The Reivers begin the season as #11 in the NJCAA DII Preseason Rankings. Iowa Western is returning a strong core of athletes from the 2021-2022 campaign where the team finished in the Region XI final with a record of 22-8. The Reivers will be led by First Team All-Region selections Ndidiamaka Ndukwe (14.4 ppg, 8.7 rpg) and Aleshia Jones (13.7 pgg, 36.8% from 3). Other key returners include Courtney Fields (10ppg, 2 apg), E'Laiyah Heard (7.1 ppg, 8 rpg), Hannah Burg (6.8 ppg, 43.8% from 3), and Shanae Suttles (3.8 ppg, 33.3% from 3).
The Reivers will also feature very talented transfers this season with McKenna Minter (NCAA DI Seton Hall), Caleigh-Rose West (NCAA DI New Orleans), Ericca Richardson (NCAA DI New Orleans), Caela Tighe (NCAA DII Concordia-St. Paul) and Jamyah Winter (NJCAA DII Kirkwood). Other newcomers to the team who look to make an impact right away are Mikayla Huffine (Rockford, IL), Isabella Paradowski (Melbourne, Australia), Isabel Wallschlaeger (Delafield, WI), and Emma Russell (Council Bluffs, IA).
The 2022-2023 schedule features 15 home games, including the home opener against Concordia University-Nebraska JV on November 15th at 6 PM. The Reivers kick-off the season with three games on the road at NJCAA DI McCook (Nov 1), at NJCAA DII preseason #6 North Central Missouri (Nov 5), and a neutral game against NJCAA DI Western Wyoming in Scottsbluff, NE(Nov 12). The non-conference schedule also includes a home game against NJCAA DI North Dakota State College of Science (Nov 23), a road game at NJCAA DIII preseason #3 Rochester (Nov 29), and a home game against NJCAA DII 2019 National Champion Kansas City Kansas (Jan 11).
A highlight of the ICCAC schedule is two matchups with defending National Champion and NJCAA DII preseason #1 Kirkwood with a game in Cedar Rapids on December 10th and back home in Reiver Arena on January 26th. The ICCAC had two other members receive votes in the NJCAA DII preseason rankings, Iowa Central and North Iowa Area. The Reivers will play the Tritons in Fort Dodge on January 14th and back home in Council Bluffs on February 8th. Iowa Western will take on the Trojans January 4th at home and in Mason City on February 18th.
Check out the entirety of the schedule on goreivers.com and follow the Iowa Western Women's Basketball team on Facebook, Twitter (@ReiverWBB), and Instagram (@ReiverWBB) for updates!
