KIRKLAND – Northwest brings back a lot of familiar faces from the pandemic-stricken season of 2020-21 and looks forward to a positive season starting Nov. 6.
 
While the season was considerably shorter last year, Head Coach Ken Crawford used the opportunity to get everyone on the roster valuable playing experience. No one on the roster averaged fewer than two minutes per game.
 
A senior-plus stable of talent heads up the Eagles with Livi Lindsey, Grace Meza, Shelanie Lorenz, Ellesse FitzGerald, Caitlyn Phillips, Morgan Marshall, Sam VanLoo, and Andie Kristinat with a full or near-full college experience already on their resumes.
 
Those seniors are very familiar with the team goals.
 
"Many of the goals we have for our team are a culmination of things that we began to prepare for when the seniors entered as freshmen four years ago," said Crawford. "Now is the opportunity for those things to come to fruition.  Our 'motto' for this year is 'The Time is Now.'  We are looking forward to the season."
 
With seven seniors, along with six returning players, preparation started at a higher-than-usual level. Maya DuChesne, a junior, leads a contingent of NU veterans that also includes Emily Strojan, Caitlin Monten, Maria Arroyo Sanchez, Molly Oswald, and Kim Weden. 
 
"We have been moving at a quicker pace, which is good because our practices have needed to be shorter due to class conflicts," said Crawford. "I have been happy with the focus and intensity. I have really been impressed with the focus and the pace of play at practices. One of the advantages of having a veteran team is that they already understand the expectations and the routines."
 
That pace could be daunting for newcomers, but Coach Crawford said the older players have been instrumental in helping freshmen Dylnne Howser, Linnea Schafer, Emma Unruh, and Beatrice Simon make the transition.
 
"The new players have been doing well. I give a lot of credit to the upperclassmen," said Crawford. "They have really helped by providing instruction and support to the new teammates.There is definitely an adjustment from high school to college in terms of time management, pace, and expectations. I have been happy with the transition so far."
 
VanLoo led the Eagles last season with 13.8 points, 57 rebounds, and 22 assists in the nine-game season. VanLoo, a true senior, has 781 career points. Duchesne averaged 9.8 points in her last full season. Meza shot 62 percent and Kristinat 40 percent from the three-point arc last season.
 
Lindsey has led the team in steals in each of the last two seasons and averaged two per game last spring. Lorenz shared the team assists lead from her forward position. Monten emerged as a strong inside presence.
 
Crawford said his team unity is a developing strength that could lead to a fruitful season. 
 
"Team leadership and chemistry (are potential strengths)," Crawford said. "A continued legacy of the team working with and teaching each other. The challenge will be to now take all of these elements and transfer them to success on the court."
 
"A pair of established players have been providing their share of leadership," Crawford said.
 
"Sam VanLoo and Maya DuChesne have continued to do an excellent job as captains," he said. "However, I am very happy with all of the team as we use a committee system that helps enhance our school and community outreach as well as spiritual life and wellness."
 
Having endured the stop-and-go 2020-21 season, the Eagles hope to get something close to normal for the upcoming season.
 
"Even though we are not back to completely normal,  I think that after last year, any semblance of normal is welcome," said Crawford. "Many of our procedures and routines have remained the same as we work to get on top of this health situation."
 
NU scrimmages at George Fox on Oct. 30 before opening the season at home on Nov. 6 with a noon contest against Lewis & Clark College.