Cincinnati Bearcats Women’s Basketball 2023-24 Offseason Roster Tracker
The Cincinnati Bearcats are working on assembling their 2023-24 women’s basketball roster and we’ll track every move here throughout the offseason.
New Coach
Katrina Merriweather: The Bearcats hired Merriweather away from Memphis to replace Michelle Clark-Heard. The former Bearcats player and captain (1997-01). As a head coach she is 151-70 in seven seasons as the head coach of Memphis and Wright State. Merriweather led Memphis to a 22-11 season in 2022-23, the program’s first 20-win season in more than a decade, and an appearance in the 2023 WNIT Sweet 16.
Departures
G Sofia Gritzali: The native of Greece averaged less than two points in 17 games last season for the Bearcats. She is not listed on the Bearcats’ 2023-24 roster.
G Jada Scott: Scott played in 27 games and started in seven games, averaging fewer than two points per game. She is not listed on the Bearcats’ 2023-24 roster.
F Jadyn Scott: She averaged 3.5 points last season in 28 games, including 11 starts. She is not listed on the Bearcats’ 2023-24 roster.
G Caitlyn Wilson: She played in 28 games with nine starts last season and averaged 6.8 points per game. She is not listed on the Bearcats’ 2023-24 roster.
G Dais’Ja Trotter: Trotter has committed to transfer to UIC, per wbbblog.com. Trotter played in 22 games and she averaged nearly three points per game.
Arrivals Via Transfer
F Aicha Dia: The freshman wing from Montreal played at Penn State last season. She signed on April 24. The 6-foot-1 forward has three years of eligibility remaining.
In the Portal
G Lojain Elfatairy: The point guard is in the portal after playing in just eight games last season.
Expected to Return
G Braylyn Milton: Milton has two years of eligibility after averaging 4.3 points last season. She played in 28 games and made 14 starts.
F Ta’Ziah Jenks: She averaged 2.7 points last season after transferring from West Virginia two seasons ago.
G Jillian Hayes: She was the Bearcats’ leading scorer and rebounder last season averaging 13.0 points and 8.7 rebounds. She returns for one more season with the Bearcats.
F/C Malea Williams: She averaged 4.9 points and 4.5 rebounds last season in a part-time starting role for the Bearcats.
G Mya Jackson: She will return on her COVID waiver for next season. She was Cincinnati’s second-leading scorer with 11.2 points per game last season. She also has more assists (74) than any returning player.
G A’riel Jackson: The Class of 2022 signee averaged 4.1 points last season in 28 games, including 15 starts.
F/C Clarissa Craig: Averaged 6.7 points, 3.5 rebounds and 0.5 blocks on 56.6 percent from the field in 20.5 minutes per game. She played in 28 games with 17 starts.
Class of 2023 Recruits
F Brianna Byars, 5-foot-11, George Rogers Clark High School (Winchester, Ky.): Byars signed with the Bearcats in November, per the Winchester Sun.
G Reagan Jackson, 5-foot-9, Kennedale (Texas): Jackson was one of the best players in the Dallas-Fort Worth area and an All-State selection.
G Abby Holtman, 6-foot, Ryle High School (Union, Ky.): Holtman scored more than 1,000 points for the Lady Raiders and is Ryle’s all-time leader in made 3-pointers.
F Ramiyah Byrd, 6-foot-1, Spire Institute (Geneva, Ohio): Byrd left Colorado to finish out her high school career at SPIRE and became the school’s first player to commit to a Division I school.
You can find Matthew Postins on Twitter @PostinsPostcard
