For the first time in 622 days, the Saint Mary's basketball team will take to the hardwood for a game when the Belles open the 2021-22 season on Tuesday evening.

A core of returning upperclass student-athletes will be looked upon by head coach Melissa Makielski to guide a group of of 12 freshmen and sophomores eager to make their own marks on the program. Senior Bella Dugas along with juniors Maddie Rzepka, Devan Buda, Nikki Murphy, and Christina Shadid bring the experience of 135 games combined between the quintet to the court this season.

Eight sophomores anxiously await their first collegiate basketball contest after the 2020-21 season was canceled due to the lingering effects of the COVID-19 pandemic. Elle Deardorff, Nyah Porter, Alexandria Swift, Morgan Flynn, Claire Bartz, Caitlin Bonnesen, Mary Kate Gareau, and Anne Goralczyk were all members of the team last academic year, using the team's fall practices as a chance to get acclimated to both the program and the College. Newcomers Lauren Gumma, Jasmyne Townsend, Brigid Fuller, and Julia Schutz round out the lineup in 2021-22 for the Belles.

The season officially kicks of on Tuesday, November 9 with a road trip to Naperville, Illinois to take on North Central at 8:00 p.m. Eastern Standard Time. Saint Mary's continues a stretch of away contests to begin the year with a tournament at St. Norbert College on November 12 and 13 before trips to both Elmhurst and Defiance. The home opener for the Belles is slated for November 23 when Anderson comes to Angela Athletic & Wellness Complex for a 7:00 p.m. tip-off. Conference play then begins for saint Mary's on Wednesday, December 1 with a home contest against Albion.