Central Christian College of the Bible head women's basketball coach Meagan Henson on Wednesday announced the signing of Vanessa Oyola for the 2019-20 season. 

Oyola, a 5-6 shooting guard, has spent the past two seasons at Texas A&M International University, an NCCAA Division II program in Laredo, Texas. She has been teammates the last two seasons with Kasandra Lazcano, who was announced yesterday as a CCCB women's basketball signee.

At TAMIU, Oyola started in 18 of 27 games as a sophomore and was second on the team in minutes played. She averaged 6.1 points per game and sank 45 3-pointers on the season for the Dustdevils. 

In high school, Oyloa starred at Devine High School in Devine, Texas, where she averaged 18 points, four assists and three rebounds per game, leading the Warhorses to consecutive Class 4A Region 4 semifinal appearances. Devine finished 33-4 during Oyola's junior season and was 26-6 in 2016-17.

Oyola was the District 29-4A Newcomer of the Year in 2015-16, the Co-Most Valuable Player for District 29-4A in 2016-17, and earned Academic All-District honors. She was also a McDonald's All-American nominee for 2017.

"We are so excited to add Vanessa to our program," Henson said. "Vanessa has a skill set and a competitive fire that will raise our level of play. Her ability to score the ball from anywhere on the court will open up great offensive opportunities for her teammates. Her previous college playing experience will be a great asset in helping our team to set and reach our goals."

While at CCCB, Oyola plans to pursue an Associate of Professional Studies while also earning a Bachelor of Science in Criminal Justice from one of CCCB's partner institutions, Hope International University.

Central Christian College of the Bible head women's basketball coach Meagan Henson on Tuesday announced the signing of Kasandra Lazcano for the 2019-20 season. 

Lazcano, a 5-6 combo guard, has spent the past two seasons at Texas A&M International University, an NCCAA Division II program in Laredo, Texas. She was a redshirt freshman during the 2018-19 season, appearing in 12 games.

A 2017 graduate of J.W. Nixon High School in Laredo, Texas, Lazcano averaged 20 points, 4.1 rebounds, 2.8 steals and 2.6 assists per game for the Mustangs as a senior. She helped the Mustangs to a 23-14 mark and a trip to the 5A regional playoffs in 2017.

Lazcano was the District 31-5A Most Valuable Player and a three-time Texas Association of Basketball Coaches 5A All-Region selection. Additionally, she was a three-time All-City Offensive MVP and was named to the Academic All-District Team.

"We are thrilled to add Kasandra to our program," Henson said. "Kasandra has a skill set which allows her to contribute in so many different ways. Her work ethic and desire to constantly improve will no doubt encourage her teammates. Her previous college playing experience and countless hours in the gym will pay great dividends for our team in the coming season."

While at CCCB, Lazcano plans to pursue an Associate of Professional Studies while also earning a Bachelor of Science in Criminal Justice from one of CCCB's partner institutions, Hope International University.

Central Christian College of the Bible head women's basketball coach Meagan Henson on Monday announced the signing of Lauren Mills for the 2019-20 season. 

Mills, a 5-9 power forward, is a 2018 graduate of Sturgeon High School in Sturgeon, Missouri. She spent the past season at Culver-Stockton College, where the former all-state infielder was a member of the softball team. 

At Sturgeon, Mills was also an all-state selection on the basketball court, where the four-year letterman was instrumental in the program's district championship run in 2018. The Lady Bulldogs finished 20-9 in Mills' final season, while she went on to earn first team all-conference, all-district and Class 2 all-state honors.

"We are so excited to add Lauren to our program," Henson said. "Lauren is a highly competitive individual who strives for excellence both on and off the court. Her skill set and leadership capabilities will most certainly have a positive impact on our team and our Central Christian community."

While at CCCB, Mills plans to pursue an Associate of Professional Studies while also earning a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration from one of CCCB's partner institutions, Hope International University.

Central Christian College of the Bible head women's basketball coach Meagan Henson on Thursday announced the signing of Serenity Harris for the 2019-20 season. 

Harris, a 5-4 shooting guard, is a 2016 graduate of Elkins High School in Elkins, Ark. She attended Tyler Junior College the last two years.

At Elkins, Harris was a three-year letterman who earned the team's hustle award as a senior. She is the older sister of current CCCB women's basketball player Tink Harris.

"We are excited to have Serenity join our program," Henson said. "Her maturity and previous college experience will benefit our young team greatly."

While at CCCB, Harris plans to pursue an Associate of Professional Studies while also entering the Occupational Therapy Assistant program through one of CCCB's partner institutions, Moberly Area Community College.

Central Christian College of the Bible head women's basketball coach Meagan Henson on Tuesday announced the signing of Alexis Whisenand for the 2019-20 season. 

Whisenand, a 5-7 small forward from Higbee High School in Higbee, Missouri, is currently a senior and will graduate in May. The four-year letterman for the Lady Tigers averaged 6.0 points and 9.8 rebounds per game as a senior.

Whisenand was a Cooper County Athletic Association first team selection in 2018, an honorable mention selection in 2019, and was named to the Class 1 all-district team this past season. She grabbed a school-record 23 rebounds in a single game as a junior and was part of a Lady Tigers program that won 72 games in four seasons.

"We are excited to add Alexis to our Central Christian family," Henson said. "She is definitely a fantastic fit for our team. She displays high character and is coachable. She has the work ethic necessary to compete at the next level."

