During the first five seasons of Katherine Menendez's tenure as head coach of the Colorado College women's basketball team, the Tigers methodically climbed the conference ladder from a program that couldn't qualify for Southern Collegiate Athletic Conference tournament to a team that played its way into the SCAC championship game for the first time during the 2021 spring season.
 
Armed with the return of three starters, eight veterans and a strong class of first-year players who are ready to contribute, the Tigers are eager to take the program's next monumental step during the upcoming 2021-22 campaign.
 
Logic would say the next important step would be winning the program's first SCAC championship, but truth be told, Menendez and her Tigers are looking to make an even bigger leap this season. In fact, if they can successfully navigate a daunting non-conference schedule, it's possible Colorado College could make a statement at the regional or national level.
 
"Without a doubt, this team is ready to take that next step," Menendez said. "We have the right players, the right attitude, the right work ethic, and we're really deep. We also understand what we're doing in the early parts of our season helps to prepare for success in February."
 
With no seniors on this year's roster, the six juniors will be responsible for providing leadership for a team that includes three sophomores and 10 first-year players. Fortunately, each of the juniors has considerable experience on the court after playing alongside two players who finished their careers during the spring – All-American McKenzee Gertz and Abby Walz.
 
"The six juniors are our unquestioned leaders, and they have significant experience on and off the court," Menendez said. "They each have done an amazing job of not only leading our off-season workouts, but welcoming our new players into the program and demonstrating our culture and expectations on a daily basis."
 
Leading the returning players is point guard Anna Fanelli, who earned third-team all-SCAC honors during the spring season. She led the conference with 65 assists and an average of 6.5 per game, ranked 11th averaging 6.6 rebounds and 19th at 10.9 points per outing. Fanelli recorded four double-doubles in 10 games, two that were points and rebounds, and a pair that were points and assists. In less than two full seasons, she already ranks No. 11 in program history with 205 assists.
 
Junior forward Rosie Braley, who also earned third-team all-SCAC honors, ranked seventh in the conference averaging 7.9 rebounds and 21st in scoring averaging 9.5 points per game. Braley demonstrated the ability to influence the outcome of a game at both ends of the court. She was named SCAC Player of the Week after she averaged 15.0 points and 9.5 rebounds per game while leading Colorado College to its first two victories over Trinity University since 2012 during the first week of the conference-only season.
 
Another junior who was worthy of all-conference consideration is forward Talia Cloud, who ranked fifth on the team averaging 8.6 points and fourth at 5.0 rebounds per game. She scored a season-high 14 points and matched her season-best of seven rebounds in the 64-61 overtime victory at Trinity.
 
Winger Tedy Reed, who averaged 7.7 points per game, provides instant offense. Combo guard Mia Thurber finished second on the team with 19 assists and grabbed 21 rebounds, while guard Tori Matson provides a defensive presence and attack mentality when called upon.
 
The Tigers also can expect offensive production from sophomore guard Audrey Bayston, who was named the SCAC's co-Newcomer of the Year. Bayston ranked ninth in the conference and second on the team averaging 12.3 points per game, and tied for third in the conference with a team-best 22 three-point baskets. She also earned a spot on the SCAC all-Tournament Team after pouring in a season-high 25 points in the championship game at Trinity.
 
"Our returning players have played in critical moments and gotten it done against the top teams in our conference," Menendez said. "We also have newcomers alongside them who are ready to raise our level and will not be intimidated by pressure situations."
 
The first-year Tigers collectively cover everything on a coaches wish list. They add size, the ability to handle the ball and can score from anywhere on the floor. The key will be deciding which players can complement the veterans and help the team achieve its lofty ambitions.
 
"It's very much one practice at a time and one game at a time while we figure out the best way to utilize our strengths and learn to play together," Menendez said. "We stress that achieving our goals means that we have to outwork our opponents. We're not going to be the best rebounding team in the conference just because we're bigger – we have to earn it every day."
 
Colorado College tips off the 2021-22 season with three consecutive road games in Oregon. The Tigers face host Pacific University and Linfield University in the Ken Schumann Classic on Friday and Saturday, Nov. 19-20, then finish the road trip on Monday, Nov. 22, at Lewis & Clark College.
 
CC plays its home openers against the University of Mary Hardin-Baylor and Hardin-Simmons University on Friday and Saturday, Nov. 26-27, as part of the 2021 Rocky Mountain Thanksgiving Classic.
 
Including games against Whitworth and Whitman College in December, the Tigers could play as many as seven games against nationally-ranked opponents and/or teams receiving votes.  
 
"We intentionally scheduled a really tough non-conference schedule to get prepared for our top SCAC match-ups," Menendez said. "We could play seven top-30 opponents, including No. 4 Whitman. If we play well in those games, there's no reason we can't receive votes, too."
 
The Tigers, who were picked No. 2 in the SCAC's preseason coaches poll, tip off their conference schedule on Thursday, Dec. 2, against the University of St. Thomas at 7 p.m. in Reid Arena.