FORT MYERS, FLA.- Three Florida SouthWestern State Buccaneers signed their National Letters of Intent on Wednesday at Suncoast Credit Union Arena as Tina Stephens is headed to the University of Kansas, Tonysha Curry to Stetson University, and Taylor Williams to Christian Brothers University in Tennessee.
Stephens is headed to Jayhawk Land after back to back Suncoast Conference Player of the Year and All-American seasons at FSW. Stephens had a monster sophomore year for the Bucs, leading them to a 9th place finish at their first NJCAA National Tournament, averaging 20.0 points and 7.4 rebounds per game while shooting 54% from the floor. She was unstoppable late in the season scoring 23 or more points in 8 of the Bucs final 11 games of the year, including a 34 point, 15 rebound performance against Cochise in the first round of the National Tournament. That double-double was one of seven on the year for Stephens who was named the program's first First Team NJCAA All-American at season's end. Stephens broke numerous FSW records in her two year career, including points (1071), rebounds (490), and steals (150) among others.
Stephens will join a KU squad that has gone heavy on junior college transfers the past couple of seasons, including a roster that included six in 2018-19. The Jayhawks got off to a hot start this season, opening the year 12-1 before eventually advancing to the quarterfinal round of the Big 12 Tournament in Oklahoma City.
"I was very comfortable with the coaches" Stephens said. "They were one of the first Power Fives to start recruiting me and they kept a good relationship throughout the process."
Curry will remain in the Sunshine State to play for the Hatters after quarterbacking FSW to a 30-4 season in 2018-19. In her only season in Fort Myers, Curry averaged 7.4 points, 5.8 rebounds, and 2.9 assists per game for the Bucs, ranking in the top five in each category. She was a Second Team All-Conference selection, as she bumped up her production by a full point per game in league play, shooting 48% from the field. She scored in double figures nine times on the season including a 12 point effort against eventual National Champion Gulf Coast State in the FCSAA State Tournament.
Stetson has put together seven 20 win seasons in the past nine years. The Hatters went 11-5 in ASUN action this season, earning a postseason berth in the WNIT in March.
"As soon as I went on my visit, I knew Stetson was where I wanted to be" Curry said. "It is a winning program and had everything I was looking for."
Williams returns home to Memphis and Christian Brothers after a one year stop in with the Bucs. She played in 32 games for FSW this season, averaging 3.2 points and 1.8 rebounds off the Bucs bench. She had four double digit scoring efforts on the year including a career high 16 against ASA Miami early in the season. Her 24 three pointers made ranked fourth on the team.
Christian Brothers was 10-15 this year, going 7-13 in Gulf Coast South Conference play.
"This team just made me better every single day" Williams said. "I am so proud of them and everything we accomplished and am looking forward to what is next at Christian Brothers."