Alabama A&M University Women's Basketball

Dawn Thornton Fact Sheet Dawn Thornton became the fifth head coach in Alabama A&M University women’s basketball program Division I history on April 6, 2024.   Thornton comes to Alabama A&M after spending the past five seasons as the head coach at Southwestern Athletic Conference (SWAC) institution Arkansas-Pine Bluff.    Thornton, who has experience at the NCAA Division I and Division II level as a head women’s basketball coach, has compiled a 102-159 overall record in nine seasons at Prairie View A&M, Shorter and Arkansas-Pine Bluff. In addition, she led the Golden Lions to a signature victory over Arkansas this past season, a first in program history.   In 2023-24, Thornton guided Arkansas-Pine Bluff to a fourth-place finish in the SWAC, with a 17-16 overall record and 12-7 mark in conference play. The program notched a 74-70 win at Arkansas on Dec. 10, 2023, and had notably victories over SMU (78-76) and McNeese State (103-87). Also, she collected her 100th career win in a 78-57 victory over Mississippi Valley State on March 2.   In addition to the highlighted wins, Thornton’s players racked up numerous accolades throughout the season.    Zaay Green received SWAC Player of the Week honors five times, Coriah Beck earned the honors once, while Kaila Walker, Demetria Shephard, and Maya Peat were selected SWAC Impact Players of the Week. Green earned All-SWAC First-Team honors, while Beck and Peat were selected to the second team.   Thornton hit the ground running during 2022-23 season, leading the Golden Lions to a successful recruiting class, with several key newcomers (former five and three stars) that will picked up from last season.    In 2021-22, Thornton improved throughout the season, winning the Southern Mississippi Tournament, and knocking off Tulane all in the same year.  Under her guidance, UAPB recorded its highest overall wins in over 10 years.   In addition, Thornton oversaw the development of the standout Zaay Green, who was named SWAC Newcomer of the Year and mentioned as one of the top players on several WNBA Scout lists.     During the 2019-20 season, Thornton, who is commonly known as "Diva Coach", inherited a program consisting of four freshmen and four transfers; yet, led the team to outperform the preseason poll that picked UAPB to finish last in the SWAC. Under Thornton’s leadership, the Golden Lions tripled their SWAC win total from the previous season and qualified for the conference tournament for the first time since the 2017-18 season.   Thornton mentored freshman center, Nissa Sam-Grant, who in her first season donning a UAPB jersey, emerged as one of the most electrifying newcomers in the SWAC. Sam-Grant finished the season fourth in the conference with 1.5 blocks per game.   Thornton was named the Arkansas-Pine Bluff head coach in May of 2019 after spending the previous season as assistant coach at Atlantic Sun Conference perennial power Jacksonville University.    After a late start in August of 2017, Thornton served as head coach at NCAA Division II Shorter University where, in one season, she led the surge from last in all major statistical categories to the middle of the conference and developed the Northwest Georgia Player of the Year.   From 2014 to 2016, Thornton served as the head coach at Prairie View A&M, capturing the program's fourth consecutive SWAC Women’s Basketball Tournament title and NCAA Division I Women’s Tournament berth in 2014 while being honored as the HBCU Digest Female Coach of the Year.    On Thornton's watch, Prairie View A&M posted wins over Memphis, Houston, Louisiana Tech, Sam Houston State, Nicholls State and Lamar University, and compiled a 12-2 record in SWAC Tournament play. Thornton served as associate head coach at Prairie View A&M from 2012 to 2014, where the team won three consecutive SWAC Women’s Basketball Tournament titles and three NCAA Tournament berths.   Thornton helped coach two SWAC Players of the Year - Latia Williams (2013) and Jeanette Jackson (2015). Jackson, who was recruited by Thornton, was also named SWAC Women’s Basketball Tournament Championship MVP in 2014 and led the conference in scoring (18.8). Jackson went on to play professionally with several teams in Europe.    Thornton also recruited and coached Mississippi JUCO star Kiara Etienne, who earned SWAC Women’s Basketball Tournament Championship MVP honors in 2013, Shamiya Brooks, who led the SWAC with 11 double-doubles and 4.0 offensive rebounds per game in 2014-15, and Larissa Scott, who ranked fourth in the NCAA in offensive rebounding (5.0) in 2015-16.   Prior to her time as associate head coach, Thornton solidified her reputation as one of the best recruiters in the conference. She recruited and developed seven First Team All-Conference players, two Conference Players of the Year, two Conference Freshmen of the Year, and one Defensive Player of the Year from 2010 to 2014 at Prairie View A&M.    Thornton began her coaching career as an assistant coach at Tougaloo College from 2007 to 2010 where she was integral to the Lady Bulldogs' best record in 12 years and Gulf Coast Athletic Conference Tournament semifinal appearance during the 2009-2010 season.   Thornton received her Bachelor of Arts degree in Sociology from Jackson State University in 2005, where she helped lead the Lady Tigers basketball team to a SWAC Regular Season Co-Championship during her junior and senior years. She played her first two seasons at Atlanta Metropolitan College where she led the team to consecutive.    Thornton, who is a proud member of Delta Sigma Theta Inc, has one son (Camden).  

