Francis Marion University Athletics

2025: Competed in 23 sets over 12 matches …. Tallied 20 kills, one assist, two digs, and nine blocks …. Recorded a career-best six kills versus UNC Pembroke …. Contributed a season-high four blocks against Ferrum .... Conference Carolinas Presidential Honor Roll 2026 (spring) …. FMU Swamp Fox Athletic-Academic Honor Roll 2025 (fall), 2026 (spring)

Before The Swamp: Played Division I women’s basketball at Howard University (2023-25) for two seasons and also competed for two seasons at Radford University (2021-23) .... As a senior in 2024-25 at Howard, she 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 with a 49.3 field goal percentage .... Ranked second on the team in free throw shooting at 73.1 percent .... Dean's List ... All-Academic Team .... SAAC Social Media Chair

As a sophomore at Radford in 2022-23, she 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
 

Career Highs
Kills	6 vs. UNC Pembroke (2025)
Assists	1 vs. Ferrum (2025)
Aces	-
Digs	2 vs. Belmont Abbey (2025)
Blocks	4 vs. Ferrum (2025)

 

Top Performances
Date	Opponent	Stats
11/05/25	vs. UNC Pembroke	6 kills
10/08/25	vs. Ferrum	3 kills, 1 assist, 4 blocks
-	-	-

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