By LaFarrah Strong

The Lady Pioneers worked hard to get to the National Championship Semifinals in Saint Joseph, Missouri. The Lady Pioneers fell close to Ashland 76-67. Their overall record was 33-3. They worked hard, played as a team, and never gave up. They even secured the #1 seed in the 2023 Women’s Basketball Atlantic Regional, claiming their fifth MEC Tournament Title. With a long, hard, injury-laden, heartbreaking season, the Lady Pioneers' season has come to an end. The players are facing decisions about their next move, now that Coach Kim Stephens is moving on to Marshall University and a Division I team.

After losing most of the 2022 national championship team, the team had to find new players and rebuild. New Lady Pioneers came from all across the world -  not to play, but to win. These ladies worked hard from day one when they stepped on the court. In the first game, they took on West Chester University of Pennsylvania and won 104-78; second game they took on Livingstone College and won 85-56 and afterwards the ladies were on the road of not losing. They played University of Charleston but lost 70-79. And again the ladies were on a 13 winning streak of games and played West Virginia State University this was a very close game and the ladies lost by one point 74-75. However, after the ladies lost those two games they beat both of those teams on second meeting. They won the rest of the regular season games and made it to the MEC Tournament Quarterfinals against Frostburg State University and won 103-66. Next they played in MEC tournament against Fairmont State University and won 74-70 and in the last game of MEC tournament Championship, they played the University of Charleston and demolished them 76-59.

Then the Lady Pioneers headed to Saint Joseph, Missouri to have the first round of NCAA Tournament against Elizabeth City State University and won 84-60. The next day they played Shippensburg University and won 107-76; two days after that the ladies played in the NCAA Tournament Atlantic Region Final against West Chester University of Pennsylvania and won 88-63. The ladies had a little break but weren't resting; they were back on the court ready to win and bring the trophy back home. The ladies worked hard to get ready for the NCAA Quarterfinals against University of Tampa and won 78-68. These ladies worked day and night through out this season through the tears ,cry and sweat they didn't give up and we are truly proud of the Ladies Pioneers. They did there things this season and last season and can't wait to see what they will have in store for the next up coming season until then. Congratulations Lady Pioneers and keep up the good work out on the basketball court!