SMCC Women's Basketball Announces Four-Year Transfers

PHOENIX ---

Sophomores Mariam Traore and Kayla Pettet of the South Mountain Community College women's basketball team will transfer to the University of Arkansas-Pine Bluff and Ottawa University (AZ), respectively, to continue their intercollegiate career for the upcoming 2024-25 season.

A 6-3 center from Phoenix, Traore appeared in 24 games, made 15 starts as a sophomore in 2023-24, and averaged 5.7 points and 6.8 rebounds per game. The UAPB Lions are an NCAA Division I program that competes in the Southwestern Athletic Conference. On Apr. 25, 2024, Erica Leak was named the Lions' new head coach. 

Traore scored in double-figures four times last season and finished with a season-high 17 points twice, vs. Glendale CC on Feb. 12 and at Chandler-Gilbert CC on Feb. 17. She had six games with double-figure rebounds and grabbed a season-high 15 boards at CGCC on Feb. 17. 

Traore also had 13 rebounds vs. Scottsdale CC on Jan. 31 and Pima CC on Feb. 7 and had three games with two steals. She played the 2022-23 season at Pima CC, averaging 1.9 points and 2.1 rebounds per game. 

Pettet will play for the OUAZ Spirit, an NCCAA program in Phoenix, Ariz. A 5-9 forward, Pettet appeared in 39 games over her SMCC career and averaged 2.6 points and 3.7 rebounds per game. 

As a sophomore in 2023-24, Pettet averaged 4.1 points and 4.5 rebounds per game and scored a season-high 11 points to go with 10 rebounds vs. Scottsdale CC on Jan. 31. She had three games with double-figure rebounds and grabbed a season-high 11 boards vs. Cochise College on Jan. 3. 

As a freshman in 2022-23, Pettet posted a season-high seven points, nine rebounds, and two blocks against Scottsdale CC and grabbed eight rebounds against Glendale CC.