Women’s 2017–18 PIONEERS Basketball GC PRIDE Date Opponent Time Head Coach Dana Harrold Nov. 15 EMMAUS BIBLE 5 p.m. Dana Harrold was named the head women’s basketball coach at emphasis in athletic administration from Loras College in 2006. Grinnell College in July 2013. Nov. 16 Central 7 p.m. With Harrold’s assistance, Dubuque compiled the most wins in Harrold’s 2015–16 team enjoyed the biggest season for the program history for a six-year period (89) and qualified for the 2017–18 Nov. 21 BUENA VISTA 6 p.m. program in more than a decade. The Pioneers qualified for the Iowa Conference Tournament four of the past six seasons. Nov. 25 KANSAS CHRISTIAN 1 p.m. Midwest Conference tournament for the first time since the In 2011–12 the Spartans broke the school record for most Nov. 28 IOWA WESLEYAN 7 p.m. 2003–04 campaign. conference wins in a season with 10 while posting 15 overall wins, Dec. 1 Beloit # 7:30 p.m. They also had 12 league wins, the most in program history, and the second-most in school history. Women’s 15-9 overall mark ranked among the most wins in team history. They continued that success in 2012–13, setting a school record for Dec. 2 Lake Forest # 3 p.m. Record at Grinnell/Years Despite losing one of the better players in program history in wins with 20 while advancing to the championship game of the Dec. 6 Cornell # 7:30 p.m. 42-52/fifth Year Alissa Hirsh ’16, the 2016–17 squad didn’t miss a beat. Grinnell Iowa Conference Tournament. again posted 12 wins in league play while going 14-10 overall Basketball Dec. 9 LAWRENCE # 3 p.m. Career Record/Years As a player at Dubuque, Harrold started every game of her record- and earning a repeat trip to the MWC tournament. It was the first Jan. 3 RIPON # 7:30 p.m. 42-52/fifth Year setting four-year career. She was a three-time All-Iowa Conference time since the early 1990s that Grinnell qualified for back-to-back player, two-year captain and team most valuable player, and was Jan. 6 St. Norbert # 3 p.m. league tournaments. named the school’s Female Athlete of the Year as a junior and Jan. 12 LAKE FOREST # 7:30 p.m. Harrold became the 11th Pioneer women’s basketball coach senior. in program history after serving as an assistant coach at the Jan. 13 BELOIT # 3 p.m. Harrold ended her career as the Spartans’ all-time leader in assists University of Dubuque since 2006. and steals and ranks second in scoring. She was inducted into Jan. 17 MONMOUTH # 7:30 p.m. A native of Jesup, Iowa, Harrold gained her bachelor’s from Dubuque’s Hall of Fame in the fall of 2011. Jan. 20 Ripon # 3 p.m. Dubuque before earning her master’s in physical education with an Dana and her husband Clay have a daughter, Braylee. Jan. 24 CORNELL # 7:30 p.m. Jan. 27 Lawrence # 3 p.m. Assistant Coach Taylor White Jan. 30 Monmouth # 7:30 p.m. Taylor White joined the Grinnell women’s basketball staff in 2017. Coastal Carolina University, where she received her bachelor’s in Feb. 3 ILLINOIS COLLEGE # 5 p.m. In high school, White was four-year letter winner and two-year exercise and sport science. Feb. 7 Knox # 7:30 p.m. team captain. Following her senior season, she committed to While at Coastal Carolina, she was an assistant basketball coach play at Meredith College; however, before the season started she at Carolina Forest High School in Myrtle Beach, S.C., and helped Feb. 10 ST. NORBERT # 3 p.m. was not medically cleared for competition. She used her redshirt run several local and national basketball tournaments with the Feb. 13 KNOX # 7:30 p.m. season to understand the game on the college level and spend National Traveling Basketball Association. Feb. 17 Illinois College # 3 p.m. valuable time with her coaches. Due to injury, she transferred to White currently lives in Grinnell with her fiancé. Feb. 23–24 Midwest Conference Tournament@TBA TBA Home contests are in CAPS Assistant Coach Kirsten Koester # Midwest Conference contests Kirsten Koester came to Grinnell in June 2014 as the Pioneers’ head league title. Koester gained her bachelor’s degree in English and art women’s soccer and assistant basketball coach. in 2005. She was a three-year basketball performer at Luther College and Koester gained her master’s in English from Washington College served as assistant coach for the Decorah, Iowa, school during the in Maryland in 2009. She was assistant women’s soccer coach at 2005–06 season. Washington 2006–08 and also assisted the women’s basketball Koester led the Cornell College women’s soccer team 2011–2013, squad for a season. guiding the Rams