Women's Hoops Defeat Southern Virginia; Walker Reaches 1,000 Points

Radford scored 40 points of off 27 turnovers to win its first game of the season, a 78-58 triumph over Southern Virginia in its home opener, Friday evening from Peters Hall. The game marked two milestones; senior Johnette Walker (Columbia, S.C./Irmo) reached the 1,000-point milestone while scoring a game-high 20 points and head coach Tajama Ngongba recorded her first victory as Radford’s head coach.

Walker, needing 16 points entering the contest, connected on two second half free throws at the 15:02 mark to become the 18th Highlander to reach the 1,000-point club. She shot 6-of-14 from the field and a perfect 8-for-8 from the charity stripe, finishing with 1,004 career points. She also recorded a game-high nine rebounds and eight steals, a new career best.

Tricia Dixon paced the Knights with 17 points. Amanda Prestwich chipped in with 12 points and pulled down five rebounds.

Southern Virginia (6-3) hit five straight shots, including a pair of three-pointers, to take a 17-10 lead, 9:46 into the contest. The Knights maintained their lead and pushed it eight points on two occasions. After Jenne Comp’s put back at 8:23 put SVU up 24-16, the Highlanders (1-6) finally found their rhythm.

A 16-2 run, that was highlighted by eight points off turnovers, gave Radford a 32-26 lead with 5:10 remaining in the half. During the game-changing run, sophomore Taleia Moton (Fort Washington, Md./Suitland) scored seven of her 11 first half points.

The Knights managed to cut the Highlanders’ lead to 34-32 on a pair of Comp freebees with 3:51 on the clock, but Walker and sophomore Kaylyn Crosier (South Charleston, W.Va./South Charleston) each scored four points in the final 3:37 to push Radford to a 42-34 halftime lead.

Crosier got it done on the glass, pulling down five rebounds in the final six minutes of the half. Sophomore Ciara Hayes (Upper Marlboro, Md./Riverdale Baptist) led all players at the half with six caroms.

Southern Virginia cooled off after its hot start and shot 44 percent from the field in the first half, while Radford rebounded from a slow start to shoot 39.5 percent. Both teams shot well from the charity stripe with the Knights at 90 percent and the Highlanders at 85 percent.

Holding a nine-point lead (47-38) three minutes into the second half, Radford put the game away with a 15-0 run to take a 62-38 lead with 11:33 left in the game. Walker had six points during the run, including her milestone free throws. That would be the largest advantage the Highlanders would have for the game.

Moton finished the game with 15 points. Sophomore Kendra Porter (Jamestown, N.C./Dudley) and Hayes also chipped in with 11 and 10 points respectively. Hayes also registered a career-high three blocks and three steals with seven rebounds. Crosier finished the night with a career-best seven rebounds to go along with four points and an assist.

The Highlanders shot 41 percent from field and 72 percent from the line for the game, while outrebounding the Knights 41-33. Radford also recorded a season high 18 steals. SVU shot 39 percent for the night and 82 percent from the charity stripe.

Moton and Strong Second Half Lead Women’s Basketball to 61-45 Exhibition Win

Taleia Moton (Fort Washington, Md./Suitland H.S.) poured in a game-high 18 points and Radford used a 27-5 second-half run to defeat the University of D.C. 61-45 in women’s basketball action Saturday afternoon at Peters Hall.

A sophomore guard and product of Suitland High School, Moton knocked down 10-of-12 from the charity stripe, handed out five assists and recorded four steals. Johnette Walker (Columbia, S.C./Irmo H.S.), a preseason all-conference selection, also hit the 10-point plateau for the Highlanders with 15 points.

Despite finishing with a shooting percentage of 35.6 percent (16-45), the Highlanders shot 61.6 percent in the final period. Radford forced 36 Firebird miscues, turning them into 28 points. The Highlanders went to the line 45 times, connecting on 28 of them for a .622 clip.

After trading buckets to find themselves tied 9-9, the Firebirds went on a 10-3 run capped by a Shahara Johnson jumper to grab a 19-12 advantage with just under six minutes to go in the opening period. Radford responded with a lengthy streak of its own and tied the score 21-21 on a Moton layup. A pair of Moton free throws with just 19 ticks remaining gave the Highlanders their first lead since the 11:59 mark, but a Johnson putback at the buzzer evened things at the break, 23-23.

