HAMMOND, La. – Junior college guards Mackenzie Thomas and Breyionce' George will continue their academic and athletic endeavors as members of the reigning Southland Conference champion Southeastern Louisiana University women's basketball program beginning with the 2023-24 season, Lady Lion head coach Ayla Guzzardo announced Tuesday.
 
Thomas, a 5-9 guard from Laurel, Mississippi, spent the first two seasons of her collegiate career at Jones College after a successful prep career at Laurel High School. George, a 5-5 guard from Lafayette, Louisiana, spent her freshman campaign at Delgado Community College.
 
Thomas played a key role for the Bobcats, helping Jones College to back-to-back NJCAA Elite Eight appearances and the program's first-ever Final Four showing as a freshman.
 
Prior to her time with the Bobcats, she helped Laurel HS to its first-ever MHSAA 5A state title as a senior, earning championship game MVP honors. Thomas averaged 12.7 points, 8.7 rebounds, 4.1 assists and 3.5 steals per contest in her final prep season for the Tornadoes and participated in the Mississippi-Alabama All-Star game.
 
"Mack is a big, dynamic guard that we expect to fit into our system very well," Guzzardo commented. "She is going to be able to defend multiple positions and can score in a variety of ways. Mackenzie is also the quality of person off the court that we want in our program and plays with the aggressiveness we like on both ends of the floor."
 
George was a first team all-conference performer for the Dolphins in 2022-23. She averaged 17.2 points per game, starting all 23 games for Delgado. At Lafayette High School, she was an All-Acadiana selection for the Lady Lions. The athletic George was a standout in volleyball and track, as well as basketball at LHS.
 
"Breyionce' is an athletic combo guard who can make an impact on both ends of the floor," Guzzardo said. "She can score at every level and makes her teammate better. Her competitive nature and her will to win made her stand out during the recruiting process."
 
Thomas is the third signee from Jones College for Southeastern in its 2023-24 signing class, joining current and future teammates Arianna Patton (5-1 | G | Meridian, Mississippi) and Tasianna McDowell (6-2 | F | Delhi, Louisiana). The addition of George and Thomas gives SLU a total of eight additions for 2023-24, joining Patton, McDowell, Avari Berry (5-6 | G | Pflugerville, Texas), Cheyanne Daniels (6-4 | F | Miami), Kennedy Paul (6-1 | F | Baton Rouge, Louisiana) and Demi Gentry (6-0 | G | Memphis, Tennessee).
 
"We were in a situation where we wanted to reload and build on our success," Guzzardo, the reigning SLC Coach of the Year, commented. "We're adding more firepower with student-athletes who come to us with a variety of skill sets. We're trying to continue the raise the standard for our program. We want to consistently succeed and compete not just in the Southland Conference, but on a national level."
 
SLU is scheduled to tip-off the 2023-24 season on Nov. 6, hosting Millsaps in the Pride Roofing University Center.
 
2023-24 Southeastern Women's Basketball Additions
Name | Ht. | Pos. | Hometown | Previous School
Avari Berry | 5-6 | G | Pflugerville, Texas | Pflugerville HS
Cheyanne Daniels | 6-4 | F | Miami, Fla. | Shawnee CC
Demi Gentry | 6-0 | G | Memphis, Tenn. | White Station HS
Breyionce' George | 5-5 | G | Lafayette, Louisiana | Delgado CC
Tasianna McDowell | 6-2 | F | Delhi, Louisiana | Jones College
Arianna Patton | 5-1 | G | Meridian, Miss. | Jones College
Kennedy Paul | 6-1 | F | Baton Rouge, La. | Prairie View
Mackenzie Thomas | 5-9 | G | Laurel, Miss. | Jones College
 
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