UAA Athletics

UAA women add 2 from powerhouse JC program

The UAA women's basketball program is adding two players who played at junior college powerhouse Trinity Valley Community College — the same program that produced All-American and GNAC Newcomer of the Year Autummn Williams.

Dajhae Mullins, a 5-foot-10, guard/forward and Rainey Kuykendall, a 6-foot forward join Williams (2016-17) and Dominique Brooks (2015-16) as former Trinity Valley Cardinals. No other junior college has featured more future Seawolves.

Kuykendall and Mullins teamed up two seasons ago to help the Texas school go 31-4 and finish as the junior college national runner-up.

"They are both (from) one of the best JC programs in the country and each expressed their deep desire to win during the recruiting process," UAA coach Ryan McCarthy said in a press release.

Both played for Illinois state championship teams for Chicago high school — Mullings at Marian Catholic, and Kuykendall at Montini Catholic

After two seasons at Trinity College — which went 63-8 during her two seasons — Mullins spent a year at Division I Sacramento State, averaging 3.6 points and 2.5 rebounds per game.

"(Mullins') mentality will fit in line with the culture of our program immediately," McCarthy said. "She is dynamic from the perimeter and is capable of playing either guard or a 'stretch' post with her ability to score from inside and behind the arc."

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Kuykendall spent the last two seasons helping Trinity Valley to a 61-10 record and back-to-back national runner-up finishes. She averaged 4.9 points on 54 percent shooting and 3.4 rebounds per game in her final season, during which she started 15 games.

"Rainey was a top national recruit coming out of high school and has proven herself at the top level of junior college, playing at Trinity Valley," McCarthy said. "She is a very skilled post player with great touch and excellent footwork."

The pair increase UAA's recruiting class to seven. The Seawolves lost six players from last season's 30-2 team.

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