KENOSHA, Wis. - The 2022-2023 Carthage Firebirds women's basketball season was one of ebbs and flows and highs and lows. For a younger team (11 out of the 18 rostered student-athletes are of underclass status), consistency is typically a difficult thing to both achieve and sustain - which was the case for the Firebirds this year. The team's identity was mostly centered around defending well, protecting the ball, and shooting the three - three things which it did quite well.
There were over 15 instances in which the Firebirds held their opponent to single-digit scoring in a quarter, allowing them to play in a high number of close games. Carthage surrendered the third-fewest total points (1,608) and third-fewest points per game (61.8) in the conference.
Offensively, the Firebirds turned the ball over only 410 times, which was the second-lowest total in the conference. Carthage was second in all of the CCIW in both 3PM (182) and 3PA (637), led primarily by the guard-trio of
Lauren Knight,
Ayanna Ester, and
Margueret Spear.
The season was one characterized by frequent stops and starts, with very few streaks of three or more wins or losses in a row occurring until the final stretch. A three-game losing streak was followed by three wins in four games to begin the season. The team won three out of four once again in late-December - including a pair of dominant wins at home and in Nashville, respectively - before dropping two in a row upon its return to Tarble Arena. The Firebirds once again won three out of their next four contests before dropping seven in a row to close out the regular season.
A number of the year's most impressive moments happened between mid-December and mid-January, as the young Firebirds started to gel. A 12-point upset victory over Augustana (Ill.) in Kenosha demonstrated growth from the team after a challenging start to the season; Carthage shot 47.7% from the field and 68.4% from three in the win and were led by
Margueret Spear's 18 points. The win over Augustana was swiftly followed by one of the most dominant wins in program history, as Carthage held Benedictine (Ill.) to only 29 points in a 71-29 win. The 29 points are the fewest surrendered by a Carthage team in over ten years, and Coach Bernero's team held the Eagles to a 15.3/13.8/50% shooting split.
A number of Carthage's losses this season were closely contested, as the team lost seven games by single digits - including an overtime heartbreaker at Carroll (Wis.) in late-January. A number of late comeback attempts also fell short against Carroll (Jan. 4), and Wheaton (Jan. 14 & 28).
Despite the difficult stretch to end the regular season, a 6-3 stretch in the middle of the season positioned the Firebirds well in the conference standings, giving them a strong chance to make the 2023 College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin (CCIW) Women's Basketball Tournament. With a loss from North Park in the Vikings' final game of the regular season, Carthage earned a postseason bid and another 40 minutes of basketball.
The No. 6 Firebirds traveled to Rock Island, Illinois to take on No. 3 Augustana (Ill.), falling to the eventual conference tournament runner-ups 68-50. The game was the last in a Carthage uniform for
Ayanna Ester,
Bridget Barrett,
Destiny Antoine, and
Jayden Davis - who will all graduate this spring after representing the program so well over their respective tenures.
It's impossible to tell the story of the 2022-2023 Carthage Firebirds women's basketball team without lauding the accomplishments of sophomore wing
Marianna Morrissey, an All-CCIW First-Team selection. After averaging 4.8 points per game and 2.8 rebounds per game in a shade under 20 minutes per game as a freshman, Morrissey exploded onto the scene this year - spearheading Carthage's success on both ends of the floor. Through the first nine games of the year, Morrissey averaged 7.2 PPG on 44% shooting from the field; from that point on, the budding star scored in double figures 12 times, averaging 12.8 PPG on an incredible 58% shooting.
In addition to her scoring prowess, which consisted of a high number of transition baskets, layups off of precise cuts, and putbacks, Morrissey led the team in total rebounds (174, 69 offensive) and rebounds per game (6.7 RPG), as well as steals (38), blocks (12), FTM (68), FTA (109), and FGM (107).
Leading the Firebirds in scoring was
Lauren Knight (11.0 PPG), who eclipsed 500 career points this season - doing so against Meredith College in Nashville, Tennessee over winter break.
Knight will be a senior next season, joining
Addison Ebeling and
Margueret Spear as Firebirds entering their senior year. There are plenty of reasons to be excited about the Firebirds in 2023-2024; the team returns six out of its seven leaders in minutes played from a year ago, as well as a few first-year student-athletes that flashed in their minutes this year (Pakaski, Orozco, and Green) and some sophomores who are poised for excellent junior campaigns (Morrissey, Knebel, and Thistle). Carthage will look to build on its 2023 CCIW Tournament appearance heading into next season.
Award Winners
- Sophomore wing Marianna Morrissey was named to the All-CCIW First-Team after a phenomenal sophomore season, becoming the team's first first-team selection since Bailey Gilbert and Autumn Kalis each earned the nod in 2019.
- Senior Jayden Davis was named as the team's CCIW RESPECT Award winner. RESPECT Award recipients have distinguished themselves as an integral member of the team, their institution and community by upholding the values of Responsibility, Enthusiasm, Service, Pride, Excellence, Collaboration and Trust. The RESPECT Award recognizes the intangible traits a student-athlete possesses that exemplify great character and encourages inclusiveness and a positive culture.
- Four Firebirds were named CSC Academic All-District for their contributions in the classroom and on the hardwood; senior Destiny Antoine, senior Bridget Barrett, senior Ayanna Ester, and sophomore Elena Knebel each earned the distinction. Academic All-District® honorees advance to the CSC Academic All-America® ballot. First-, second- and third-team Academic All-America® honorees will be announced on March 15.
Statistical Leaders
- PPG
- Assists
- RPG
- Steals
- Blocks
- FTM
- FTA
- FT%
- FGM
- FGA
- FG%
- 3PM
- 3PA
- 3P%
- Millikin - 25-5 (15-1)*
- Carroll (Wis.) - 17-9 (12-4)*
- Augustana (Ill.) - 19-9 (11-5)*
- Illinois Wesleyan - 16-11 (10-6)*
- Wheaton (Ill.) - 15-11 (10-6)*
- North Park - 9-16 (5-11)
- Carthage - 9-17 (5-11)*
- North Central (Ill.) - 6-18 (3-13)
- Elmhurst - 3-21 (1-15)
*CCIW Tournament Appearance
