MANKATO, Minn. – Bethany women's basketball is set to embark on its 2025-26 campaign today at the Saint Ben's Tipoff Tournament with a healthy mix of returners and newcomers. This year's squad, picked fourth in the UMAC preseason coaches poll, features 13 returners with three seniors, four juniors, seven sophomores, and seven first-years.
 
"Our player leadership has been really strong from our captains and our upper classmen in general," said Head Coach Emma Purfeerst, who is in her third season at the helm. "They've worked really hard in the weight room this fall, which has shown up on the court. And I think our team chemistry in a really good place. Some good returners and the freshmen have fit in really well, too."
 
The Vikings' top returners include Arinn McGee (So., Pipestone), Juliana Ewald (Jr., Baxter), and Kaylee Hunter (Sr., New Ulm). McGee was the UMAC Rookie of the Year last season after averaging 6.6 points and 5.0 rebounds. Ewald earned UMAC All-Conference honorable mention, averaging 8.9 points per game with 40 assists and 33 steals. Hunter averaged 5.5 points with 34 assists and 26 steals. Megan Wegner (Sr., Marshall) also returns after making 23 starts last year.
 
"I think everybody has bought into doing what they do well and doing it every single day in practice," said Purfeerst. "Some of the seniors have been asked to take on more leadership or more of a scoring role than they have in the past. I think our sophomore class will take a really big jump this year, too. Everybody's just really focused on doing what they do well and bringing that to our group every day."
 
Under the direction of Purfeerst, the Vikings have improved each year, going from a 7-18 overall record and sixth place finish (7-7) in the UMAC in 2023-24 to an 11-15 overall record and third place finish (10-4) in the conference last season.
 
"I think this year's team, especially just their connection on the court, has been really great to see and playing a really unselfish style of basketball, which is what I want," said Purfeerst. "I think it's fun to watch. I think it's fun for them to play. We have some really nice depth. So, getting through the last two seasons and learning a ton, and this year feeling really good about the opportunity and the potential that we have."
 
Much like last season, this year's schedule features a tough non-conference slate of games, including two teams nationally ranked in the top-10. After starting last year 1-13 against non-conference opponents, the early struggles turned into late season success within the conference where the Vikings finished the year 10-3. Purfeerst hopes another tough non-conference schedule will pay dividends against league foes.  
 
"That is my philosophy with non-conference. I want to play a really good schedule so we can see a lot of different styles of play," she said. "Division III women's basketball and Minnesota, Wisconsin, and Iowa is really good. There's a lot of great teams we can play. But I want them challenged early. And I think sometimes that can be frustrating, but ultimately that can pay off. Hopefully this year we continue to learn in the non-conference and see some success and carry that into conference.
 
"I talk a lot, day by day, getting a little bit better every single practice or every single game. I know that the team has some really big goals for this year and so far, their effort level has matched what they want to achieve at the end of the year. I'm excited for them and I think they're doing a nice job of holding each other accountable because of the goals that they within themselves have set, the things they want to achieve."
 
The season opener is 6:15 p.m. tonight against St. Scholastica in St. Joseph. The home opener is Nov. 13 against UW-La Crosse and after 13 non-conference games the UMAC opener is against Northwestern on Jan. 7.