While at CCCB, Whisenand plans to pursue an Associate of Professional Studies while also pursuing an associate degree in Child Development from one of CCCB's partner institutions, Moberly Area Community College.

Meagan Henson, who played four seasons at Texas Christian University and has spent the last four years as an assistant coach at the NCAA Division I, II and III levels, has been named head women's basketball coach at Central Christian College of the Bible, Director of Athletics Jack Defreitas announced Tuesday.

"We began a search several weeks ago looking for a leader who would work hard, be a strong Christian mentor to our student-athletes, and revive our women's basketball program," Defreitas said. "We found that person, and a whole lot more. I am ecstatic that Meagan Henson is our new head women's basketball coach."

Henson comes to Central Christian from Howard Payne University, an NCAA Division III program in Brownwood, Texas, where she spent the past season as the top assistant coach for the Lady Jackets. Prior to Howard Payne, she spent a year each as a graduate assistant coach at NCAA Division II programs Upper Iowa University in Fayette, Iowa, and Angelo State University in San Angelo, Texas.

At Angelo State, she helped the 'Belles to a 24-8 season that included a trip to the semifinals of the NCAA Division II South Central Regional Tournament.

After her four-year career in the Mountain West and Big 12 conferences with TCU, she spent a season as a student assistant coach with the Horned Frogs. During her four seasons as a player with TCU, she was named to the Academic All-Mountain West Team as a freshman and sophomore, and Academic All-Big 12 Team as a junior (first team) and senior (second team). 

"I am so thankful to Dr. Fincher and the entire CCCB family for the opportunity to serve as the Head Coach at Central Christian College of the Bible," Henson stated. "I look forward to developing lasting relationships with our players, our student body, the staff and faculty, and the community of Moberly. I will give priority to developing our players basketball skill along with their personal character and integrity. I look forward to working with Director of Athletics Jack Defreitas to develop a program that represents well our college, blesses our athletes, and honors our Lord. Go Saints!"

A Yukon, Okla., native, Henson played in 82 games for the Horned Frogs, wrapping up her four-year career in 2014 with 140 points, 65 assists, 43 rebounds and 26 steals while shooting over 80% from the charity stripe. She scored a career high 13 points on the road at the University of New Mexico's historic Pit arena. 

While in high school, Henson starred at Christian Heritage Academy in Del City. She committed to TCU after her freshman year of high school and was rated the fourth best senior in the state of Oklahoma. 

Henson comes from a college basketball coaching family being the niece of Lou Henson, who coached the men at the University of Illinois from 1975-96 and New Mexico State from 1997-2005. Her grandfather Ken, was the men's coach at Howard Payne from 1970-74.

"Her experience as a player and an assistant coach has prepared her to be a successful head coach, but adding with that her foundation as a Godly woman is what makes her the perfect fit for us," Defreitas added. "Even though her talent and work ethic have allowed her to have experiences at the highest levels of college basketball, she is extremely humble and does not seek the spotlight. CCCB is blessed to have an individual of this quality lead our women's basketball program."

Henson graduated from Texas Christian in 2015 with a Bachelor of Science in Kinesiology. She earned a Master of Education in Sport Administration from Upper Iowa in 2018.

The Central Christian College of the Bible women led after one quarter of play and by as many 10 in the first half, but couldn't hold on as Faith Baptist Bible College knocked off the Saints, 74-62, in the conference opener for both teams on Monday evening in the Ferneau Center.

The Saints (1-11, 0-1 Midwest Christian College Conference) led 18-13 at the end of the first quarter, then pushed their advantage to 10 midway through the second stanza.

The Eagles (2-6, 1-0 MCCC) countered with a 17-4 run in the final 5:44 before the half to take a 34-31 lead, one they would hold the rest of the evening. The Saints trailed 55-45 at the end of the third quarter and got as close as seven before Faith Baptist pulled away to a 15-point lead late in the fourth quarter.

Faith Baptist's Lyndi Shepard led all scorers with 22 points. Michaela Crider scored 15 points and Mackenzie Hanson added 13.

Central Christian was led by Tink Harris with 19 points and seven assists. Damia Covington scored 12 points and pulled down a game-high 15 rebounds, while Ryan Stuart-Flores scored 10 points.

The Saints have nearly three weeks off before they return to action at Columbia College in exhibition play on Dec. 31.

The Saints couldn't shake a horrid first quarter as visiting Providence University College topped Central Christian College of the Bible, 68-45, on Friday at the Ferneau Center.

The Pilots led 20-4 at the end of the first quarter, but the Saints kept things even in the second frame to go into the break down, 34-19. A Ryan Stuart-Flores 3-pointer with 28 seconds left in the third quarter made it 44-36, but that's as close as the Saints (0-7) would get the rest of the way.

Tink Harris led the Saints with 17 points. Damia Covington scored 13 points and grabbed 11 rebounds, while Stuart-Flores scored 10 points and pulled down 12 rebounds.

Katelinn Thiessen led Providence with 15 points.

The Saints shot just 28 percent from the field and 17 percent (3-for-18) from behind the arc. They had 12 steals, but committed 33 turnovers.

The Pilots shot 40 percent from the field and 25 percent (3-for-12) from 3-point range. They recorded 19 steals and committed 29 turnovers.

Central Christian will have a full 10 days off for Thanksgiving break before the next game at home against Union College (Neb.) on Nov. 26.