Preseason MVP: At 5-foot-8, Tamiracle Taylor is adept at playing either guard spot. The Florida International transfer is more than just a prolific scorer. She’s also a leader, having been named a team captain by her teammates.

The Ceiling: With a returning nucleus of Diana Rosenthal, Kennedy Paul and Kennedi Heard, teamed with a number of talented newcomers, headed by Tamiracle Taylor, Tabreea Gandy, Tiffany Tullis and Trinity Hudson, the Panthers should be vastly improved squad. Tullis has the talent to take the league by storm. 

The Floor: Tabreea Gandy is a highly-touted junior college transfer assigned to run the Panthers’ transition offense game. If she and her fellow first-year players underperform, hopes of contending in the SWAC will be diminished and it could be a repeat if not, regression from last year.

Projected Starting Five

Tabreea Gandy
G | 5-3 | Jr. | Starkville, Miss.

Tamiracle Taylor
F | 5-8 | R-Jr. | Fort Lauderdale, Fla.

Diana Rosenthal
G/F | 5-9 | So. | St. Petersburg, Fla.

Kennedy Paul
F | 6-1 | So. | Brusly, La.

Trinity Hudson
F/C | 6-5 | Fr. | Little Rock, Ark.

Sandy Pugh 
Head Coach

Impact First-Year Player: Tamiracle Taylor

Season Preview

Ever since Sandy Pugh arrived as Prairie View A&M’s head women’s basketball coach for the start of the 2018-19 season, she’s been trying to incorporate a successful fast break into the transition game. Pugh feels she’s finally found that true point guard to run her offense in junior college transfer Tabreea Gandy, who is also a tremendous rebounder for her 5-foot-3 size.

Gandy is one of eight newcomers for the Panthers, who bring back a trio of sophomores in Kennedy Paul, Kennedi Heard and Diana Rosenthal. An additional piece that has been added is combo guard Tamiracle Taylor, a high-scoring transfer from Florida International.

There have been several position switches among the Panthers. Paul has lost weight and is moving from the 4 and 5 spot to the perimeter. She’s the team’s best passer and has the potential to be a bigger scorer. Rosenthal is also being asked to look for her shot more from the 2 or 3 spot. Heard is moving from the post to her natural 3 position. She’s the team’s best 3-point shooter and will get more opportunities from the wing.

“This will probably be the best 3-point shooting team I’ve ever had,” said Pugh, who coached 18 seasons at Southern prior to coming to Prairie View. “This team could be off the charts and shooting it from off the perimeter.”

Jhyrah Cobb, who was the enforcer in the paint from last season’s 12-19 team, which placed fifth in the SWAC at 9-9, opted out this season. Trinity Hudson, a 6-foot-4 freshman workhorse, will compete at the starting center position. Freshman Jasmine Dixon, who is athletic, rangy and has an amazing upside, could develop into an incredible shot blocker. Rachel Williams, a walk-on last year, provides a presence as a shot blocker and rebounder to assist the team in transition.

As a freshman last season, Rosenthal was the squad’s second-leading scorer at 8.1 points per game. At 5-foot-9, she is described by Pugh as a phenomenal defender. Paul started 30 of 31 games, averaging 7.2 points and 3.4 rebounds.

Among the newcomers, Taylor is extremely talented and has an ability to score off ball screens. She’ll be expected to carry much of the scoring load for the Panthers, which shot only .381 percent from the field and .294 percent on 3-pointers a year ago.

Tiffany Tullis is a mismatch as well for opponents in a lot of areas. The freshman has to work on her outside shot, but she excels in rebounding, running the court in transition and attacking the rim. Tullis, 5-foot-11, will push for a starting spot at power forward. 

“As the season progresses, I think she’ll do some amazing things down the stretch, especially when it comes to conference,” Pugh said. “She’ll see a lot of minutes.”

Expectations are also extremely high for Gandy, the floor general. Her numbers per game last season at Itawamba (Miss.) Community College were 11.6 points, 6.7 rebounds, 3.2 assists and 3.0 steals. 

Tierra Tullis, older sister of Tiffany Tullis, is the backup point guard to Gandy.