Francis Marion University Athletics

FMU:  First-year player at FMU....Transfer from Howard University, where she played two seasons of basketball....She also played two years of basketball at Radford University.

HU:  As a senior (2024-25), played in 33 contests with one start for a 22-12 Bison squad....Averaged 3.5 ppg and 2.6 rpg, while shooting 55.7 percent from the floor....As a junior in 2023-24, started all 31 basketball games, and averaged 6.2 ppg and 4.7 rpg a 49.3 field goal percentage....Ranked 2nd on the team in free throws shooting at 73.1 percent....Deans List...All-Academic Team....SAAC Social Media Chair.

RU:  As a sophomore in 2022-23, played in 31 basketball games, making 22 starts....Averaged 8.7 ppg and 5.4 rpg….Scored a career-high 20 points against UNC Greensboro....In 2021-22, appeared in 26 games with one start....Scored a season-high 14 points against Lees-McRae....Named to the Dean’s list in each semester.

PERSONAL:

• Born in Phoenix, AZ
• Graduate of Ashley Ridge High School, where she played for coach Danyel Bellush
• 2-time All-Region (basketball) selection
• All-State team
• Played in the North-South Basketball Game
• Named Region Player of the Year
• Low-Country Female Athlete of the Year in 2021.
• Graduated with Honors
• Nickname is Ness

PERSONAL FAVORITES:

• As a child what you wanted to be when you grew up: Singer
• How you got your nickname: Short for Vanessa
• Favorite Fictional Character: Patrick from SpongeBob
• Favorite Athlete: Dianna Blake
• Favorite Sports Team: Howard women's basketball team
• Favorite Movie or TV Show: Let it Shine
• Favorite Food: Tacos
• Favorite Vacation Spot: Jamaica
• Favorite Musical Artist: J Cole
• Favorite Thing About FMU: The family feel
• Favorite Off-Court Activity:  Church, cooking, reading, hanging out with my sisters
• Goals for Upcoming Season: Get a Ring
• Why you first chose your sport:  It just came naturally
• Biggest mental challenge in your sport: Learning to be okay with mistakes
• Do you have any siblings who have played/are playing sports in college? Yes, my older sister (Amanda) just finished her 5th year of basketball at West Georgia University; My younger sister (Dianna) is a sophomore at North Carolina Central University and plays basketball
• Interesting Notes: I played four years of Division I basketball