Every dark cloud has a silver lining and there is one currently hovering over Sacramento State’s women’s basketball program.

-But Sac State’s lining is not silver, but Brown.

-Tyeisha Brown, is a 5-foot-8 junior transfer from the College of Marin where she averaged 17 points, six rebounds, four assists and four steals per game last year.

-Brown is a unique blend of offensive skills and defensive ability.

-The leading scorer for the Hornets is also one of the team’s best defensive players.

-Brown draws the opponent’s best perimeter threat in most games, which is fine by her.

-“I’d say my defense is what I’m best at, I especially like on-the-ball defense,” Brown said.

-Mike Fulton, her former coach at the College of Marin, said Brown is one of the best defensive players he has ever coached, adding, “She has tremendous feet and hands when I saw her at 15, that’s what stood out to me.”

-At the Division I level it is imperative that teams are able to defend the ball in order to be successful.

-That success should be right around the corner for Brown.

-Freshman forward Jessica Voisard said, “She’ll be very successful once everything settles down.”

-“She could potentially be an all-conference player, I don’t think that is an overstatement,” Fulton said.

-Brown started playing basketball at a young age.

-“I got my first ball when I was two and never put it down,” Brown said.

-She spent many long days on the court with her father, Leonce Brown, growing into the player she is today. She credits much of her basketball prowess to her father. Many times she would go to the courts just to watch him play when she was younger.

-During grammar and middle schools, she would play against the boys in Richmond and her native Vallejo, where her former coach thinks this is where she developed her athleticism.

-That athleticism, coupled with her desire to win have made her one of the leaders on her team.

-“She is clearly someone everyone can look at who competes everyday, she works hard and has the game to back it up,” head coach Dan Muscatell said. Brown has great respect for her new coach saying that he not only provides guidance, but also cares for her as a person.

-Her teammates also look up to Brown as a leader. Freshman guard Stephanie Cherry said that Brown brings it on the offensive and defensive ends and the team feels really comfortable with the ball in her hands.

-It is also not uncommon to see Brown in among the trees fighting for rebounds. Since the start of conference play, she has averaged 5.7 rebounds per game.

-Coach Muscatell attributes this to her superior athletic ability and aggressive play. Brown, too, says it is due to her athleticism which she uses to avoid contact and allow her to leap for the ball.

-Although, Brown certainly has helped and will continue to help the Hornets. Her abilities haven’t yet turned into victories.

-The team’s struggles have been hard on Brown. She said that the season thus far has been quite stressful, but the team is in a building year. She thinks this team can win.

-“It will take total and full dedication in our coaching staff and ourselves when we believe, we will win,” Brown said.

-“She is the best — all she cares about is winning,” Fulton said.

-Brown is the type of player who would rather score zero and win, than score 30 and lose.

-“I’m down to do whatever it takes to win.”

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