With just two returning players and a change on the bench, the upcoming 2022-23 season for the Madison College women's basketball team remains quite a mystery. The WolfPack begin the season on Tuesday, November 1 with a home game against McHenry County College at 5:30 p.m. inside H. Douglas Redsten Gymnasium. And directing the newest edition with be longtime assistant coaches Mike Mayfield and James Adams.

Following the coaching retirement of Lois Heeren after six seasons guiding the WolfPack, Mayfield and Adams agreed to work together in leading the next phase of the program. Mayfield has been an assistant coach at Madison College since 2006-07 and Adams since the 2019-20 season, however, the tandem brings much more experience than just their 19 combined years on the Redsten Gym sideline. Both have been head coaches at the high school level, but neither at the collegiate level.

To help them along, Mayfield and Adams will lean on returning second team all-conference and all-region guard Taylor Ripp. The 5'9" native of Lodi, Wisconsin, averaged 10.2 points, 6.8 rebounds, and 2.3 assists in her first year of college basketball. Elysia Phon also returns from the 2021-22 squad after joining that team mid-season and seeing time in eight games.

"Taylor had a great first season at Madison College. Not only did she produce, but she learned how to be a leader. She will provide much needed leadership to our talented freshman class," said Adams.

The rest of the 2022-23 roster features nine new faces ready to wear the navy and grey, though one newcomer does bring some collegiate experience. Guard Mikala Williams transfers in from NCAA Division III Dominican University, where she played in 17 games and 1.1 points and 1.8 rebounds. The rest of the guard-heavy group includes Kaylee Anzalone, Emma Paulson, Payton Yaun, Kayla Staveness, and Jordanna Davis, to go along with forwards Nellie Kendall and Cora Hansen, and center Evelyn Byrnes.

"This is a very talented group that will compete for time on the floor and help Madison College compete for conference and region titles. The coaching staff is really excited about the potential of this group," stated Adams.

The pursuit of a North Central Community College Conference and Region 4 Division III crown once again looks very different with Rock Valley College leaving both. The conference slate will begin on January 12 with a home game against the College of DuPage, and will be followed by league contests against Joliet Junior College, Harper College, and Milwaukee Area Technical College (Division II). The rest of the non-conference schedule includes a dozen NJCAA Division II opponents, including fifth-ranked Bryant & Stratton College on January 10 and a November 4 meeting with Iowa Central Community College, who is receiving votes in the NJCAA Division II Preseason Poll.

Madison College will travel on November 11-12 to play in the Bay College Classic in Upper Michigan, and will hit the road before Thanksgiving for a November 22 showdown with Rochester Community & Technical College, who is opening the season as the #3 team in the NJCAA Division III Preseason Poll. Another holiday road trip will take the Pack to Elgin Community College during the Christmas and New Year's break on December 29.

2022-23 Madison College Women's Basketball Schedule

"The 2022-23 season looks very promising. The team will have improved shooting and speed on the defensive side of the ball. Jordanna Davis and Emma Paulson should make an immediate impact as freshmen. Our weakness will be experience, with nine incoming freshmen and only one sophomore, they will have to get comfortable playing at the college level. The goal is to improve from last season and make a run for the conference title," said Adams.

Follow WolfPack women's basketball: Facebook | Twitter