Moton and Walker combined to score 20 of the Highlanders’ 23 points in the first stanza with 10 each.

Radford opened the second half with consecutive three-point plays from Kymesha Alston (Hampton, Va./Manhattan College) and never looked back, stretching its lead to as many as 23 (58-35) on a Kaylyn Crosier (South Charleston, W.Va./South Charleston H.S.) free throw with 3:11 left to play.

Johnson led two University of D.C. players in double figures with 15 points on 7-of-12 shooting, while Lillian McGill finished with a double-double scoring 11 points and pulling down 11 boards.

Like Radford, the Firebirds shot just over 35-percent (20-57) from the field. Thanks to 21 offensive rebounds, the University of D.C. finished with a 51-29 advantage on the glass.

Q&A with Ngongba and Pullen

Coming off back-to-back Big South Championship game appearances and a WNIT berth last season, the Radford women's basketball team has started its preparation for the 2008-09 season, the first with new head coach Taj Ngongba at the helm. RadfordAthletics.com has an inside peek at the progress the Highlanders are making early on, and a look at what's motivating this year's squad.Athletic Communications student John Lloyd sat down with senior captain Vandy Pullen (Arlington, Va.) and Ngongba to discuss Radford women’s hoops.

Vandy Pullen

How have the first few weeks of practice gone?

Intense. There’s a lot of walk through time, the coaches are making sure we understand everything. There’s a strong priority on energy and focus- making sure we come to practice focused and stay focused the whole time we’re there.

What’s the biggest adjustment with the new coaching staff?

Learning the new plays and the new offensive and defensive schemes.

What are the coaches emphasizing as keys to success this season?

Intensity and energy. There’s a big stress on defense and rebounding. Pressure defense is going to be one of our big strengths this year.

What is special about this year’s team?

We are internally motivated to work hard- we’re like a family both on and off the court. We stick together through tough workouts and push each other to get better. The coaches have had us getting involved in community service in the offseason which has also helped us grow as a team.

What are the team’s goals for this season?

To win a championship and advance to the NCAA Tournament. Being ranked fourth in preseason in the conference is a big motivation for us. We know we’re a very good team and we’ll just have to work that much harder to prove it.

What are your personal goals?

To be a strong leader both on and off the court and to earn first team all-conference honors.

Tajama Ngongba

How have the first few weeks of practice gone?

So far it has gone great- at the beginning of the season you expect a certain amount of turnovers and mistakes. With a new staff and routine everyone is still feeling things out, but it improves every day.

What changes have you brought to the program?

Tempo on the court- we are stressing a push-pull theme, we want to continue to push to create a shot and if there’s nothing pull it back out and try again. We want to be sure we maximize every possession for forty minutes. There’s a very high level of intensity in practice this year to prepare for the tempo we want during games.

What is the attitude like during practices so far?

It’s a roller coaster. There are great days and not as great days, but the team is starting to understand the vision of the program and realize the potential we have with the structure that is being implemented.

What are the keys for success this year?

We have to outwork people. Getting rebounds, loose balls, taking charges, those are the little things that you have to be willing to do. We are really stressing rebounding. We want to be able to take quick shots and get a lot of second chances. It’s also really important that the players be coachable. We need them to always come in with a great attitude and willing to learn- that’s especially important with new coaches. We are also going to need a lot of leadership from our seniors, especially our co-captains Johnette and Vandy. I lean on them a lot to help me get a better understanding of this team and program.

What is special about this year’s team?

What is really special is that this group’s potential is untapped. We’re starting to scratch the surface and we see new and exciting things everyday. This team will leave it all out there for each other- you can tell by the way they pull together when it’s important. They fight through times when they could just consider it a defeat, like tough conditioning or practices.

What are your goals this season for the players on an individual basis and for the team?

We definitely have at least three or four players who can compete for conference accolades and maybe even a player of the year. Our freshman (Kahealani Vick) is very talented and has unlimited possibilities, all-rookie team is an achievable goal for her. For the team, it’s hard to say up front. We are definitely showing signs that we will compete in the Big South, and there are flashes where the coaches are like, ‘oh man, if we play like that we will win it’. Of course we expect to win the Big South. Everyone in the program wants the same thing, all the coaches and players and everyone involved. Off the court, we want to be a family as a program. We are stressing a lot of community service which teaches the players a lot. They get a chance to be a part of seeing the world outside themselves.

