The Saints' Unstoppable Ascent: Carroll Women's Hoops Defies the Odds, Again

You know, there's just something about a team that’s expected to be great, and then actually is. It’s a rare, beautiful thing in the often unpredictable world of college sports. And for the Carroll College women's basketball squad, that expectation, that weight of anticipation, well, it seems to be fuel.

Last season, they made a heck of a run, all the way to the NAIA national championship game, capturing hearts and proving a point. Now, as the new season gets underway, you might think there’d be a bit of a hangover, a slow start. But no, not these Saints. They've stormed out of the gates with an unblemished 6-0 record, looking, for lack of a better word, utterly dominant. This, mind you, is after bidding farewell to two crucial starters from that impressive championship-contending roster. But, honestly, who’s even noticed?

Coach Rachelle Sayers, a figure as seasoned as they come, attributes this early surge to something deeper than just raw talent – though they certainly have plenty of that. It’s about, she suggests, a collective intelligence, a high basketball IQ, and perhaps most importantly, an unshakeable unselfishness. “We have really good basketball brains,” she’ll tell you, and you can sense the pride in her voice. This isn’t a team relying on one or two stars; it's a true ensemble where every single player, every piece, matters.

And yet, certain individuals do stand out, don't they? Take Jamie Pickens, for instance. A transfer from MSU, she’s a formidable 6-foot-2 presence in the post, leading the charge in both scoring and rebounding. Her impact has been immediate, undeniable. Then there’s Kyndall Hacking, the kind of point guard every coach dreams of – calm, orchestrating, leading the Frontier Conference in assists, dishing out dimes like it's second nature. Maddie Jones? She’s the grit, the defensive spark plug, the one you can always count on for that crucial hustle play. And don't forget Brooke Heggie, another transfer, this time from Eastern Washington, already showing glimpses of her powerful post game. The bench, by the way, runs deep; you could say it's a testament to the meticulous recruiting and development happening here.

But with such success, such an imposing start, comes a certain kind of pressure, doesn't it? They have a target squarely on their backs now. Everyone knows what Carroll College is capable of. The challenge, then, becomes maintaining that humble, consistent approach, the very thing that got them here. Sayers, ever the pragmatist, knows they’re still finding their rhythm, still evolving. “We’re still figuring it out,” she admits, but with a twinkle in her eye, she adds, “but we’re figuring it out pretty quickly.”

The defense, it’s worth noting, is just stifling. They're making opponents work for every single bucket, turning games into gritty, hard-fought battles, which, for a team like Carroll, often means victory. So, as the season unfolds, one can't help but wonder: just how high can these Saints fly? If their start is any indication, the sky, truly, might just be the limit. And that, dear reader, is a story worth following.