After two home games, and despite two second half leads, Pomona-Pitzer (P-P) women’s basketball started their 2026-27 campaign 0-2. The Sagehens fell to Pacific University and Wheaton College last Friday and Saturday respectively, a disappointing start to a season with high expectations.
The team is coming off a strong 2025-26 season which saw a 16-9 overall finish, an 11-5 record in SCIAC conference games and a spot in the SCIAC semifinals. They lost in that round in February to the No. 2 seed Claremont-Mudd-Scripps (CMS) in a 59-54 battle.
Close losses early on, however, haven’t swayed the program’s expectations for the season ahead. Alaina Woo, now in her seventh season as the team’s head coach, described this group as hungry for success.
“This team wants to be great,” Woo said in email correspondence with TSL. “There’s added pressure and expectations when you are willing to say that about yourselves, and I appreciate that this group is willing to own that.”
Woo and her team welcomed a new face to the program this fall. Assistant Coach Alli Iannone is entering her first season as a Sagehen after two seasons each coaching at Tufts University and Whittier College.
“[Iannone] has been an awesome addition to the program,” Woo said. “She brings a wealth of experience in the SCIAC and NESCAC, and we are lucky to have her here at Pomona-Pitzer.”
The team is clear-eyed about their goals this season. Success, to them, is measured by progress, both on and off the hardwood. They are always looking to get more cohesive and competitive whenever they step on the court.
“For our program, that process is a mix of energy, effort, respect and unselfishness,” Woo said. “It means being great communicators and being accountable to each other in hard and easy moments. There’s a trust at all practices that everyone’s in the gym because they want to be, not because they have to be.”
For guard Shea Joko PZ ’28, who played 36 minutes in the season-opening loss to Pacific in overtime, pairing the team’s competitiveness with its supportive culture is a priority, in addition to enjoying the games throughout a long season.
“To me, a successful season includes winning games and being competitive, but it’s also about having fun with my teammates and enjoying the process,” Joko said. “While winning is always a goal, I think success also comes from the memories we make, the growth we experience as a team and genuinely enjoying the time we spend together on and off the court.”
Charlotte Patel PO ’28 is figuring out her own way to contribute to that mission while navigating the path back from injury. In her first season, she played in 27 games and made her impact on the glass. Her sophomore season, however, was plagued by an injury that kept her off the court for most of the season. As she returns to play, Patel hopes to contribute to a successful campaign.
“For me, a successful season is falling back into love with basketball,” Patel said. “As a team, we are chasing that SCIAC championship. But more than that, a successful season means competing with pride, and being proud and knowing that we gave everything day in and day out, up to our last moment.”
Conference play seems to be the most anticipated part of the season, especially for the returners hungry to continue last year’s success. The Hens look to triumph over conference opponents like Sixth Street rival CMS; the first game against the Athenas will be at Voelkel Gymnasium on Jan. 20, with a rematch at Roberts Pavilion on Feb. 20.
“I think [conference play] is always one of the most exciting parts of the season because we get to compete against familiar teams and figure out how to approach each matchup,” Joko said. “I’m especially excited for our Sixth Street Rivalry games against CMS because of the energy and competitive atmosphere. Those games bring out a different level of excitement and competitiveness in our team.”
As they look forward to the rest of the season, the Hens are learning from the disappointing outcomes of this past weekend. As Joko put it, they are looking to iron out the small mistakes as they continue their campaign.
“Right now, it’s about fine-tuning the little things, learning from our mistakes and making small adjustments that will help us improve as the season goes on,” Joko said. “It’s important that we continue working hard in the gym, staying consistent and getting repetitions in order to strengthen what we’re already good at while also improving the areas where we struggle.”
The Sagehens now look to bounce back as they head to Lewiston, Maine, to face off against Bates College on Nov. 13. SCIAC play begins on Dec. 2, with a face off against La Verne.
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