Introduction
The Point Loma women's basketball team is preparing to leave it all on the floor during the 2020-21 season, in whatever form the schedule takes. When PLNU does get back on the court after the new year, coach Lisa Faulkner will have a deep core returners along with some talented transfers and freshmen, which she hopes can be a stepping stone to take the program to the next level.
 
Returners
Leading the charge for coach Faulkner and the Sea Lions will be eight returning letterwinners, including three starters. The Sea Lions should be solid in the backcourt, where it returns all three starters. Two-time All-PacWest selection Cara Liggins and Isabel Turk will be back on the wings, while Alix Henderson is expected to be back running the show at the point. PLNU will also return Haylee Saurette, Kennedi Byram, Kylie Hearn, Brei Rodriguez and Carly Raley. Three-year starter, Sydney Peterson, will be sitting out this year as she recovers from injury.
 
"We have eight returners and then six newcomers coming in," said coach Faulkner. "Alix, Cara and Izzy all started a good portion of the games last year, they are all coming back for us as starters. I am really excited just about the new ones that are coming in and the progression of some of the returners. Some (of the returners) got new roles last year where they saw a significant amount of minutes. It will be exciting once we are able to fully practice and begin playing some games to see how they have grown as players."
 
Newcomers
The Sea Lions lost their first and third-leading scorers from last season with the graduation of Onjalise Carley-Hilliard (15.6 ppg, 6.3 rpg) and Carol Schroeder (9.3 ppg, 6.4 rpg), but they brought in transfer and five freshmen to help fill the void. Madison Corder (11.0 ppg, 6.9 rpg) has proven college experience and she joins the frontcourt as a junior transfer from San Francisco State. PLNU also added freshmen guards Morgan Van Elderen, Ellie Turk, Grace Moawad, and forwards Elizabeth Chambers and Madison Williams.
 
"We have quite a big incoming class with six newbies," said coach Faulkner. "They can all contribute in their own ways. They were all great additions to what we already have and it will be fun to see mix in. I am really excited for Madi and Liz because of their size, length and versatility. Ellie was also one of the best seniors in San Diego County."
 
Team Chemistry
While this fall consisted of just eight weeks of conditioning, skill development and modified practices with only half the student-athletes, there have been many positives to take away from the experience including the opportunity to grow closer as a team.
 
"It actually has been wonderful," Faulkner explained. "We have been meeting consistently basically since March, and anyone who was new we started meeting in the summer. Just getting to know each other and getting to develop relationships outside of basketball has really helped us since we have gotten back on campus and started workouts. It's unfortunate that we are in these small group pods right now with half our team is coming in while the other half is ending their workout, but they have bonded really well and that's one of the things that I am super excited about. Last year, I felt our team was really well connected and that's progressed into this season even with the number of new players we have. I feel really good about who we are as a group, and our unity."
 
Point Guard
Point Loma will return both student-athletes which handled the majority of the point guard duties last season. Alix Henderson (5.5 ppg, 4.5 rpg, 3.3 apg) is expected to be back as the starter with Kylie Hearn (2.3 ppg, 2.4 apg) taking the backup role.
 
"We have Alix and Kylie who pretty much split time last year and both of them are really primed to have a great season and really the rest of their careers," Faulkner explained. "Kylie as a freshman was getting used to playing college basketball and playing at the next level. Alix coming from Scotland was adjusting our style of play. I have really tried to develop a great relationship with them from a point guard standpoint and get in their heads a little bit and say 'hey, here are the things I would be looking at as a player.' I think that will go a long way in their own personal development. I'm super excited to see where they are at not only from a physical standpoint but really from a mental standpoint. I think they are really good point guards, leaders, and people that set the example of how we train, and who we are as a group. Of course we have a lot of others that can handle the ball, but I would say those two are the main point guards."
 
Wings
The perimeter should once again be a strength for the Sea Lions. Cara Liggins (15.3 ppg, 8.0 rpg) and Isabel Turk (6.3 ppg, 4.3 rpg) are expected to be back as starters. Liggins hit .411 percent of her 3-point attempts last season and led the team with 69 3-pointers. That also helped PLNU rank third in the PacWest with a .334 3-point percentage. Joining the pair of seniors on the perimeter are Kennedi Byram (6.6 ppg, .354 3-point%), Morgan Van Elderen, Brei Rodriguez, Madison Williams, Ellie Turk and Grace Moawad.
 
"I would categorize this as a group of wing players and guards," said Faulkner. "We have Cara, who is an all-conference player and a stud. She is our captain and the backbone of our team. Sydney Peterson is in that group as well. Sydney will be redshirting this year, recovering from ACL surgery. I am excited to see Izzy for her senior year. Kennedi played really well the second half of the season and I think she could be really productive for us. Ellie, Izzy's sister, will also be a nice addition to that group. Brei, Grace, Madison, Morgan are all going to come in and give us energy. They have really been loyal to the program and all about what we want to do. They are great additions to just bring a level of energy and intensity to make us better every day."
 
