MOORHEAD — A blend of returning experience, sophomore additions and promising freshmen has Mississippi Delta Community College women’s basketball coach Tangela Banks looking for a step forward in 2026–27.
With preseason jamborees behind them, the Lady Trojans are preparing to host South Arkansas College on Nov. 4. Banks confirmed the opening date in an Oct. 27 interview, and MDCC’s athletics homepage lists the matchup with a tipoff time still to be announced.
“We’re definitely gonna be better from last year,” Banks said. “We got a couple transfer kids in. Of course, we got Kimmy back.”
Banks described a roster split roughly between experienced players and newcomers, a balance intended to keep the program from having to replace its entire core at once. Her immediate goal is more victories and a move toward the middle of the conference standings.
The returning group includes the player Banks called “Kimmy,” along with Aniya Williams and Kynaja Marshall. Williams and Marshall appeared on MDCC’s 2025–26 roster as forwards from Gentry High School in Indianola and Hale County High School in Alabama, respectively.
Banks also expects an important contribution from a returning sophomore who missed last season with a torn ACL. She said the player has been fully cleared to return.
“She’s going to be a big piece for us,” Banks said.
The sophomore additions include Lakayla Lewis, whom Banks identified as a transfer from Holmes, and Sydney McIntyre, a Pillow Academy product. Banks clarified that McIntyre was already at Mississippi Delta last year but did not play.
Among the freshmen, Banks singled out Ryan Goss, Leah Hill and Olivia Holman as players who could contribute early.
“I think there are going to be some good freshman pieces,” she said.
Exactly how those pieces fit offensively remains a work in progress. Banks said the staff has been experimenting with different approaches, including whether to build the offense through the post or the guards. What she does expect is a faster pace.
Defensively, the Lady Trojans intend to take advantage of their quickness in the backcourt, applying more pressure and creating opportunities to trap.
“Our defense is pretty solid,” Banks said. “We’re gonna try to trap more this year. I got more quick guards, so I’ll be able to do some trapping.”
Banks does not expect the conference’s established contenders to become any easier to beat. Rather than predict a jump to the top, she sees a finish around fifth, sixth or seventh as a target for the rebuilding team.
“Of course, we want to win more games,” she said. “I think we’ll be somewhere in the middle of the pack.”
The staff includes Martin Sherrod, who is listed on MDCC’s coaching page, and Caitlin Coleman, a former player from Shaw whom Banks identified in the interview as an assistant working primarily with strength and conditioning.
MDCC’s early schedule includes a Nov. 9 trip to Copiah-Lincoln, a Nov. 19 home game against Baton Rouge and a Dec. 10 return trip to Baton Rouge. The published conference schedule begins Jan. 11 at home against Copiah-Lincoln, followed by road games at Pearl River on Jan. 14 and Jones on Jan. 21, with a home matchup against Meridian between them on Jan. 19.
For now, Banks is focused on getting ready for South Arkansas. She said the staff was seeking film of the opening opponent to begin preparing its game plan.
The Lady Trojans’ preseason outlook rests on turning their mix of experience and new talent into a quicker, more disruptive team — and making that progress show up in the standings.