IRVINE, Calif. – The Concordia University Irvine women's basketball team begins a new campaign in just a few weeks with a chip on its shoulder.
In the annual vote among the league's coaches, CUI was picked to finish tenth among 13 programs in the PacWest Conference. Vanguard emerged as the new favorite in the 2025 PacWest Preseason Poll, with defending regular season champion Point Loma and Westmont rounding out the Top 3 right behind the Lions. Dominican and Azusa Pacific – two women's basketball programs with a strong history of success in the sport also made the Top 5 followed by Menlo, Fresno Pacific, Biola and Jessup.
Prior to last season, CUI women's basketball made six consecutive appearances in the PacWest Conference Tournament under head coach
Christine Collins-Kiernan, who last year collected career win No. 100 at Concordia. With sights on navigating their way back to the postseason, the returning Golden Eagles recharged their batteries and are eager to prove themselves as the regular season begins in November.
Graduate student
Camryn Kiernan is back as the team's leading scorer after a shortened season due to injury. A Mater Dei High School alum, Kiernan was averaging a very efficient 12.5 points per game and shooting 45 percent from the field and 36 percent from three-point range in her first eight games last year.
Upperclassmen
Hannah Vela and
Kayla Cabaccang are also back to help run the offense as well as sophomore forwards
Cadence Tarrant and
Sophie McWatt. Tarrant came on strong as a freshman force, starting 14 times and playing in all 27 contests. She finished her first season averaging 6.9 points and 5.4 rebounds. Meanwhile, Vela serves as the team's SAAC rep, has played in all 54 games for her team and averaged 4.7 points per game last year.
A new crop of Golden Eagles joins the fun with six new freshmen and four experienced transfers.
Ashari Cassell (G, Jr., Cal State LA);
Myia Collins (F/G, Jr., Orange Coast College);
Genesis Hopkins (F, So., Sonoma State);
Christen Ziska (G, Sr., La Verne) will all look to make an immediate impact in different ways. Hopkins and Cassell have NCAA DII experience, while Ziska and Collins have shined in the spotlight at the NCAA DIII and junior college levels, respectively as well.
The six freshmen in the fold come from multiple states.
Audrey Counts (G, Wilsonville HS) comes to Concordia from Oregon while
Macy Freeze (F/C, St. Pius X HS) is from New Mexico and
Ellana Klemp (G, Hanalani Schools) hails from Hawai'i.
Allison Shumate (F, Lynden Christian HS) calls Washington her home state plus
Cadence Williams (G/F, Rouse HS) is from the Lone Star State of Texas. Meanwhile,
Asia Darcuiel (G, Lincoln HS) is a California native from nearby San Diego.
With ten new faces teaming up with a solid group of returners, the sky is the limit for this year's talented group. The regular season begins
CLICK HERE for the full PacWest Women's Basketball Preseason Poll
The regular season opener is slated for Friday, Nov. 14 when the Golden Eagles visit Cal State San Marcos down south. The home opener for Concordia men's basketball is Saturday, Nov. 15 at 2 p.m. against Cal State LA.
CLICK HERE for the full CUI women's basketball schedule
