Jazlynn Muñiz, from Little Priest Tribal College in Winnebago, Neb., signed with the Northern New Mexico women’s basketball team on July 20.
During Muñiz’s two seasons as part of the Warriors’ program, who competes in the National Junior College Athletic Association, she was selected as a two-time All-Region Second Team player for the Iowa Community College Athletic Association’s Division II.
She leaves Little Priest as the school’s all-time leading scorer with 974 points and most three-point makes with 173.
“We’re pretty excited about the signing,” Northern head coach Tony Gallegos said. “She was a sought after player, had a few other colleges looking at her. She’s a flat-out athlete, so we just went after her and talked to her a little bit. Both sides were real honest with each other and she appreciated that.”
Muñiz said that Gallegos had nothing but great things to say about her possible role.
“Coach Gallegos told me that I would be a huge, important factor for Northern New Mexico College,” she said. “Of course, I have to earn every minute of playing time.”
Muñiz will add another quality three-point threat for the Lady Eagles, who already have three returning players (Kyanne Kowatch, RanDee Toya and Leah DeAguero) who shot better than 30 percent from behind the arc last season.
Muñiz shot 28.3 percent from three-point range last season, but had seven games shooting better than 30 percent, including a 64 percent performance (9-of-14) against Southwestern Community College.
“She’s definitely a special player he (Gallegos) is gaining over there,” Little Priest head coach Leonard Erickson said. “She was pretty much our main scoring threat and could light it up very quickly. She was never about the ‘rah, rah,’ just always showed up and did the work.”
Northern also signed Muñiz’s Little Priest teammate, Shamika Benally, back in April. Benally is from the perennial powerhouse out of Kirtland and was the Warriors’ second all-time leading scorer.
“Shamika is a great, smart player,” Muñiz said. “When I got the offer from Northern back in April, she told me that it was a good school and a great campus. Both years at Little Priest, I trusted Shamika when she had the ball in her hand — and she had incredible defense.”