Kalifa Ford
The Chattanooga women's basketball team added another big-time playmaker to its ranks on Sunday, with the Mocs welcoming Division II All-American Kalifa Ford to the program, as announced by head coach Deandra Schirmer.
Ford is coming off a dominant season playing under Schirmer at Valdosta State, as the Bono, Arkansas, native ended up averaging 14.2 points/game, 4.6 rebounds/game, 1.8 assists/game and 1.8 steals/game for the Lady Blazers in 2023-24. Ford's resume at VSU includes being named a WBCA All-American, the D2CCA South Region Player of the Year as well as the Gulf South Conference Player of the Year.
"Kalifa is an explosive talent," Coach Schirmer said.
"She can change a game with her scoring but has also worked hard to become a defensive weapon as well. She is a unique blend of power and finesse which makes her very difficult to stop."
Ford spent a total of two seasons under Coach Schirmer while playing with the Lady Blazers, having red-shirted the 2022-23 season at VSU before skyrocketing her way into the upper echelon of Division II women's basketball. Standing at five-foot-ten, Ford adds some important size down low for the Mocs as she is set to enter her final year of eligibility in 2024-25.
Prior to joining Coach Schirmer at Valdosta State, Ford spent a total of three seasons at Oklahoma Baptist University playing at the Division II level. Ford ended her tenure at OBU having appeared in a total of 48 games with the Bison, with her 2021-22 junior season seeing her grab First Team All-Great American Conference honors after averaging 17.4 points/game and 9.1 rebounds/game. Ford would finish her junior season with a total of 13 double-doubles across her 25 games played, ranking in the Top 25 in all of NCAA DII.
Ford attended Brookland High School before committing to Oklahoma Baptist, and the prep standout raked in numerous honors on the high school hardwood including being a three-time All-State selection (Arkansas) as well as a three-time All-Conference honoree.
The daughter of Rodney and Vickie Ford, Kalifa studied accounting all throughout her undergraduate career at Oklahoma Baptist and Valdosta State. She is also a multi-time Academic All-Conference and Athletic Director's Honor Roll honoree in her collegiate career.