For the past four years, the St. Louis Surge women’s professional basketball franchise has appeared in the trophy game of the Women’s Blue Chip Basketball League.
Photo Credit: Mick Lite Photography
The 2014 and 2016 WBCBL Champions begin their quest of a third national title Sunday night in a Show-Me-State road meeting with the Elsberry Flyers. Tipoff is at 7 p.m. at Elsberry High School (138 Tomahawk Drive).
The Surge finished 2017 with a 12-1 record and was denied back-to-back national crowns via a one-point loss to the Georgia Soul at the WBCBL Championship showdown last August.
That setback now propels the team as they enter an 11-game docket that features divisional play within the WBCBL Midwest Division and a quartet of road games launches the campaign.
Six veterans return to the Surge fold this season including franchise lynch pins Rebecca Harris and Jaleesa Butler. Harris (5-8, University of Illinois) averaged 18 points per game last season while Butler (6-1, Georgetown) contributed ten points per conest.
Photo Credit: Mick Lite Photography
Other St. Louis returnees include forwards Kristi Bellock (13.4 PPG), Sherice Williams (6.9 PPG), Leti Lerma (6.4 PPG) and guard Bianca Latham (3.2 PPG).
A quintet of newcomers is set to make initial splashes at Sunday’s game. Dyana Pierre (6-3, SIU-Carbondale) averaged over 12 points per game for the Salukis during her senior season in 2016.
Incarnate Word-alum Brittany Carter (6-0, University of Illinois) netted eight points per game in her 2015 senior season while starting all 31 games for the Illini. Chicago native Mariah King (6-2, Eastern Illinois) averaged 14 points per contest during her 2013 senior cycle.
Forward Laura Johnson (6-0, University of Sioux Falls) finished fifth in career scoring (1402) and holds the benchmark in career three-pointers (259) at her alma mater.
Photo Credit: Mick Lite Photography
Finally, guard Kelsey McClure (5-9, Arkansas Tech) served as a graduate assistant at the University of West Georgia after a stellar senior year at Arkansas Tech (13 PPG) that saw the Golden Suns reach the Great American Conference championship game.
After a four-game road docket, the Surge begins their home slate on Saturday, June 9 at Washington University.
For more information on the Surge, go to their official webpage.
