Upward Trajectory Continues to be Goal for Women's Basketball

The College of Wooster women's basketball team is under new leadership in first-time head coach Olivia Besancon, and after a long offseason the Scots are ready to once again hit the court.

Wooster has made continued progress over the years, and their 6-20 record from last season can be deceiving with injuries plaguing the season and affecting its depth.

However, despite just six wins, it was more games the program had won than the last three years combined.

"We want to make sure day by day, game by game, we're getting a little bit better," Besancon said. "We want to compare ourselves to ourselves, being there for each other and working hard."

A main part of the team's success came from the scoring tandem of Alyssa Chritz, Ace Sturdivant and Ella Biondi.

Wooster will have to replace the All-NCAC third team member Chritz, who led the team and was third in the conference averaging 14.9 points per game. She also tied for the team-lead with seven rebounds per game.

In her first year, Sturdivant finished second on the team with 12.7 points per game. An impressive debut for the now sophomore, who will look to take the next step for her team.

Wooster has had Biondi as an inside threat the past two years. She averaged 10 points and seven rebounds as a sophomore.

Sturdivant, Biondi and Ella Dean will be focal points this season in terms of leadership and playing time. With no seniors in the group, everyone will have agency, but the Scots will lean on that trio specifically.

And it will be important to keep everyone healthy. 

Had it not been for a season-ending injury to Dean, last year's record could have been better as four wins came with Dean playing. Last year alone, she scored 20-plus points in four different contests and averaged 12.6 points in 10 games.

She is still on a slow trajectory coming back from an ACL tear but on the right track. While she will see time in non-conference play, the goal, according to Besancon, is to have her fully ready for conference play in January.

Besancon also noted the importance of keeping Biondi and Sturdivant fresh and healthy. More depth will help overcome the strain of a long season and the ability to play more guards will make the rotation look a little different.

"Ace played a lot of minutes, and she'll probably be in that same boat this year," Besancon said. "It will be about getting a little bit more out of her minutes on both ends of the court. I don't want to rely as heavily on her this year, but that's also going to make it easier on her and allow her to be more efficient."

Speaking of depth, the first-years will provide it with four joining the team in Emily Webb, Mackenzie Riccitelli, Lynx Lander and Ellery Kloek.

"I anticipate them all getting minutes," Besancon said. "They're a strong class, and with our roster size and the length of the season everyone has an opportunity. Players will get opportunities in different games, not every game necessarily, but I do think they'll be able to make an impact."

Amongst the junior class, Erica Beaty, who's currently competing with the women's soccer team, played in all 26 games last year, filling in as a starter when Dean went down. Meanwhile, Chloe Pordash continues to work her way back into the rotation after recovering from an injury and returning for 10 games last season.

Sophomores Kylie Parsons and Katelyn Barnes will continue to apply depth to the frontcourt. Anna Hardink received valuable playing time and was one of only two players to play and start in all 26 games.

Alexis Lovejoy also returns. In the last game of the 2024-25 season, the 3-point threat scored a career-high 15 points, going 5 of 8 from 3-point range.

The Scots will have a pair of exhibition games before hosting the Nan Nichols Classic Nov. 8-9 where they will play Carlow University and Thiel College. They will get an early test in NCAC play with a Dec. 4 matchup versus Oberlin College.

"We're looking to come in and shake things up a bit," Besancon said. "We want to be a team that dictates and sets the tempo, but that confidence is not going to happen overnight.

"Every game's a new game, and whoever shows up to play that day can come out on top."