WAUKESHA, Wis. – The Carroll University women's basketball team, coming off their first CCIW tournament appearance in program history, returns all five starters and rejuvenates their bench in 2021-22. The Pioneers lose just one letter-winner from 2020-21 and bring in four valuable freshmen to the program.
 
Head coach Lindsay Schultz, who enters her sixth season as the Pioneers' leader, says they'll have good options this season "Our depth allows us to push tempo while keeping players rested and hopefully wear out teams in the fourth quarter" says Schultz. "As the season progresses and our injured players return, the depth will allow us to have different offensive weapons, and we'll have the depth to have different players step up in different games." The Pioneers lost three players last season to season-ending injuries, with all three looking for minutes and opportunities to play this season. Look for first-team all-conference selection Kate Christian, Megan Madsen, and Jess Prater to return to the bench this season.
 
Katie Evans returns for her senior season with the Pioneers and knows how valuable those key pieces will be once they return to the team, "It was tough to see a few of my teammates get injured last year," says Evans. "The basketball season is long, and I think when they can come back to play it will give us an extra boost right when we need it." Evans talks about how these injuries could have brought the team down, but instead, they persevered into the fourth seed in the CCIW tournament. "Last year we went through a lot of adversity, and instead of shying away from the challenge, we came together as one…I consider my teammates family and I would do anything for them" says Evans.
 
Coach Schultz also attributes this team's relationship to the COVID-19 pandemic. "Our mentality last year was every day we can be together playing basketball…was a privilege," says Schultz. "As a result, this team enjoyed spending time together and our passion for the game and love for one another showed on and off the court."
 
The Pioneers open the season at MSOE on Saturday, November 6. The Pioneers will play their first CCIW contest of the season at Illinois Wesleyan on Saturday, December 4. The Pioneers were picked to finish fifth in the CCIW this season. Evans is excited for everything to come this season "I am looking forward to having fans back in the stands and the energy that they will bring."
 
Carroll will be led by 2020-21 second-team all-conference selection Elizabeth Behrndt, who averaged 11.2 PPG and 8.3 RPG on 76.8% shooting. Theresa Wichser returns for her senior season, as she looks to extend her all-time three-point baskets made record (146) into untouchable heights.

All Carroll women's basketball home games will have live stats and live video available on gopios.com/wbb.