MUSKOGEE, OKLAHOMA – March 17, 2021
Bacone College is pleased to announce Tera Jay Cuny-Baker, Hunkpati Dakota and Oglala Lakota, as Head Women’s Basketball Coach.
Cuny-Baker, originally from South Dakota, was a four-time American Indian Higher Education Consortium (AIHEC) -American who became the first women’s player to have her jersey retired by Oglala Lakota College after she scored 1,008 career points.
“We are proud to have Mrs.Tera Cuny-Baker join Bacone College to lead our women’s basketball team as the head coach,” President Dr. Ferlin Clark said. “Her outstanding college career, teaching and coaching experience, and her cultural knowledge, will contribute to our mission of educating American Indian students.”
Cuny-Baker has been a teacher and basketball coach for 10 years after earning her bachelor’s degree at OLC followed by her masters in education. Cuny-Baker is currently working on her dissertation for a doctorate degree. She is a wife and a mother to five children, she said, and when not enjoying down time with her family or coaching, she loves to go to pow wows and hike.
“I am beyond excited to be a part of the Bacone family,” she said. “I look forward to helping rebuild the women’s basketball program to be competitive and successful both on and off the court while instilling traditional values. Wopila!”
The Lady Warriors finished the 2020-2021 season 8-9 overall, and has several ranking players including Alize Ruiz, who is No. 2 in Division 1 in Offensive Rebounds per Game, No. 3 in Division 1 in Total Rebounds per Game, No. 5 in Division 1 in Defensive Rebounds per game, and No. 15 in Division 1 in Points per Game. Illeana Frenchman ranks No. 17 in Division 1 in 3-pt Fg Made per Game, and Za’Riah Griffin ranks No. 23 in Division 1 in Assists per Game.