Written by Josh Garcia
BVU Sports Information Student Contributor

STORM LAKE, Iowa (November 7, 2022) - The Buena Vista University women's basketball team will tip off its 2022-23 campaign this week with a slate of non-conference road games. The slate commences with a Tuesday evening matchup against the Pioneers of Grinnell College. The Beavers previously played the Pioneers last season on November 23^rd losing 64-57. Vanessa Hamlett had a notable performance in the contest finishing with 12 points, 8 rebounds, 2 assists, and 3 steals. All-time, the Beavers are 4-1 against the Pioneers. 
 
THE MATCH-UPS 
Tuesday, November 8 | Buena Vista (0-0) at Grinnell (0-0) | 7:00 p.m. 
Friday, November 11 | Buena Vista (0-0) at UW River Falls (0-0) | 7:00 p.m. 
Saturday, November 12 | Buena Vista (0-0) at Hamline (0-0) | 3:00 p.m. 
 
ABOUT BUENA VISTA 
The Beavers are coming off 7-15 (5-11) record last season. This season fourth-year BVU head coach David Wells will have a deep roster to utilize as he adds six freshmen to a lineup returning three of its starters.  
Senior Vanessa Hamlett along with juniors Lindsey Anhalt and Hannah Whitver make up the returning starters. Hamlett was named Honorable Mention All-Conference last season as she averaged 11.1 PPG (15th in A-R-C) on 52 percent shooting (7th in A-R-C), to go along with 8.9 RPG (4th in A-R-C). Anhalt started in all 22 games for the Beavers last season, averaging 8.0 PPG and 5.7 RPG (16th in A-R-C) along with team-leading marks of 0.8 BPG (7th in A-R-C) and 1.7 SPG (9th in A-R-C). Whitver averaged 5.3 PPG, 3.4 RPG, and 1.3 APG in 19 games.  Seniors Emerson Else and Emily Newton will provide the Beavers with a veteran presence off the bench. Newton appeared in all 22 games a year ago and averaged over 11.0 minutes per contest. She was also second on the team with 11 made three-point shots. Else appeared in 16 games and played nearly 9.0 minutes per game.   
 
ABOUT GRINNELL 
Coached by Dana Harrold, the Pioneers went 9-13 (6-9) last season. Harrold has been at the helm since 2013 and in that time has guided them to a record of 77-110 (57-82).  The Pioneers are headlined by guard Erin Lillis. Lillis averaged 17.5, 4.1 rebounds, 2.4 assists and 1.4 steals per game en route to earning Midwest Conference Newcomer of the Year and all-league second team honors. Lillis' performance was just one of a couple for the program as guard Nikki Ware broke the program's record for season free throw percentage, hitting 48-of-56 shots for an 85.7 percent success rate. Ware's performance contributed to an overall team strength at the line. The Pioneers set a free throw mark of 70.3 percent which ranked fourth in program history. Contrasting their success at the line they struggled to find success on the boards finishing eighth in the conference in combined team rebounds and combined opponent rebounds.