COVINGTON

part of the progress of Jackson State during the season.

“At the beginning of the season, we were still trying to find our way,” Covington said. “With me coming in my first year, I had to learn coach (Tomekia) Reed’s system and everything came together to get the outcome.”

Covington has played in 22 games with four starts for the Lady Tigers this season. She has made 74-of-175 shots from the field and averages 10 points per game with 48 assists and 30 steals.

“Jariyah is savvy and plays hard on offense and defense,” Reed said when Covington joined Jackson State. “She’s a pure shooter from deep and a mid range assassin. She brings a ton of experience and leadership to the floor.”

Covington spent the previous two years at East Central Community College where she became an ALL-MACJC selection.

Before her days in Decatur, she helped coach Kristie Williams and the Starkville Lady Yellow Jackets to a pair of state championships.

The time Covington spent under the teaching of Williams has not been forgotten.

“She was the beginning of it,” Covington said. “She trained me from the eighth grade and straight into high school. She threw me into the fire, believed me and led me to believe in myself. I feel like it prepared me for Division I and I couldn’t have done it without coach Williams, Gwen (Johnson) and Bird (Anita Johnson). I’ve really got to give credit to them.”

As the No. 15 seed, the Lady Tigers take on the No. 2 Baylor Lady Bears on Sunday at 3 p.m., Covington knows there will be few eyes from Starkville on that game.

“I love representing my home town,” Covington said. “No matter what I’m doing, I know I’ll have fans from home watching me and I love making them proud.”