) are solid players.”
Krause is also counting on transfer Gavriel Myers.
“She can really shoot the ball,” he said. “She’ll help us a lot.”
Krause also has sophomore Kailynn Belcher as well as incoming freshmen Morgan Livesay, Delaney Reimer, Chloe Brinlee, Travisha Cogdill, Kaitlyn Clemons, and Morgan Romero.
“They are a good group with a lot of promise,” Krause said. “We have a good combination of shooting and playmaking. I think they call all contribute this year. This is the kind of year where everyone is going to have to be ready to go when they are needed.”
This year’s schedule is 23 games with 18 NJCAA Region 2 games and five non-conference games.
Region 2 games include home and home series with NOC Enid, NEO, Western, Eastern, Redlands, Murray State, and Seminole. Non-conference games include a home and home series with Cowley College and Labette (KS) and Southwest Christian.
The Lady Mavs assistant coach is Carey Phariss.
2021 Schedule
Jan. 20: Cowley Colley (H)
Jan. 23: Cowley College (A)
Jan. 29: Labette (A)
Feb. 1: Labette (H)
Feb. 4: NEO (A)
Feb. 8: NOC Enid (H)
Feb. 11: Connors (A)
Feb. 15: Redlands (H)
Feb. 18: Murray (H)
Feb. 22: Western (A)
Feb. 25: Eastern (H)
Feb. 27: Southwestern Christian (H)
March 1: Seminole (A)
March 8: NEO (H)
March 11: NOC Enid (A)
March 15: Connors (H)
March 22: Murray (A)
March 25: Western (H)
March 29: Eastern (A)
April 1: Seminole (H)
Tip-off are at 5:30 p.m.
Northern Oklahoma College, the state’s first public community college, is a multi-campus, land-grant institution that provides high quality, accessible, and affordable educational opportunities and services which create life-changing experiences and develop students as effective learners and leaders within their communities in a connected, ever changing world.
NOC, a public two-year community college, serves nearly 5,000 students on the home campus in Tonkawa, branch in Enid, NOC/OSU Gateway Program in Stillwater, online, and the University Center in Ponca City. Of these students about 60% receive financial aid and/or scholarships. Over 80% of NOC students complete their degree with zero debt.
NOC is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission and offers associate degrees in three general areas: Arts, Science and Applied Science. The associate degree fulfills lower-division course work which is applicable towards a bachelor’s degree.
Call (580) 628-6200 for more information about Northern Oklahoma College or visit www.noc.edu .
