With a decisive win over Siena College on Nov. 4, the Colgate University women’s basketball team began its 2025 campaign with high hopes for successful Patriot League play and a position for a postseason title. After the team’s first win under new head coach Shannon Bush, Colgate picked up wins against Ithaca College, the University of New Hampshire and Cornell University.
These early wins to open the season solidified the offseason work that the Raiders and Coach Bush put in, demonstrating the team’s depth and chemistry. Building off the preseason, where captain Anne Bair was selected to the Preseason Women’s Basketball All-Patriot League team and the squad ranked sixth in the Patriot League Preseason Poll, Colgate is proving that even high expectations may have underestimated their potential.
However, after their four-game winning streak, the Raiders hit a four-game losing streak, falling short to Quinnipiac University, University of Idaho, the University of California, Irvine and University of Delaware. The team has tough opponents on the horizon, including neighbors University at Albany and Syracuse University, both of whom are in the NCAA top 100.
Having picked up important wins both on the road and at home, the Raiders are looking forward to pushing through their cold streak and finishing nonconference play strong before conference play begins on Dec. 31. The Raiders’ early momentum and continued perseverance reflect the culture and mindset driving this year’s group.
Senior and captain Christina Midgette emphasized the team’s collective focus moving forward after the strong start and how they hope to remain disciplined.
“It’s great to start off the season 3-0. Being able to adjust and have a team that is focused on doing their best to help the team succeed has been crucial to our wins,” Midgette said. “Moving forward, continuing to work hard and be consistent is going to take us in the right direction. Our mindset is to never become complacent. Just as losses provide clear teaching moments, we know that every win still offers valuable opportunities for growth.”
Fellow senior captain Madison Schiller echoed Midgette’s statements on the team’s mindset, adding that the team’s culture has been strengthened by the arrival of Coach Shannon Bush, who has been central to their early-season success.
“The coaching staff, led by Coach Shan, shows genuine care for each player and shares the same goal we all have of winning,” Schiller said. “We approach every game with the mindset of going 1-0 and winning our next opportunity. Our coaches emphasize that it is not about what we have done in the past or what we have to do in the future, but about the next opponent we play. We will keep this mindset all season in hopes of making a run in March.”
With a renewed culture under Coach Bush and a large returning roster, Colgate looks ready to redefine expectations going into in-conference and postseason play. Looking for a statement season, the Raiders are eager to end their stretch of nonconference play on a high note before their campaign for a Patriot League championship officially begins.
Bair gave her take on the team’s attitude and focus despite the back-and-forth start.
“We all feel great about our [winning] start to the season, but definitely not satisfied … I think in order for us to have continued success, we must keep playing together and continue to be the tougher team each day. We all love each other so much, and that support and energy we have for each other also propels us on the court. Our coaches always prepare us with scouts and film, so we are in a great spot there too,” she said.
Bair’s message echoes the larger identity forming within the women’s program: a group committed to consistency and unity under Coach Bush’s leadership. The shared value of daily improvement will likely translate into the on-court success and momentum that the Raiders are looking for. As the season moves forward, the team remains well-positioned entering Patriot League play and continues to work towards their goal of extending their season into March.