to their best season since 2002 during her final Koester holds a U.S. Soccer Federation (USSF) national D license and campaign. Prior to coaching at Cornell, Koester was head soccer has been active in the Maryland Youth Soccer Association District coach and athletics recruiting coordinator at the College of Notre Development Program. She held previous positions as a U–12 club Dame of Maryland for two years. coach for the Winneshiek Area Soccer Program in Decorah and the The Stoughton, Wis., native attended Luther, where she was a Phoenix Soccer Club in Minneapolis. standout player. A two-time All-Iowa Conference midfielder for the She also coached the club team FC United in Marion. Norse, she also served as team captain and was voted the team’s Koester is married to Parker Koester ’09, and they have a son, James. most valuable player as a senior, while leading the squad to the Assistant Coach Travis Renze Game Results • Schedules • Information > pioneers.grinnell.edu • All athletic events are free and open to the public. 2017–18 Women’s Basketball Preview The Grinnell College women’s some confidence back with her Harrold. “She is athletic and strong Grinnell Single-Game Records Team Information basketball team has been on a roll shot as well.” and will help deepen our post in recent years and is looking to play.” Category Record-Holder Opponent Record 2016-17 Record: 14-10 continue that trend in 2017–18. The third-year class features Daria Points Missy Sharer Cornell (1991) 50 Conference Record: 12-6 Guzzo ’19, Hanna Kessel ’19, Regan Harrold is excited to add six Field Goals Attempted Missy Sharer, twice 33 Letterwinners Returning/Lost: 5/7 The team’s 29 wins in the past two Kasprak ’19, and Abby Hellweg ’19. talented first-years to the team — Field Goals Made Missy Sharer (twice), 18 Starters Returning/Lost: 1/4 seasons are the most wins in back- Tyria Heath ’21 Olivia Woolam ’21, and Laura Van Sickle “Daria is a natural leader and has to-back seasons since the early Claire Collier ’21, Kathryn Stender 3-point Field Goals Attempted Anna Veit Carroll (2003) 23 been a very vocal player for us in Statistical Leaders of 1990s at Grinnell. In the 2016–17 ’21, May Hanlon ’21, and Stephany 3-point Field Goals Made Anna Veit Carroll (2003) 9 the preseason,” Harrold said. “She season, Grinnell again posted 12 Dos Santos ’21. Jessica Shotts Cornell College (2008) Returning Players has put in time and energy to wins in league play while going Free Throws Attempted Laura Van Sickle Ill. College (1988) 21 be more of an impact player for “This group is working hard and Points Per Game: 14-10 overall and earning a repeat Free Throws Made Yvonne Stroud Clarke (1985) 18 us this season, and I am looking learning more and more each day Kayla Morrissey (16.5) trip to the Midwest Conference Rebounds Alex Neckopulos Cornell (2014) 23 forward to seeing her work her they are in the gym,” said Harrold. Daria Guzzo (2.3) Tournament. It was the first time Steals Jessica Toft Iowa Wesleyan (1986) 12 way into a bigger role on our “I am optimistic that we will get Margaret Giles (1.1) since the early 1990s that Grinnell Assists Jen Kelley Teikyo Marycrest (1992) 14 team. some very early contribution from Hanna Kessel (0.9) qualified for back-to-back league Blocks Michelle Briggs Ripon (2011) 12 them as a group this season.” Regan Kasprak (0.2) tournaments. “Hanna is an athlete and has been The challenge the team faces our energy on the bench the past That should all add up to an Grinnell Single-Season Records Rebounds Per Game: this year will be filling the shoes two seasons,” Harrold continued. exciting campaign for Grinnell. Kayla Morrissey (7.1) Category Record Holder Record of the impactful senior class that “I think she is ready to be a “Our team continues to be very Daria Guzzo (2.5) Points Missy Sharer, 1990–91 794 graduated last season. There will contributor within our team and high-energy, close-knit and Margaret Giles (1.5) Field Goals Made Missy Sharer, 1990–91 272 be many new faces on our sideline is willing to play wherever she is hardworking,” said Harrold. Hanna Kessel (1.2) 3-Point Field Goals Made Hannah Wolf, 2004–05 99 and on the court this year; while needed. Her biggest strengths will “While we will be making the Regan Kasprak (0.8) Free Throws Made Missy Sharer, 1990–91 217 that brings some unknowns to be defense, running in transition, necessary adjustments to replace Rebounds Laura Van Sickle, 1988–89 276 the team, it also brings some and offensive rebounding.