What are the biggest transitions from being an assistant to a first year head coach?

Establishment is a big thing. You have a new staff that you have to get to buy-in to and believe in what you’re trying to do. There’s an important period where everyone is just feeling each other out and establishing a common philosophy. Coming into a new program is obviously tough, especially with a predecessor who is an amazing person and an amazing coach, who has a strong history with the conference. Those are big shoes to fill.

Women's Hoops Gets Involved in the Community

Radford University’s women’s basketball team has been very prominent in the local community since arriving on campus in September. First-year head coach, Tajama Ngongba, and her staff have made it an emphasis to get involved in several community service projects throughout the year.

“As a program heading in a new direction, one of our focuses is community involvement. We are making every effort to be visible and helpful in the community,” stated Ngongba. “Our team has spent the last month doing various community service projects.”

This past Saturday, Oct. 25, the team headed over to Riner, Va. and Auburn Elementary School to participate in its fall festival.

On Wednesday, Oct. 22, senior Rachel Morris (Stanley, Va.) and junior Charron Leeper (Cleveland Heights, Ohio) went to Radford’s McHarg Elementary School as part of the Read to a Child Week.

During the Highlander festival on Saturday, the team was involved in the American Heart Association’s Heart Walk with the fundraising for life-saving heart research and community programs. In the morning several children received face paintings from team members.

The Highlanders also made a trip to Grove Methodist Church and participated in Project Linus. The team made blankets for children in the New River Valley who are sick, traumatized or abused.

“As a new head coach, it is a blessing to be part of a team that is so caring and giving. My staff and I are very proud of our team's commitment to the community thus far and we will continue these efforts through out the year,” commented Ngongba.

Walker Preseason All-Big South; Women's Hoops Tabbed Fourth

Senior guard Johnette Walker (Columbia, S.C./Irmo) was named to the Big South’s preseason All-Conference team and the Radford’s women’s basketball team was tabbed fourth in the annual preseason poll, as voted by the league’s head coaches and media panel. The Highlanders, under first year head coach Tajama Ngongba, received one first place vote and a total of 129 points.

Walker, who started every game last year, led Radford in assists and steals, while averaging 11.2 points and 4.7 rebounds. She became only the second Highlander to accumulate 400 assists and 250 steals in her career and enters her senior campaign just 68 points shy of 1,000.

In 2007-08, Radford reeled off 23 wins, second most in school history, and reached the Big South Championship game for the second straight season. The Highlanders return three starters from last season’s squad, including all-freshman honoree Taleia Moton (Fort Washington, Md./Suitland) and Walker, the second and third leading scorers on the team.

Defending champion Liberty was named the preseason favorite, receiving 17 of 19 first place votes and 169 points. Big South semifinalists Winthrop (one first place vote) and High Point were selected second and third with 143 and 129 points, respectively. After Radford, UNC Asheville (75) was voted fifth and Big South newcomer Gardner-Webb and Coastal Carolina tied for sixth with 73 points. Charleston Southern (55) and the conference’s other newcomer, Presbyterian (22) round out the poll in eighth and ninth.

After a home exhibition game on Nov. 8, Radford begins a challenging stretch of six straight road games to start the season. The Highlanders open on Nov. 15 at WNIT quarterfinalist James Madison, a rematch of last season’s WNIT first round game in Harrisonburg. Tip off is scheduled for 7 p.m.

2008-09 Women's Basketball Preseason All-Conference Team

Johnette Walker, Radford
Ashley Fann, Winthrop
Moriah Frazee, Liberty
Pamela Tolbert, Charleston Southern
Megan Frazee, Liberty Preseason Player of the Year

Going Abroad with Vandy Pullen

Vandy Pullen, a member of Radford’s women’s basketball team, spent a month this summer in Malawi, Africa. Pullen was one of several students who took part in Radford University’s College of Education and Human Development’s study abroad program. The red-shirt senior from Arlington, Va. sat down with Assistant Director of Athletic Communications, Brian Stanley, to share her experience.

