It’s basketball season and the ʼCats are back. On Friday, Dec. 6, the women’s squad kicked off their conference campaign against Lewis & Clark. Kaitlin Imai (ʼ26) and Elyse Waldal (ʼ25) are returning players who continue to stand out. Both were all-conference picks last year and have been high scorers this season.
In hopes that some COVID-eligible super-seniors would return this season, head coach Peg Swadener says she set up a brutal preseason against DI and DII schools. Without them, the young team took some substantial losses, finishing preseason 2-5. Despite the record, the ʼCats have shown they are capable of putting up a good fight. With a buzzer-beater from Imai on Nov. 21, they quashed Western Oregon University for the first time since 2006.
The night before their opening conference match-up, coming off of back-to-back losses, the mood at practice was light: assistant coaches joined in the drills, and the team wrapped up practice with a half-court and layup shooting contest. The following night they defeated Lewis & Clark 76-72. Gio Horner (ʼ28), a first-year, scored 19 points, including a buzzer-beater to send the game to overtime.
The team is projected to take No. 3 in conference this year. Swadener said she feels the team is far from that result at the moment, but hopes that by January or February they will be conference competitors.
Last year after preseason, they stood 2-5. They then went on to win the regular season title for the first time since 1996.
Conference play resumes Jan. 3 at George Fox.