Forwards
Coach Faulkner gives her players the freedom to operate within her system. This gives the Sea Lions flexibility, especially at the forward position where many times you will see a student-athlete attacking the defense from the perimeter. Haylee Saurette was a great example of this last season as she finished third on the team with 48 3-pointers and fourth in rebounding (6.0 rpg), despite coming off the bench most of the season. This year, the Sea Lions might not have the traditional post presence that Carley-Hilliard provided, but they should still have many options at the forward position with returners Saurette and Raley, and newcomers Corder and Elizabeth Chambers.
 
"Haylee was kind of a microwave last year," Faulkner said. "She could score 20 at any given moment. I've seen a lot of personal development with her which I think will help her game. She is one to really look out for in terms of ready to take that next step. Carly Raley is returning from her ACL injury, and she is a toughness factor for us. We have two new forward/post players. Madison Corder from SFSU who put up really good numbers. She just has a massive motor. She is a massive rebounder and just does everything. Liz Chambers is a freshman, but already has a really good skill set. I think we got a steal with her just in terms of her size and athletic ability with some of the things she can do as a forward/post player. "
 
Strengths
Under coach Faulkner, PLNU has developed a reputation as having a strong defense and a disciplined team. Last year, the Sea Lions paced the PacWest with a plus-9.7 rebounding margin and held their opponents to a .382 shooting percentage, including just .329 from 3-point range. However, this season coach Faulkner believes the strengths of her team extend beyond just the stats.
 
"I think number one (strength for us) is the unity we have and the comradery," she said. "When you are around our team you get the sense that everyone likes each other. That's not always the case. That doesn't necessarily mean you will have the greatest season but it goes a long way, especially with women's basketball. The people on our team are really good humans that are good students and play hard. I think we have great skill sets and great versatility. One of the things for this season is we will open up the court a lot more. Last year, we had Onjalise and we played more of an inside-out game. The ball went in a lot, which it should have, she was a beast inside, but we have a lot more versatility this year so we will be able to have a lot of different things and play different ways, and maybe play more players. We want to play at a faster pace and in a five-out system so we can be more versatile with our shooting and ball handling ability. The way we can pass will lend to some very fun basketball."
 
Goals
While the season will not have a traditional look, or even a conference schedule, there are many goals coach Faulkner is looking for her team to accomplish with the time they have been gifted.
 
"First and foremost it has just been a year of adaptability and being able to adjust and take it with a positive attitude and not get discouraged," she said. "I think this group has done a good job with that. One of my messages is to find a way to take advantage of this time, especially in terms of extra time to study new things, or working on your game, mentally prepare. We did a lot of stuff with EQ, which is emotional intelligence. A lot of players got really vulnerable and shared some things they're struggling with. I'll use myself as an example. One of the things I said was I bounce back and forth between the reality of being in a competitive profession and wanting to win, but also at the same time projecting love and unity with people. How does that look as a coach and how does that look when you are dealing with officials? I struggle with it. So being vulnerable in some of those topics is one of my goals. Let's get better as a unit and better individually over this time period. Let's research and figure things out. I think this group is doing a really good job in that area. That would be my number one goal and I think we are accomplishing it."
 
"When it comes to on-court success, I always say 'let's be the best version of yourself every single day,'" she continued. "If we do that the success, in terms of wins and losses, will take care of itself. I don't know how many games we are going to play. I haven't really talked about any of that with our team. They are still all on-board and coming every day and working hard. They are not complaining and asking what's going to happen, because none of us really know. We talk about being in the present moment a lot with our group and we get to do and practice that. That's what I'm trying to instill. I think they are doing a great job of buying in, and then we will see if we get to play some games."
 
Conclusion
This season will definitely not be a typical one, but the best memories are often created by unique situations. So, regardless of whatever comes before them on their path this season, every member of the PLNU women's basketball team knows they have their teammates and coaches to support them as they take this journey together.
 
First recruiting class
This is also a special senior group as it is coach Faulkner's first recruiting class. While the Sea Lions have lost a few members of that recruiting class since they were freshmen, Sydney Peterson, Isabel Turk, Carly Raley and Cara Liggins all remain and will be in their fourth season with the team.
 
"I have been looking forward to this for awhile, so it's interesting to see it playing out," said Faulkner. "It is a very special group. This was a group I wanted to take on a foriegn tour, they were my first recruiting class. It's special to see the transition from the previous era, which still had great players, but to see how connected this group is. And that's a credit to them. Yes I preach that but at the end of the day its the players that implement it. It comes down to senior leadership too, so to have them as seniors is really special. I hope they can get somewhat of a normal season. I know it's not going to be completely normal but they deserve that. They deserve to experience what this is all about. At the end of the day you will remember some of the wins and some of the loses but you will remember the experience you have and your teammates.
 
"I know these girls will be friends for life and they will be in each other's weddings," the coach continued. "They are going to be the ones connecting with each other and that's what I want to replicate. That's the experience I had as a player and it is more important to me than anything else. I hope we get to win championships, and those things will take care of themselves, but it's the people you have, how they interact with each other and what they bring to the team every single day. Our seniors bring it. They don't just say it, they live it out, and that's why our program is where it's at right now. I don't know. I can't speak for anyone else in the conference or how they are doing things but i know we are doing the right things, and I love that."