Jim Wiedie high fives his team after a hard fought game.

PRAIRIE WOLF SEASON PREVIEW: 2025-26 Women's Basketball

10/22/2025 12:00:00 PM

LINCOLN, Neb. - A new season brings new faces, new energy, and renewed expectations for the Nebraska Wesleyan women's basketball program. After laying the foundation under veteran head coach Jim Wiedie in his first season at the helm, the Prairie Wolves enter 2025-26 with momentum, maturity, and a roster that looks deeper and more dynamic than a year ago.

The Prairie Wolves return their top four scorers from last season, led by Carney Black, who established herself as a reliable interior presence in her first year with the program. Black averaged 8.6 points and 7.2 rebounds per game while recording four double-doubles in American Rivers Conference play. She'll once again anchor the frontcourt for NWU.

In the backcourt, Maddie Demke and Brynn Sebek return after impressive freshman campaigns that gave the Prairie Wolves a glimpse of their future. Demke averaged 8.2 points and 3.4 rebounds per game, highlighted by a 20-point performance against Buena Vista in the last game of the season. Sebek emerged as one of the league's top young shooters, connecting on 47 three-pointers and shooting 6-for-7 from beyond the arc against Dubuque.

Mackenzie Griffin also returns to the rotation after averaging 5.9 points per game last season, giving Nebraska Wesleyan a steady scoring punch on the wing.

But the biggest storyline heading into the 2025-26 season might be the influx of talent joining the program. Wiedie welcomes six newcomers, three transfers and three freshmen, to a roster that suddenly boasts both experience and depth.

Among the newcomers, the trio of transfers Peyton Tritz, Anastyn Pettlon, and Madison Kenyon have already turned heads in preseason workouts. Each brings proven college experience and a competitive edge that should elevate the program immediately.

"I believe we are more athletic and more skilled overall than we were in 2024-25," said Wiedie. "That being said, I expect us to improve dramatically on our win total from last season. Our depth and balance are much better, and I think we can go 10 or 11 deep this year without a drop-off. That's the kind of depth that lets us play the up-tempo, pressure-based style we want on both ends."

The Prairie Wolves will also benefit from a key offseason addition on the sidelines. Sydney Golladay joins the staff as the program's first full-time assistant coach. A four-year starter at Fort Hays State and a graduate transfer at Creighton University, Golladay brings high-level experience from two of the nation's top programs.

"She was exactly what I was looking for," Wiedie said. "She's already made a huge impact on our players, both on and off the court. Her background as a point guard at that level is invaluable for our guards, and her energy has been contagious."

Wiedie believes this group learned valuable lessons from the challenges of last season, a year defined by growing pains and flashes of potential. The focus now is on chemistry, consistency, and a collective commitment to improvement.

Nebraska Wesleyan will open its season on Saturday, November 8, hosting McPherson College at 2 p.m. inside Snyder Arena.