The Republic of Malawi is located in southeastern Africa and is bordered by Zambia, Tanzania and Mozambique. Mozambique surrounds Malawi on the east, south and west and the countries are separated by Lake Malawi.

Why did you choose Africa?
I was in my reading class and my classmate made an announcement about a study abroad opportunity. It was funny because when she first told the class about it I thought she was saying in Maui not Malawi, Africa. But, I had always wanted to go to Africa so when I found out, I thought it would be a good opportunity.

What did you have to do in preparation for travel to Africa?
Before I went to Africa I talked with a few people who had been on the trip before. A group from the education department had been going for a few years before I decided to go. The group who I went with had a meeting to talk about what was needed, what we would be doing, and what to expect when we got there. I had to get about five shots and take different types of medicine. I had never been out of the country before so I had to get almost everything new, like suitcases and things like that. It was an 18-hour flight. We flew from Washington D.C. to Rome. We didn’t even get off the plane while they refueled. From there, we flew to Ethiopia and stayed the night. After a five-hour flight, we finally landed in Malawi.

When you arrived what was your first impression?
When I first got there I couldn’t believe I was in Africa. It looked totally different than here. I saw chickens, goats, and monkeys walking around like our squirrels. It seemed like a movie or like I had stepped back into time. I couldn’t believe that people in 2008 still lived in conditions that they did. Some of the people there had almost nothing and still were very happy and nice. My first impressions of the people were that they are very caring and nice. Everyone stopped and talked to me and were truly interested in what I had to say. When people asked you “hello, how are you?”, they are really interested in what you have to say. They are not just saying it because it sounds nice.

Where did you live and what were your living arrangements like?
For the most part I stayed at Annie’s lodge in a town called Zomba. It was a very nice gated area and the people who worked there were awesome. I got to know everyone by name and wrote down contact information so we can remain friends. I had a roommate and the rooms were spacious. We had a huge bathroom and hot running water. Our living conditions were a lot better than most of the people who are really from Zomba. We were just a 10 minute walk from the market. There was a restaurant on the lodge grounds, so at night we didn’t leave the lodge and I felt very safe staying there.

Where did you teach?
I taught sixth grade at Malemia Primary School, walking through a village to get there. The school was first through eighth grade with only one classroom except for second. That grade was split into two classrooms. Each classroom can have any number of students. For example, a third grade class had 181 students in one room and the kids sat in rows on the floor and did not have desks. The students were wonderful and very respectful and were very appreciative of little things like a backpack or even a pencil. They had to call the teachers sir or madam. When they wanted to ask to leave the classroom, the students bent down to ask the question. Every morning when I entered the classroom the students would stand up and say together “good morning madam, how are you today?” One thing I did notice was the girls did not play basketball. They played a game called netball. It is similar to basketball, but you do not dribble and you have more players on the court at one time. The basket does not have a backboard. It’s just a pole with a rim. A little thing that surprised me was that the students did not have lunch time. The families could not afford to send their children to school with food. Our group started a food program in which we donated money to the school which allowed the students to eat before and after school.

What did you teach?
The teacher I worked with wanted me to teach Science and technology. I was given a book and teachers guide to help me out. I taught about the different senses, sight, hearing, etc. I also taught about common accidents and food presentation. I noticed while being there, the students learn things they need to know in order to survive. I also did math and worked on reading as well. I worked Monday through Friday for the most part. We (the other study abroad students) missed some days when we went to different places like the safari and other site seeing adventures.

What did you do in your free time?
During my free time I loved going to the market. I got really good a bargaining, so I loved to shop for wooden arts and paintings. I went on a safari and saw elephants and zebras. The group members and I hung out at the lodge and played games. I went to the local college and played basketball one time. That was fun but weird because girls do not play basketball. The guys I played with were really cool and didn’t treat me different as far as I could tell. What was your favorite memory of the trip? It was when I presented in front of all the teachers in the school as well as all the parents of my students. I had an idea about giving students new uniforms, and with the help of a Dr. Patricia Kelly of Virginia Tech, I was able to achieve this goal. The reason behind this is that everyone has to wear uniforms to school and sometimes the parents cannot afford to get their children new uniforms from year to year. Many of my students had holes in their uniforms or you could tell they were passed down from other family members. I chose to only give it to the girls in my class because there is a big drop in enrollment especially in the higher grades and among girls. Girls tend to drop out and get married because education is not a priority. By giving them the uniforms they were promising me to stay in school. If that happens or not, we will not know, but the main goal of it was to show them how important education is.

