With only seven Bulls returning from the 2021-22 season, head coach Becky Burke needs to recruit well this offseason to maintain the success seen under Felisha Legette-Jack. After the departure of Georgia Woolley and Dyaisha Fair to Syracuse, UB needs playmakers who can contribute on both ends of the court.
Here’s a look at the two newest members of the women’s basketball team:
Zakiyah Winfield
After four years at Glenville State University, the 5-foot-7 guard is headed to Buffalo. Winfield was the fourth commit under Burke and will be reuniting with her GSU teammate, Re’Shawna Stone.
Winfield and Stone led the Pioneers to a national championship at Glenville State after only losing one game all season.
The Reading, PA native led the Pioneers in scoring (18.1 points) and rebounds (7.1) per game during her senior campaign to earn Second Team All-Region honors.
In the pandemic-ridden 2020-21 season, Winfield led the team in scoring with 20.6 points and tallied 7.8 boards, 4.9 assists and 2 steals per game to earn WBCA First Team All-American, First Team All-Mountain East Conference and MEC All-Tournament honors. The Division II star finished fourth nationally in scoring and in the top-10 for rebounds, assists and steals per game.
Kiara Johnson
Johnson committed to UB after two seasons at Eastern Michigan and one season at Towson. The Buffalo native did not participate in the 2021-22 season because she was pregnant.
The 6-foot-2 forward has yet to average more than 4.3 points per game. As a junior with the Tigers, Johnson averaged 3.3 points, 4.1 rebounds and 12.8 minutes per game.
During her freshman and sophomore campaigns at Eastern Michigan, Johnson played in 29 games each season.
In four years at Cardinal O’Hara High School in Buffalo, Johnson led the Hawks to the Monsignor Martin Athletic Association championships. As a senior, she was named to Second-Team All-Western New York thanks to an average of 11 points, nine rebounds and four blocks per game.
Kayla Sterner is an assistant sports editor and can be reached at kayla.sterner@ubspectrum.com
Kayla Sterner is an assistant sports editor at The Spectrum. She is studying communications with the hopes of being a sideline reporter. In her spare time, she can be found in the gym, watching football or vibing to Mac Miller. Kayla is on Twitter @kaylasterner.