Erika Sisk begins her first season as Assistant Coach and Player Development on the Alabama A&M University women’s basketball coaching staff.   Sisk joins the Alabama A&M staff after spending two seasons in Oxford, Miss. at the University of Mississippi.   After her first season, Ole Miss head coach Yolett McPhee-McCuin elevated Sisk to serve as the special assistant to the head coach and an assistant coach, where she served a vital role in assisting the Ole Miss Rebels in preparation for games by examining and studying film and utilizing outstanding basketball skill-set as a member of the scout team. In addition, she helped build successful and effective relationships with the parents of student-athletes, ensuring athletes are meeting academic requirements and compliance.    A standout Rebel from 2014-17, Sisk appeared in 94 games, starting in 92. The Oxford, Miss. native, averaged 8.4 points, 3.2 rebounds as well as 3.2 assists per game throughout her three seasons. Her 254 career steals rank fifth all-time in Ole Miss history, grabbing 201 as a Rebel. Sisk became Ole Miss' 27th 1,000-point scorer in 2016, as she averaged 8.1 points per game as a senior.   Following her time in a Rebel jersey, Sisk headed overseas playing one season in Greece for Team Petrolina AEK. In her lone season in 2018, Sisk led the Cyprus League in scoring with an average of 22.8 points per game as Petrolina reached the second round of the playoffs.    Sisk then returned to Mississippi to run Sisk Select Basketball, traveling around the country participating in AAU tournaments while providing mentorship and developing players to their full potential. In addition, she was the primary representative for NFL player D.K. Metcalf.    Sisk graduated from Ole Miss in 2016 with a degree in general studies with minors in recreation administration, education and legal studies. In 2023, Sisk received a Certification in Intercollegiate Athletic Administration from the University of Mississippi.   

Briona Brown enters her first season as an Assistant Coach and Director of Recruiting on the Alabama A&M University women’s basketball coaching staff.   Brown comes to Alabama A&M after spending the previous three seasons as an assistant coach under head coach Dawn Thornton at Arkansas-Pine Bluff.   While at Arkansas-Pine Bluff, Brown coordinated skill development for position players, while serving as the recruiting and camp coordinator. She conducted weekly, bi-weekly academic meetings with student-athletes and assisted Thornton with defensive game and practice planning. In addition, she assisted in the structure of official visits and the presence of social media.    Brown also played a part in the Golden Lions’ success over the past three seasons, as Coriah Beck and Maori Davenport received Southwestern Athletic Conference (SWAC) Second Team Honors. Maya Peat also earned All-SWAC Second Team recognition and became UAPB’s all-time leading rebounder. Zaay Green earned the SWAC’s Newcomer of the Year, Preseason Player of the Year, Al-SWAC First Team and became UAPB’s all-time leading scorer.   Prior to joining the UAPB staff, Brown was an assistant at Jacksonville University for three seasons. Brown helped the Dolphins to a four-game improvement, three in conference play, from year one to year two. Known for her on-floor leadership and versatility, she passed that along to the young front court that she has tutored the last three seasons.   After spending two seasons as a graduate assistant coach at Warner University in Lake Wales, Florida, Brown returned to her alma mater. During her time with the Royals, she was responsible for the holistic development of Warner's post players, individual skill development, and overseeing the team's academic progress.   As a former student-athlete at JU standout for the Dolphins from 2012-16, Briona Brown earned back-to-back ASUN Conference All-Tournament Team honors in 2015 and 2016 and was a 2016 All-ASUN Second Team selection. Behind her leadership on the court as a senior and team captain, the Dolphins won the 2016 ASUN Tournament and earned the program's first-ever bid to the NCAA Tournament. She still ranks among the program's leaders in points with 1,215 (5th all-time), rebounds with 650 (5th all-time), blocks with 82 (6th all-time), and steals with 134 (10th all-time).   Following her collegiate career at Jacksonville, Briona Brown became one of two Dolphins to play professionally overseas when she inked a deal in September 2017 with SBS Ostrava in the Czech Republic.   Brown graduated with a Bachelor of Science in Communication Degree from Jacksonville in 2016 and received a Masters of Elementary Education from Warner in 2017.