Tahnyjia Purifoy and Shaniyah McCarthy will represent Florida Agricultural and Mechanical University women’s basketball on the Southwestern Athletic Conference preseason first team after the conference announced the honors Oct. 5, 2026.
Purifoy is a senior guard, while McCarthy is a senior guard/forward. Both players produced significant numbers for Florida A&M last season.
Purifoy provided scoring, playmaking and defense
Purifoy averaged 10.6 points, 4.3 assists and 2.1 steals per game last season. She started 25 of the 28 games she played and made 126 of 152 free-throw attempts, shooting 82.9% from the line.
Purifoy scored a season-high 22 points at Mississippi Valley State on Jan. 15 while making 11 of 12 free throws. She recorded a season-best 10 assists against Alabama A&M in the SWAC Tournament on March 11 and collected a season-high six steals against Bethune-Cookman on March 5.
McCarthy led Florida A&M in scoring
McCarthy led Florida A&M in scoring last season at 12.6 points per game and averaged 5.1 rebounds. She started 28 of 30 games, shot 37.6% from the field and made 70.9% of her free throws.
McCarthy scored a season-high 23 points at Mississippi Valley State on Jan. 15, making 9 of 11 free throws. She also scored 22 points against Jackson State on Jan. 22 while making 9 of 14 field-goal attempts.
McCarthy grabbed a season-high 10 rebounds at Mercer on Nov. 25 and reached double figures in scoring in 22 of 30 games. Her scoring, rebounding and playing time contributed to her selection alongside Purifoy on the Preseason All-SWAC First Team.
FSB Take
Florida Agricultural and Mechanical University women’s basketball enters the season with two seniors recognized on the Preseason All-SWAC First Team. McCarthy’s team-leading scoring and Purifoy’s combination of assists, steals and free-throw accuracy provide the clearest statistical context for the conference honors.
Source: Original report