Dallas Christian College Season Preview: 2021-22
High expectations: Both Feet In!
 
The Dallas Christian College Lady Crusaders basketball team for the 2021-22 season definitely has high expectations for the upcoming season for many reasons:

• 15-10 season mark that gave the Lady Crusaders their first winning season in 16 years with 4 starters returning from the line-up.  Likewise, an ACCA national appearance in which the Lady Crusaders finished in 4^th place.  A #10 NCCAA national ranking in the final poll and a #8 NCCAA power rating in the final poll.
• All Southwest Region selection Keiarra Rivers returns and the double-double machine is primed and ready to dominate on both ends of the floor.  Rivers is athletic, long, attacks the rim and hits the 3pt. shot.  Dynamic!
• Point guards Courtnee Locke and Mckayla Washington both return and the dynamic duo displays court awareness, attacking the rim skills, consistent shooting and the ability to guard on defense.
• Power forwards Taylor Brokenberry and Micayla Havard both return and both had break-out years for the Crusaders!  Havard shoots the ball at a very high percentage from anywhere on the floor while Brokenberry is going to rebound like a warrior and has the ability to score in the paint and outside!
• Long shot artist Leia Twine returns at the two guard and can also play the point guard with authority.
• Nina Hedrington also returns at the 2 guard spot and is deadly from the 3pt line and is a great teammate.
• Gabby Garza & Briana Davis return from knee injuries and both bring assets to the team – Davis can shoot the 3pt. shot while Garza can score from different areas and will rebound.  Garza was playing at a very high level last year before suffering a season ending knee injury!
• Newcomers on the inside include: Faith Salinas, Amber Covington, Grace Lynch and Journie Hilliard and they all bring games that will help the home team.  Salinas shoots it well with a lot of great court awareness, Covington crashes the boards and can score in the short corner and at the rim while Hilliard can be a presence inside with her shot blocking and put backs.  Lynch is adjusting to playing on the inside and gets better each day and will play physical.  All four will be counted on to rebound.
• Newcomers on the perimeter include Carmen Rosales, Nelly Vargas, Melissa Steffen, Khiera Johnson, Shay Alfred, River Romine, Ki'Onna Hilliard and Naiya Brown.  Romine, a deadly 3 pt. shooter continues to impress at all 3 guard positions while brown plays at a very high level on both ends of the floor.  Both are athletic!  Johnson and Hilliard have great handles and see the floor extremely well with Johnson shining at the point guard spot while Hilliard can play 1 – 3 positions and both can shoot it!  Rosales, Steffen and Alfred play the 2-3 spots can have the ability to get it to the rim and shoot the 3 pt. shot!  Vargas is a very versatile player that plays the 3-5 positions with authority and sees the game extremely well, physical player!

As you build a program, you want high expectations as that is what separates the post season teams from the average teams.  You have to create that "it's all about the team" type chemistry and that will see you thru the good, the bad and sometimes the ugly! 
As we head into the 2021-22 campaign, I see a lot of excitement from our players, our fans and our professors and staff on the DCC campus and that creates an even higher level of expected performance. 
 
When you mix experienced players with newcomers who can really play, then you add the leadership from our captains, then you start to create that Crusader Magic that will be hard to beat.  I really like our depth, that creates more competition at work-outs, and I really like the fact that we can score at all three levels!  Now, our defense and rebounding has to be fiercer and if that transpires, look out for more post season play!
 
Our schedule is tough, we are hosting three tournaments – Thanksgiving / Christmas / New Year's classics and our Southwest NCCAA regional is loaded with outstanding teams.  We have to be at our best on each and every game! 
 
At DCC, we have the opportunity to play the greatest game in the world with our teammates and in front of a growing group of fans that help us create a home court advantage!  We, as a team, have both feet in for DCC greatness as we want to continue to earn respect from our competition, continue to build school spirit and establish women's basketball tradition that will last for centuries to come – all for the love of Christ!!

"Dallas Christian educates and mentors students to be people of influence engaging in their calling to the work of Christ in the church and in the world."