Concordia women's basketball is currently 1-6 as they head into conference play. Having graduated a large senior class last season, this season the team is focused on stepping into leadership roles and playing a faster-paced game. 

“I think fans can expect to see a faster, transition-dominant team. We emphasized a faster playing style in the pre-season. I think many people have come out of their shells and stepped into roles they needed to step into,” said sophomore Izzy Navarro from Tijuana, Mexico. 

As the season's first conference game creeps up, the team is dialed in on playing the best they can to be seeded as high as possible. Navarro added, “Our main goal is obviously to get a conference championship and make a run in the tournament, but we also really want to make it a great last year for all our seniors.”

In the first game of the season, women’s basketball coach Christine Collins-Kiernan achieved a career milestone with her 100th win. Camryn Kiernan, a graduate student from Orange and the daughter of coach Collins-Kiernan said, “Being the coach's daughter, I am super proud of her achieving 100 wins! I have seen firsthand all of the work she pours into our team, and I have had the best time playing for her.”

Having graduated many players, this season the team has a lot of young athletes who are being shown the ropes by established players. “We have a lot of new players playing in different roles and positions of importance. They are getting on-the-job training every day and growing in those skills. These immediate opportunities are pushing their experience and every day you can see them getting more comfortable with the pressure, job responsibilities and accountability to growing up fast,” said Collins-Kiernan.

With more younger players comes an abundance of responsibility. Kiernan added, “There are differences between last year's team and this year's. We have a young team this year, as many girls graduated. This has allowed players to step into new leadership roles as we try to guide this young team. I have had to take a different role on this team and make changes to my game as well. Being a graduate student, I had to step into more of a leadership role and be that supportive voice for the younger players.”

The Golden Eagles took on Biola in La Mirada on Dec. 4 to open conference play. The home conference opener is Dec. 11 versus Azusa Pacific.

Tags: women's athletics

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