Women's Basketball | 10/31/24 | 10:04 AM
HELENA, Mont. - The No. 8-ranked Carroll Women's Basketball team will officially kick off their 2024-25 season on Thursday, hosting (RV) Arizona Christian at the PE Center at 5:30 p.m.
After six long months, the Fighting Saints (28-6, 14-1) are back in action, ready to defend their home court against the Firestrom (18-13, 7-7) and start their season on the right foot.
Carroll will look to replicate the most successful season in the 50-year history of the program, as the 2023-24 team once again won the Frontier Conference championship before advancing to the NAIA Women's Basketball Championship semifinals for the first time.
The Saints will have a different look in 2024-25, now playing without three program mainstays who graduated last season.
Erica Nessan, Maddie Gertiz, and NAIA Player of the Year
Jamie Pickens are gone, but Head Coach Rachelle Sayers is confident in a highly-skilled group of returners paired with some exciting young additions.
Guard play will be the strength of this year's squad, with
Addi Ekstrom (Bozeman, Mont. / SR) and
Kyndall Keller (Havre, Mont. / R-SR) providing veteran leadership to the new-look Saints. Keller and
Willa Albrecht (Billings, Mont. / R-JR), a pair of transfers from Montana, were selected the the Preseason All-Frontier Conference team. The trio averaged 25.85 points per game in 2023-24, and will likely be tasked with handling the bulk of the scoring for the Saints this year.
Ava Oakland (Boise, Idaho / JR),
Clare Converse (Kalispell, Mont. / R-SO),
Meagan Karstetter (Moses Lake, Wash. / JR),
Elliot Hencz (Spokane, Wash. / R-SO), and Izzy Erickson (Broadview, Mont. / SR) have all seen their share of court time over the past three seasons, and will have ample opportunity to shine this season. All five bring unique skillsets, and are capable scorers and defenders in both the front court and back court.
The Firestorm come to Helena having won the previous meeting between the schools last season in Glendale. Lauren Gunn exploded for 38 points, as ACU won a 77-74 early season matchup.
Arizona Christian returns the bulk of a roster that qualified for the NAIA Women's Basketball tournament last season. The Firestorm suffered a one-point first round loss to Reinhardt in Great Falls to end their year.
Tip-off for tonight's season-opener is slated for 5:30 p.m. at the PE Center.
Tickets are available online or at the door.
A live stream of tonight's game can be found
HERE, and live stats
HERE.
Visit www.carrollathletics.com tonight for a full recap of the action, and to stay up to date with everything going on in Carroll Athletics.
