WOMENS TEAM GETS FIRST FULL SEASON SINCE 2019

By Danika Rademacher, Sports Writer

Women’s basketball is back in full swing, with the Knights starting off strong. 

 The 10^th ranked Wartburg women’s basketball team is off to a great start being 5-0 overall and 2-0 in the American Rivers Conference. 

The women’s team had a shortened 2020-21 season due to COVID-19. 

The team is led by sophomore Jaedon Murphy averaging 21.3 points per game. Murphy also leads the team in rebounds per game, averaging 6.8 per game.  

“The team is young this year, so they had to adjust how they normally have played in previous seasons. So far, they have adjusted pretty well and continue to thrive with each game,” said student-manager Paige Amsberry.  

Nine of the 20 girls on the roster are first-year players. The 2021-22 season captains are Hannah Anderson, Brea Dillavou, and Taylor Runchey. With the team being young this year and lacking height, the team has had to adjust their playing style.  

“Something that we are working on improving each day is learning to play well together. With having a lot of new people on the team, we have to be sure that we are all on the same page in order to be successful,” Anderson, senior, said.   

This year’s team has set many little milestones to help reach the bigger goals of the season. The Knights are hopeful in winning the American Rivers Conference title and making a run in the NCAA tournament. 

In 2020-21, the Knights compiled a 13-3 record and finished in third place in the American Rivers Conference.  

“Our goals are to play as hard as we can and keep improving with each practice and game that we play. Get better at things we already do well. Win the conference and make the NCAA tournament,” Anderson said. 

The Wartburg women’s basketball team will take on the University of Northwestern-St. Paul on December 7, 2021. Tip-off is at 7 PM.