HAMILTON – With six new Raiders hitting the court, five returning starters, and a few fresh faces added to the coaching staff, Colgate women's basketball is ready for year two of the Ganiyat Adeduntan era.
 
"I'm really excited about where we are as a program in my second year here at Colgate," Adeduntan said. "We've definitely put a lot of work in with the emphasis on the word work since the postseason, through the summer, and even in the preseason."
 
Colgate added Jason Asbell and Macey Hollenshead to the coaching staff during the offseason. Asbell comes to Hamilton after most recently serving as the interim head coach at Bridgewater College. Hollenshead joins the coaching staff after a stint as an assistant coach at her alma mater Fairfield.
 
In the 2022-23 Patriot League Preseason Poll, the Raiders were picked seventh overall. Which is three spots higher than where Colgate landed in the 2021-22 preseason poll. 
 
"Our returners have spent a lot of time dedicating themselves to the game of basketball and the art of improvement daily. It is one of the things that we definitely focus on and have talked a lot about. We tell them; we have to be able to do certain things like details better and differently, work at a certain level, and have a certain amount of drive and passion for whatever we do." 
 
The Raiders bring back five starters in senior Alexa Brodie, junior Tiasia McMillan, and sophomores Taylor Golembiewski, Sophia Diehl, and Morgan McMahon. 
 
"What excites me also is the addition of all of the newcomers. They have an eagerness to learn, grow, develop, and be great. That's the thing for us as a staff: we're pushing them and they are responding. 
 
"The coaching staff is challenging them and demanding the things that are important to us. That always goes back to our absolutes of communication, competitiveness, energy, and enthusiasm."
 
The Raiders added first-years Lara Cook, Abbey Ferguson, Christina Midgette, Nicole Parks, and Madison Schiller. Chidinma Okafor joined the squad as a transfer from the University of South Carolina Aiken.
 
OFFENSE
"I'm excited about year two of what we're trying to do system-wise with our offense. I think we're going to look a lot more fluid on the court. Our players are going to have the ability to have more freedom, especially in transition. "
 
Golembiewski was named to the 2022 Patriot League All-Rookie Team after ending the 2021-22 season leading the Raiders in scoring (284) and blocks (14). 
 
Brodie finished last season leading the team in assists with 79 while averaging 9.0 points and 2.4 rebounds per game.
 
Brodie and Golembiewski were both named captains back on Oct. 5. 
 
DEFENSE
"Our identity for us as a program starts defensively. I'm excited about the work that we have put in to be more determined dictators on the defensive end. Our goal is to get stops and rebound so we can push and run in the transition.
 
"That's where that freedom, flexibility, and open style of a fun brand of play is going to come about when we're able to get stops in and on the defensive end." 
 
McMillan led the Raiders in rebounds in last year's campaign, capturing a total of 178, averaging 5.9 a game. McMillan also had 24 blocks for the Raiders.
 
"Over the course of the season we expect to continue to improve knowing that by February/March is when we want to be playing our best basketball. It all comes with a desire and a passion for when we step on the floor."
 
Golembiewski, not only strong offensively, had 41 steals last season.
 
"We want to know as a coaching staff what we're going to expect; and that expectation starts with our defense. If we can be a team that is focused on the defensive end to try to create some chaos and disruption, then I think we're going to put ourselves in positions to be successful throughout the season."
 
SCHEDULE OUTLOOK
The Raiders hit the road after the Route 13 Rivalry, to play ACC foe Syracuse on Nov. 10. The Raiders stay in New York for their first five games, including additional home bouts against Niagara (Nov. 16) and Canisius (Nov. 22), before taking the trip to Massachusetts for battles against Merrimack (Nov. 27) and Harvard (Dec. 3). 
 
Siena comes to town on Dec. 10 for a basketball doubleheader at Cotterell Court. Colgate stays home to host Oswego State one week later for its final home non-conference contest on Dec. 17. The Raiders wrap up non-league play at St. Bonaventure on Dec. 21. 
 
"We have a great non-conference schedule, where we're going to see a lot of different styles of play that I believe will prepare us really well for an extremely competitive Patriot League schedule."
 
League play begins Dec. 30 when the Raiders host Loyola. Ringing in 2023 at home, Colgate is set to host Lehigh on Jan. 2.