DILLON, Mont. – Eager to get back on the court following a deep run in the NAIA Women's Basketball Championships last season, the Bulldogs return nearly their entire roster as they prepare for the upcoming campaign.

LLast season, the Bulldogs got off to a stellar start after they went 5-1 prior to Frontier Conference matchups. Though Carroll College (Mont.) proved to be the Bulldogs' kryptonite, handing UMW four of their six losses last season.

After going 25-5 in the regular season, the Bulldogs received an opening round bid to nationals where they traveled to compete in Park City, Kansas for the First and Second Rounds of the NAIA National Tournament.

The Bulldogs defeated (RV) Philander Smith College (Ark.) and No. 24 ranked Sterling College (Kan.) to advance to the NAIA Women's Basketball Championships. After facing the no. 4 seeded Dordt University (Iowa), the Bulldogs pulled out an upset 89-79 win in a game for the ages. In what may very well be the only women's basketball NAIA playoff game in history to go into the following morning, UMW shot a season high of 61.5 percent from the field and an impressive 62.5 from the three-point line.

The Bulldogs were then defeated on the following night by no. 2 seeded Thomas More (Ky.) 66-62 in the quarterfinals. THe Bulldog women finished with an overall record of 28-6 and came in second place in the Frontier Conference. As a team, the Bulldogs led the Frontier Conference with a 45.1 shooting percentage, 34.7 three-point percentage, 10.6 steals per game, and 72.1 points per game.

Despite graduating two key members in Brynley Fitzgerald and Mesa King from last season's squad, the Bulldogs are poised for another great season as nearly the entire roster returns from last season's talented squad.

One major change that UMW will see is a new face at the helm of the program. Following the conclusion of last season, head coach Lindsay Woolley announced his resignation and left to pursue an NCAA Division I coaching opportunity.

After a nationwide search, former Lady Bulldog, member of the 2019 National Championship team, and former assistant coach Britt Cooper was named the eighth Head Women's Basketball Coach in program history. The 2023-24 season will be her first at the helm of the program.

"I am extremely excited for this year. We have a great group of ladies that continue to push each other in practice," Cooper said. "I cannot wait for our first game so we can finally see our hard work in action."

The Bulldogs are returning nine from last season's squad, including all-conference and All-American guard Jordan Sweeney. Sweeney, a junior from Oakley, Calif., joined the Bulldogs last season after spending three seasons at Idaho State University. Sweeney earned Frontier Conference Newcomer of the Year and First Team All-Conference honors after she averaged 13.1 points per game, 3.7 assists per game, 3.8 rebounds per game, and shot 43.1 percent from the field. She was also named to the NAIA Women's Basketball Championship All-Tournament Team.

"Jordan has been an instrumental leader for this program. She has a competitive edge that pushes those around her to strive for their best," Head Coach Britt Cooper said. "She is going to be a significant part of our success this season."
 
Senior Shainy Mack and junior Joelnell Momberg return this season as well. Mack returns after she averaged 8.0 points per game for the Bulldogs last season. She had a 3-point percentage of 35.5, averaged 2.3 rebounds per game, and totaled 44 steals on the season.
 
Momberg joined the Bulldogs as a transfer from the University of Montana and has since shown her ability to create and execute on the court. She earned an important role as a starter last season after she averaged 6.0 points per game, shot 38.0 from the field and 35.4 from the three-point line. 

"Shainy has been a constant for this program for 5 years now. She has been a proven leader this summer and fall, and I am excited to watch her excel in a variety of areas for us. Joelnell is an offensive weapon that we can utilize in many different ways. We are expecting her to play a crucial role on our team this season." Cooper continued.

Last season, the Bulldogs snagged transfer sophomore Payton Hagy who stepped in last season and made a name for herself. Hagy averaged 4.6 points per game, shot 39.7 from the field, picked up 25 steals, and dished out 16 assists on the season. The Bulldogs will look to Hagy to fill a larger role for her junior season.

"Payton is a sharp shooter that has put in a lot of time this summer working on making her game more versatile," Cooper said. "I am excited to watch her step into bigger shoes this season."
This season, the Bulldogs added four additions to the squad. To view the full recruiting class, click here.

"We have a talented group of freshmen coming in that will add some quality depth to our team and could earn themselves substantial minutes right away. Our team is eager to hit the ground running this fall. They have handled all the adversity thrown their way this summer with grace and determination," Cooper said.

"We are ready to get things rolling as we near preseason play. This year, the Bulldogs look a little different without Coach Woolley and our tremendous seniors who graduated. Brynley and Mesa left very big shoes to fill and we are excited to see who will rise up and help fill those voids for us," senior Shainy Mack said. 

"Nothing much has changed over here however, we still have the same mindset and goals for this upcoming season. Every year is just a new opportunity to get better as a team and grow the program. Jordan and myself are ready to lead this rather young team and grind it out every night in the Frontier. Excited to see where this year will go!" 

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