Would this be something you would like to do again (possibly as a career)?
I would definitly love to go back again. I want to travel to different countries in Africa to see what they are like. I do not think that I would like to stay for a month again because I missed my family way too much. When I got back, I realized that some of the same issues I was seeing there are also a problem here. For example, drop out rates and HIV/Aids in the African American community. I want to work hand and hand with those issues.

Would you recommend this program to other students at Radford?
I would recommend this program to other students especially education majors. I went as a student wanting to be a teacher, but I came back with more of a teacher mindset not so much a student. I learned a great deal from the people who lived in Africa and also the other people who went to Africa with me. You come back with a different mindset and are so much more appreciative of what you have. I think the trip will help me be a better teacher and work around different obstacles such as language. So Yes, I do think other students should go because they can learn a lot of things from the experience.

Ngongba Assembles Women's Basketball Coaching Staff

Tajama Ngongba, Radford’s University’s sixth head women’s basketball coach, has assembled her first coaching staff. The newest members of the Highlanders’ women’s basketball family are assistant coaches Mark Cook, Felicia Burroughs and Tiffany Tucker along with Director of Basketball Operations Lora Mitchell. All four will begin their roles immediately.

“I am very thankful that President Kyle and Robert Lineburg were very supportive in allowing me to assemble such an outstanding group of coaches,” commented Ngongba. “They all encompass the Highlander spirit and energy which I am confident will transcend into a successful program. This staff is tremendously talented and experienced and I believe anyone who is associated with women's basketball would agree with that statement.”

Mark Cook – Wichita State ‘83/First Season
Cook, who hails from Olive Bridge, N.Y., brings over 20 years of men’s and women’s coaching experience to Radford. He will oversee the program's budget, international/Junior College recruiting, team academics and guard development. Prior to his arrival, Cook was the head coach at Nicholls State for the past four seasons. In his first season at the helm, he guided the Colonels to their first Southland Conference Tournament appearance since 2001.

Before Nicholls, Cook accumulated more than 130 wins at Dillard University in New Orleans. The 2001 Gulf Coast Conference (GCC) Coach of the Year led Dillard to four straight NAIA National Tournaments, including a run to the Sweet 16 in 2001 and 2004. He also guided the Badgers to three consecutive GCC regular season championships, a GCC Tournament Championship in 2003 and runner-up finishes in 2000 and 2001.

Cook has served as the head coach at Wiley College, while holding assistant positions at Louisiana Tech, Mount St. Mary College, Marist (1985 Northeast Conference champions) and University of Missouri at Kansas City (1984 NAIA District Finalist).

Cook also has international experience. He was head coach of the Commonwealth of Dominica National Team that finished second in the Eastern Caribbean Championship in 1996. In addition to coaching, the well-traveled Cook has spent time in Canada, Trinidad, France, Jamaica and St. Maarten teaching the game of women’s basketball at different clinics.

“Coach Cook has a tremendous amount of experience as a coach,” said Ngongba. “His knowledge of running a program will be a great resource for my program. I am extremely excited to have him and I know he will be a great fit."

Felicia Burroughs – Northeastern ‘00/First Season
Burroughs comes to Radford after three seasons at Monmouth University. The Baltimore, Md. native will assume the role of recruiting coordinator with the Highlanders, the same title she held with the Hawks. During her stint at Monmouth, she guided Niamh Dwyer and Jennifer Bender to All-Northeast Conference honors and Rachel Ferdinand to the 2006 All-Rookie Team.

Burroughs was four-year member in Northeastern’s backcourt. As a tri-captain her senior season, she helped the Huskies to their first America East championship in 1999 with a 22-8 record and their first-ever NCAA Tournament appearance.

After her playing career, she spent one season (1999-00) as a student assistant on her alma mater’s bench and went on to coach at Woodlawn Senior High School for the 2000-01 season.

