By The Carroll College Women’s Basketball team was ranked 4th in the Preseason National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA) Poll. After six games, their record sat at 3-3, and the NAIA released the results of its first Coaches’ Poll of the season.
Carroll fell five spots from their preseason ranking, with losses to three teams ranked in the Top 20 of the current poll (No. 1 Thomas More, No. 4 Indiana Wesleyan, No. 20 Southern Oregon). The Saints are now ranked 9th in the nation.
The Saints embarked on a trip to Indiana for three games, Nov. 9, 11, and 12. They were set to face Grace College, No. 4 Indiana Wesleyan University, and No. 8 Marian University.
In their first game on Wed., Nov. 9, Carroll came out on top, tallying a 71-57 victory over Grace College, evening out their 2022-2023 record, and gutting out a road win over a previously undefeated Grace College (2-1) team.
Sienna Swannack, a senior civil engineering major from Nine Mile Falls, Washington, and Addi Ekstrom, a sophomore health science major from Bozeman, Montana, tied for a team-high with 12 points for Carroll, while Jamie Pickens, a senior nursing major from Helena, Montana, added nine points and six rebounds.
The Saints remained in Indiana, turning their attention toward the Leah Whittaker Memorial Classic where they would play two nationally ranked teams back-to-back Friday and Saturday.
In their second game of the trip, Carroll fell at the hands of No. 4 Indiana Wesleyan 59-36. Carroll (2-3) gave the Wildcats a run in the first half but ultimately were unable to overcome their deficit.
Frontier Conference Preseason Co-Player of the Year, Jamie Pickens would lead the Saints on the night, finishing with 10 points, three blocks, and three rebounds.
Following the Friday night loss, Carroll had a quick turnaround and bounced back.. In a Top-10 matchup, the Saints defeated No. 8 Marian 69-61. Earning a statement victory over a previously unbeaten Marian, Carroll (3-3) headed back to Montana to begin preparations for their next home game.
Swannack led all scorers with 22 points, and Jamie Pickens finished with 19 points and seven rebounds.
After the victory over Marian University, Head Coach Rachelle Sayers, who is in her 12th season with Carroll, said the trip was well worth it.
“It was a big day for us,” said Sayers. “We struggled to shoot the ball with any consistency against Indiana Wesleyan, and it was good to see that thing go in. This was a huge trip for us. We won’t get better without playing teams that challenge us both mentally and physically to be better. I am proud of the girls’ response today.”
The Saints’ gauntlet of a non-conference schedule has been tough on the team, but no one in the locker room is hitting the panic button. Carroll will enter their Frontier Conference schedule in December as a battle-hardened group, and their early-season struggles can lead to greater opportunities down the road.
Pickens has been the best player on the court for the Saints in 2022, averaging 15.2 points per game, 6.9 rebounds per game, and 1.9 blocks per game.
“Our preseason schedule has been challenging, but our staff has the team’s best interest in mind,” said Pickens. “Battling these nationally ranked teams now will prepare us for a deep run in the postseason.”
A return of the “field trip game” took place Mon., Nov. 28 at 11 a.m. against Willamette University at home in the P.E. Center.
The Saints took a demanding win over their Division III opponent, winning 74-35. Pickens led all scorers with 18 points, alongside four rebounds.
“It was an amazing atmosphere for our players and these students,” said Sayers. “Being able to provide this experience for these kids is super cool. I’m really thankful for all those that stepped up to make this event happen. You couldn’t have written this up any better. A big win, a sell-out crowd, and Sienna getting her 1,000th point? It was a great day!”
Tuesday, the Saints hit the road again to face the Cougars of National Collegiate Athletic Association Division I, Brigham Young University in Provo, Utah. The exhibition game took place Nov. 21. After outscoring the Cougars 14-13 in the second quarter cutting the lead to just six heading into halftime, the Saints were unable to keep pace with BYU, falling 71-47.
Pickens had an outstanding day for the Saints, finishing with 17 points and leading the team in rebounding with six.
After a loaded preseason, Carroll would then get ready for their first Frontier Conference games of the year, welcoming No. 21 Montana Western to the PE Center on Dec. 1. The Bulldogs of Montana Western were 5-1 coming into this game and were led by Frontier Conference Preseason Co-Player of the Year, Brynley Fitzgerald.
The No. 9 Saints earned a hard-fought victory over the Bulldogs, pulling away for a 72-61 win on Thursday night. Kamden Hilborn, a senior health science major from Montana City, Montana, poured in 15 points on 6-7 shooting from the field in the first quarter.
Hilborn led all scorers on her career-best night, finishing the game with 25 points, three rebounds, and six assists.
“It felt good; it just really felt like everything was going my way,” said Hilborn. “My teammates gave me a ton of confidence. I think we had control of the game from the beginning and made plays down the stretch to come out with a big team win.”
Pickens added 11 points and eight rebounds.
Following their game against the Bulldogs, the Saints headed up north to take on the Skylights of Montana State University-Northern in Havre, Montana, on Saturday, Dec. 3. The Skylights were 3-3 coming into this matchup.
The Saints earned their second Frontier Conference win of the season, beating MSU-Northern 68-49.
Hilborn backed up her outstanding Thursday performance with a near triple-double (eight points, seven rebounds, and eight assists). Also for the Saints, Kyndall Keller, a junior business major from Havre, Montana, was lights out in her return to her hometown for the first time as a Saint. Keller is new to the Carroll roster this year, transferring from the University of Montana Lady Griz Women’s Basketball program.
Keller went 5/6 from three-point range for 15 points in the first quarter and ended the night with a game-high 24 points in her homecoming effort.
“It was fun to go back home and play in front of the Havre fans who have supported me all throughout my journey,” Keller said. “It was fun seeing a lot of familiar faces, and it was awesome to get a win and play at home.
“Huge credit to my teammates – they got me the open shots and they hit me when I was open, and luckily for me, they went in.”
Pickens had yet another double-double, scoring 14 points and pulling down 12 rebounds for the Saints.
Coach Sayers added her thoughts on the two big wins.
“Thursday night was Kamden and tonight was Kyndall,” said Sayers. “I thought in the second half, everybody kind of settled in. Kamden was flirting with a triple-double, Jamie ended with a double-double, Sienna made some big threes down the stretch.”
With the victory over MSU-Northern, Carroll improved to 6-3 on the season and 2-0 in Frontier Conference play. Carroll is now alone with Rocky Mountain College atop the Frontier standings with 13 games to play.
Carroll (6-3, 2-0) now shifts its focus to a road contest at No. 13 Lewis-Clark State on Friday, Dec. 9 in Lewiston, Idaho.
