| 2024-25 Schedule | 2024-25 Roster | Recruits |

By the time the 2023-2024 Marian Ancilla Women's Basketball team finished their preseason last year, they had unfortunately already lost two starters to season-ending knee injuries. Still, though, the Chargers got off to a 10-7 start, 2-2 in the MCCAA, when they lost a third starter to yet another season-ending knee injury...a player who just happened to be leading them in nearly every statistical category. The team found it tough to bounce back once again, as they finished 12-14 overall and 3-9 in the MCCAA. As the Chargers turn the page to 2024-2025, they must now do so without the services of wing Nicole Swain (DNP in 2023-2024 due to injury), wing Samaria Freeman (6.6p, 4.5r), post Derriauna Woodson (4.4p, 4.6r), post Millie Scorsone (3.5p, 2.7r), or post Audrey Schmidt (1.7p, 1.9r). Swain was injured in the preseason, but she graduated and is now playing at Calumet College of St. Joseph. Freeman was a top defensive player on the team and brought a lot of energy to the floor. She graduated and is working towards her 4-year degree at IU-Northwest. Woodson, Scorsone, and Schmidt helped solidify the interior for the Chargers with their size and physicality. Woodson and Scorsone have joined Swain on the Cal College team, while Schmidt wanted to enter the workforce. "We will greatly miss the ladies who left our program, but we wish them luck at their new destinations. For me, Swain, Freeman, Woodson, and Schmidt were a part of the first team I recruited here, so it's extra special to see them moving on to bigger and better opportunities," commented Charger Head Coach Ryan Gould.

The Chargers do return five Sophomores who saw plenty of action a year ago, and who should provide some experience and leadership this time around. 5-10 Sophomore wing De'Mour Watson (24.2p, 13.1r, 2.9a, 2.1s, 1.2b) was on pace to potentially earn some National honors, but in the 17th game of the year, she went down with her own knee injury. At the time, she was second in the country in NJCAA Division II in scoring and 5th in the country in rebounding. Watson did make the MCCAA All-Conference Team (all divisions), as well as the MCCAA Western Division Team and Western Division Freshman Team. She is scheduled to return at some point during the 2024-2025 season, but it might be a delayed start for the high-scoring wing. 5-7 Sophomore guard Nasiya Gause (12.7p, 4.0r, 3.0a) also scored in double figures, but she really picked it up after Watson's exit, averaging 15.3 points and 3.5 assists per game in MCCAA games. Gause was also named to the MCCAA Western Division Freshman Team. 5-7 Sophomore wing Bella Mahan (7.1p, 3.8r, 49 3-pointers) was a catalyst for the Chargers with her perimeter shooting. Not only that, but she found more ways to contribute later in the year and averaged 4.9 rebounds per game during MCCAA action. 5-5 Sophomore Guard Brooklynn Cooper (4.5p, 3.0r) saw her usage pick up significantly after Christmas, starting 11 games down the stretch. She brings a feistiness to the court and adds versatility at both ends of the floor. 5-10 Sophomore forward/post Beauti Santiago (1.4p, 2.5r) should see more opportunity in her second year, as she had to manage minutes with the three posts who have since left. She is strong and physical, plus she has some touch offensively. 5-5 Redshirt Freshman guard Darne Toney works for an opportunity this season after missing the 2023-2024 season with a preseason knee injury. The Chargers also welcome back Sophomore Trinity Beaugard, who saw limited action a year ago, but this time she participates in a managerial capacity. "I am really excited to see the growth of our Sophomores from year-1 to year-2," continued Coach Gould. "Especially down the stretch last year, they were leaned on heavily to help us compete, so they bring a great deal of experience to the floor for us."

The cast of newcomers for Marian Ancilla bring a lot of talent, skill, and experience having played at high levels. Ball-handling was an issue a year ago, due to injuries, but the additions of 5-8 Freshman point guard Annika Davis and 5-5 Freshman point guard Karleisha Echols should definitely help mend that. Davis was the lead guard for Indiana Class 2A State Champion Bishop Luers High School, while Echols comes from the prestigious Penn High School program, where she was a starting guard. 5-7 Freshman guard Aaliyah Keil and 5-7 Freshman guard Ciara Bonner both come to Marian Ancilla from Northwest Indiana. Keil starred at Highland High School and brings a great deal of athleticism and a defensive presence, while Bonner is a shot-maker from Chesterton High School where she also spent some time handling the ball. The Chargers bolstered their frontline as well, with the additions of 5-7 Freshman forward Santana Eubanks, 6-3 Freshman post Jadyn Harris, and 5-10 Sophomore forward/post Maykayla Washington-Cobb. Eubanks is an elite athlete who had multiple track opportunities as a sprinter, but she wanted to play hoops. She is a high-motor rebounder and defender from East Kentwood High School in Michigan, not far from Grand Rapids. Harris is a long, athletic, defensive-minded post from Indianapolis Pike High School. Her combination of height and athleticism will offer something new to the Charger lineup this season. Washington-Cobb is a Lawrence North High School graduate, but she spent last season as a Freshman at Westminster College in Missouri. She is a strong, physical front-liner. 5-7 Freshman forward Ga'Naysia White of Fort Wayne South Side, 5-11 Freshman forward/post Kyndall Thompson of Fort Wayne Northrop, and 5-7 Freshman guard Janiya Johnson of New Haven also look for an opportunity to help this season. Coach Gould expressed excitement about this Freshman class. "In recruiting, most teams target skill, athleticism, or size, and we feel like we were lucky and able to collect some of all three categories. They still need that college experience under their belts, but we are anxious to get going and see what they're made of."

As for an outlook to the season, Coach Gould finished with these sentiments, "we don't really want to associate a number of wins with success. Do we want to win more games than last year? Absolutely. But more importantly, we want to improve as the season progresses, maintain our health, and be ready to compete for a conference title when January rolls around. If we are able to do that, then hopefully we can also compete for a shot at postseason play in March." The Chargers open this weekend when they host the Charger Classic. They will face off against Lincoln Trail College on Friday, November 1st, at 6:00 p.m. at the LifePlex in Plymouth. They turn around and play again the next day, Saturday, November 2nd, when they host Delta College at 3:00 p.m., also at the LifePlex. Please come out and support the Chargers this year!!