Women’s Basketball Season Preview
Bethel Women's Basketball is coming off a 2021- 22 season that saw them finish the year with a record of 21-14 overall and 12-10 in the Mid -South Conference. The Lady Wildcats made it all the way to the final site in Sioux City, Iowa and the Sweet 16.
The Lady Cats lost key members of that squad including leading scorer Millie Bryant and all time shot blocker and fellow 1,000-point member Mickey Head.
The Cats return sophomore point guard Kalynn Howard and graduate transfer shooting guard Keely Morrow. Post player Kyla Taylor was a vital part in the second half turnaround and the post season run. Taylor returns this season to build on that success.
17th year head coach Chris Nelson's squad will have a new look this season, as there are eight newcomers on the team including five freshman and three transfers. Despite the youth of this years' team the Cats will have plenty of depth on the roster.
"We have a good young group," Nelson said. "We need a lot of production out of our new faces so I think we will see some inconsistencies early on so we will have a lot of room for growth, but we are 100 percent confident we will be peaking at the right time. We may go through some growing pains early. We have a good non -conference schedule to get us ready and we are looking forward to it."
Bethel has a solid non- conference schedule to begin the season as Nelson mentioned. The Cats have the Chamber Classic to begin the season with respected opponents Brescia and University of Health and Science to tip off the season. UHSP has the nations' leading scorer and will be an early test for the Wildcats. Bethel will travel to Dillard to play a nationally known GCAC school and will finish the non- conference portion of their schedule playing in Faulkner's Thanksgiving Classic versus a national tournament team in Reinhardt and a receiving votes team in Faulkner. "It is our hope this preseason schedule will help our team mature leading into conference play," Nelson said.
The Mid -South Conference is never easy having eight national tournament teams in the field of 64 last season. While the schedule might be tough, Bethel's talent and depth has potential to win quite a few games and be in a familiar spot come post-season.
Lady Cat 22-23 roster:
Front court:
With sophomore Taylor sidelined the first few games some might think the Cats are thin in the post position. Bethel however has signed some major impact players that will be ready from the tip. Arkansas State -Mid South transfer Alyia Lee and freshman Madison Hart will step in right away and be ready to contribute. At ASU-Mid South Lee averaged 12.5 ppg and 8.2 rebounds leading the Lady Greyhounds to a 25-2 record. She was the first All American in program history and led the conference in blocks and rebounds. Hart was two-time TSSAA Miss Basketball Finalist and scored over 2,200 career points. She averaged 18.6 ppg and 7.0 rebounds while shooting 66% from the field and 84% from the foul line. Returning power forward Lauren Carmona is expected to see early minutes and impact the team with her high energy and experience in her second season with the Cats.
With the starting point guard returning in Kalynn Howard the Lady Wildcats have the foundation needed to build to help the newcomers progress. "Kal's basketball IQ and understanding of the game is a rarity these days. She understands the game on both ends of the floor and makes everyone around her better," said Nelson.
After learning the system last year and getting healthy as the year progressed, returning shooting guard Keely Morrow is a clutch player who is expected to have a breakout season. Raegan Blackburn is a fifth-year graduate transfer Bethel recruited out of high school. Blackburn and Morrow together make up a lethal combo that could be deadly from outside and have good size at the guard position.
Junior guard Rachel Childress will finally see significant playing time in the Lady Wildcat uniform. Childress will bring skills and experience to both ends of the court but will have a depth of guards behind her looking for more playing time.
Coach Nelson laid out his team goals in simple fashion. "Our main goal is always to be the best team we can be and ultimately to be peaking at the right time. We must be smart on how we develop this team and not just physically but bring them along mentally. We have the key ingredients in every spot, but it is about forming that chemistry and getting game experience. We are excited about this team and the possibilities of another big year."