FROSTBURG, Md- Frostburg Sports will be taking a preview of each team competing this Winter season over the next couple of weeks to see expectations, key players, and what the overall outlook of each program will be. Next up in the series will be Women's Basketball.
 
Overall: Women's basketball will play its 58^th season in 2021-22, while competing in the Mountain East for the third season since joining the Division II level. Head coach Carrie Saunders enters her ninth season at the helm of the program.
 
Last Season: The year started out positively with two wins, but injuries and roster losses meant they went without a victory the rest of the way.
 
The Returners: Morgan Dombroski returns having led the team in several categories last season, including points-per-game, three-pointers made, assists, and steals. Ciara Thomas is back as the lead point guard, with Brenae Ford returning as another lead guard. Rhiana Hall and Arianna Briggs-Hall provide strength and rebounding, with Hall becoming a three-point threat late last season and Briggs-Hall being a strong post presence. Kyrsten Joseph returns as a sharp-shooter and Shelby Funchess is back as a key post player having missed the latter half of last season. Niya Moore-Harris played key minutes down the stretch, learning a great deal in her freshman year.
 
The Newcomers: Freshmen Olivia Smith and Harley Herndon have impressed in the preseason, while Sa'Niyah Council and Jasmine Johnson will both play key minutes throughout the season. Amari Jones and Taryn Giles round out the freshman class, a class that Saunders has high hopes for in this season and future seasons. Samiya Esema and Maggie Sharp were brought in as transfer players looking to make an immediate impact on the program.
 
The Schedule: The season begins with the Jim Crawley Conference Challenge, featuring teams from the MEC and PSAC, as Frostburg plays against Pitt-Johnstown and Shepherd. They continue against the PSAC on the road against Lock Haven before their first MEC game against West Virginia Wesleyan on November 20. The beginning of December features a heavy dose of MEC opponents, with a break against Salem (WV) and Seton Hill before the new year. Mountain East play returns January 5 and runs through February 26 as teams will play home-and-home against every other MEC team.
 
Frostburg Sports will continue its season preview of each Winter sport next week with Men's Basketball, which you can follow at frostburgsports.com.