She started a four-year stint as an assistant at Towson University in 2001 under former Radford assistant coach Joe Mathews. While with the Tigers, she was the director of Towson University Basketball Camps and the “The Tiger Hoopster” Club. Under her guidance, a pair of Tigers earned CAA All-Rookie honors in 2002 and 2004 and Tierra Jackson gained All-Conference recognition in 2005.

“I consider Coach Burroughs to be one of the top assistants in the country,” commented Ngongba. “Her knowledge of the game, commitment to excellence and recruiting ability are phenomenal! Coach Burroughs is an outstanding person and I am fortunate to have her in my program.”

Tiffany Tucker – North Carolina-Chapel Hill ’06/First Season
Tucker joins the Highlanders after one season as an assistant at Allegheny College. She will work directly with the post players and assist in all aspects of the program, including camps, alumni relations and community service. Tucker, a Petersburg, Va. native, was responsible for the development of Allegheny’s post players and involved in the daily practice planning, team academics, recruiting, team travel, game strategy and implementation of individual workouts.

Two of her post players, Stephanie Wolf and Emilie Simone earned First and Second Team All-Conference honors respectively for 2007-08. Wolf was the only player in the North Coast Athletic Conference to rank in the top 15 in scoring and rebounding and the top 10 in assists.

A four-year letterwinner with the Tar Heels, Tucker was a member of the 2005 Atlantic Coast Conference championship squad that reached the Elite 8. She also was the recipient that season of the Osterneck Most Inspirational Player Award after returning to play following a serious knee injury suffered during her freshman campaign.

Prior to graduation, Tucker served camp counselor and post coach at Sylvia Hatchel’s Basketball camps and was elevated to assistant director in the summer of 2006. “Coach Tucker brings a great energy to the program and will be instrumental in developing our post players,” stated Ngongba. “She is going to be one of the top assistants in the country and we are lucky to have her.”

Lora Mitchell – George Washington ‘08/First Season
A four-year member of the George Washington women’s basketball program, Mitchell is very familiar with coach Ngongba. She worked directly with Ngongba, who served as her post coach all four seasons at GW. At RU, she will oversee all aspects of team travel, along with equipment, film exchange and assist with academics, camps and on campus recruiting.

During her time at GW, Mitchell was a three-time recipient of the Women’s Basketball Unsung Hero Award and a member of the Colonials squad that reach the NCAA tournament all four years, including a pair of Sweet Sixteen appearances in 2007 and 2008.

“Lora is an amazing person who I had the privilege of coaching for four years,” commented Ngongba. “She comes from a very successful collegiate program and understands the winning mentality I want in my program. Lora has a very bright future and I know she will be a big part of my programs success.”

Ngongba Named New Head Women’s Basketball Coach

Radford University President Penelope W. Kyle and the university’s athletic director Robert Lineburg announced Wednesday that Tajama Ngongba, a George Washington assistant coach and former WNBA player, has been named as RU’s head women’s basketball coach.

Ngongba just completed her fourth year as an assistant coach at George Washington, her alma mater, where she also served as an administrative assistant from 1999 to 2001. A former standout player at GW from 1994-1997, she has been part of 252 Colonial victories, an average of 25 per season with four Sweet 16 appearances. In all, Ngongba has played a role in more than half of head coach Joe McKeown's 468 wins in her nine years with the Colonials.

Ngongba's primary responsibilities at George Washington include recruiting, scouting, team academics, postseason workouts and player development, with emphasis on post play. She has been instrumental in the development of Atlantic 10 First Team All-Conference post players Jessica Adair, Jessica Simmonds and Anna Montañana. She also has mentored and coached current GW honorable mention All-American Kimberly Beck, all-conference performer Sarah-Jo Lawrence and Academic All-American Kenan Cole. Lawrence and Beck are now both in WNBA training camps.

Prior to her return to GW in June 2004, Ngongba served as an assistant coach at Virginia Commonwealth for two seasons. At VCU, she was responsible for recruiting, development of post players, scouting and organizing the team's preseason and summer conditioning workouts. In her two years, Ngongba helped land one of Rams' head coach Beth Cunningham's best recruiting classes, which included 2006 Colonial Athletic Association Rookie of the Year Quanitra Hollingsworth. In 2003-04, Ngongba helped guide VCU to a 10-8 conference record and an upset of third-seeded Hofstra in the CAA Tournament.

Ngongba spent the 2001-02 season as an assistant on Bob Foley's staff at Atlantic-10 rival University of Richmond. She helped the Spiders to an 8-8 mark and a second-place tie in the West Division in the program's inaugural A-10 season. Ngongba tutored Third Team All-Atlantic 10 center Ebony Tanner and All-Rookie Team forward Kate Flavin, both of whom went on to earn all-conference honors following Ngongba's hire at VCU.

Before arriving at Richmond, Ngongba was a member of the coaching staff that helped the U.S. Virgin Islands Women's Junior National Team to a gold medal in the 2001 Caricom Junior Basketball Championships in Nassau, Bahamas. Aside from her role as assistant coach for the Junior National Team, Ngongba also served as team captain for the U.S. Virgin Islands Women's Senior National Team.

The most prolific scorer in GW women's basketball history, Ngongba tallied a school-record 2,134 points during her four-year career and is the only Colonial to eclipse the 2,000 career-point mark. Ngongba was named a Kodak first-team All-American as a senior in 1997 after leading the Colonials to a 28-6 record and the East Regional Final in the NCAA Tournament.

She was named to the 1997 East Regional All-Tournament Team after GW defeated No. 4 North Carolina to advance to the Elite Eight. Ngongba was also a Kodak Honorable Mention All-American and a Basketball Times Honorable Mention All-America selection as a junior in 1996. Ngongba earned the 1997 Atlantic 10 Conference Player of the Year Award and was the conference's Rookie of the Year in 1994. She was a unanimous first-team all-league selection in 1996 and 1997 and earned second-team all-conference honors in 1995. Ngongba was selected to the Atlantic 10 All-Tournament Team in 1997 and was the tournament's MVP in 1996 when GW claimed the A-10 crown.

In addition to her school-record 2,134 points, Ngongba holds the school mark for the most points in one season (675 in 1996-97) and is tied with former GW assistant coach Lisa Cermignano for the most games played (130). She ranks second at GW in career scoring average (16.4 points per game), rebounds (970) and blocked shots (326). After graduating in 1997, Ngongba was drafted with the seventh pick in the fourth round of the inaugural WNBA draft by the Sacramento Monarchs. Ngongba spent the 1997 season with the Monarchs before joining the Detroit Shock for the 1998 campaign. Ngongba traveled to Nice, France, to play with Nice Cavigal for the 1998-99 season before joining McKeown's staff at GW in October 1999, as administrative assistant.

A native of St. Croix, Virgin Islands, Ngongba becomes the sixth head coach at Radford, succeeding Jeri Porter, who left in April to become the head coach at George Mason. Porter recently completed her sixth year at RU, taking the Highlanders to their second consecutive Big South title game appearance.

Ngongba became the sixth player and the seventh individual with ties to the women's basketball program to be inducted into the GW Athletics Hall of Fame on January 24, 2004. She married former GW men's basketball player Patrick Ngongba in 2003 and the couple has a daughter, Naja, and son, Patrick II.

Quotes Regarding Radford University’s New Head Women’s Basketball Coach

PENELOPE W. KYLE, PRESIDENT, RADFORD UNIVERSITY

“We are excited that someone of Taj’s experience has agreed to be our new head coach. Not only has she been successful at all levels of basketball, but her knowledge of the game in the Commonwealth of Virginia is unequalled. Graduating from Kecoughtan High School in Hampton and spending time as an assistant coach at both the University of Richmond and VCU has given her connections all around our state that will allow her to recruit the talent we need to continue to build upon the success of our women’s basketball program.”

TAJAMA NGONGBA, HEAD COACH, RADFORD UNIVERSITY

“I’m excited to be at Radford. There’s a long history of tradition and success associated with this program over the past 35 years. I know there’s a good nucleus of players here now that have been to back-to-back Big South championships, so I’m very optimistic about the future.”

ROBERT LINEBURG, DIRECTOR OF ATHLETICS, RADFORD UNIVERSITY

“Taj Ngongba has been a part of successful programs her entire career. She is a dynamic coach and recruiter who has all of the tools to be an outstanding head coach at Radford University. We are delighted she has decided to join the Highlander family.”