AUSTIN, Texas – The Concordia University Texas women's basketball team is preparing for the 2026-27 season as the Tornados look to build on last year's campaign with a combination of returning experience, new faces and a renewed emphasis on defense under second-year head coach Bri Marstaller.

Entering her second year at the helm, Marstaller believes the experience gained during her inaugural season has helped shape the program's approach heading into the new campaign.

"I'm a changed coach," Marstaller said during the SCAC preseason interview. "I learned so much last year and I was working all summer recruiting, getting ready for new sets, new defense, fine-tuning a lot of things and I'm just pumped to get this year going and to get first games under our belt."

Among the returning players is Katelyn Tietjen, who started all 25 games last season and averaged 8.1 points, 2.4 rebounds and 2.0 assists per contest. Tietjen connected on a team-high 30 three-pointers while shooting 36.1 percent from beyond the arc. She also totaled 51 assists and 29 steals.

Briann Warehime returns after appearing in 12 games with four starts as a mid-season addition last year. Warehime averaged 5.9 points per game while shooting 33.3 percent from three-point range and 85.7 percent from the free-throw line. She knocked down 13 three-pointers during the campaign.

Kiyah Hatcher also comes back to CTX after appearing in 20 games, including seven starts. Hatcher averaged 4.1 points and 2.6 rebounds per game while recording 17 assists and eight steals. She also connected on 11 three-pointers.

Madison Martinez brings additional experience after competing in 19 games with six starts. Martinez averaged 3.3 points and 2.8 rebounds per game while contributing 22 assists and 14 steals. She knocked down 14 three-pointers during the season.

Ace Wilkinson appeared in all 25 games last season, making 13 starts. Wilkinson averaged 2.0 points and 2.6 rebounds while distributing 50 assists, the third-most on the team. She also contributed 17 steals.

The Tornados have strengthened their roster through the addition of several transfers, bringing collegiate experience and added depth to the program.

Junior transfer Felitsa Adil joins Concordia Texas from Santa Barbara City College. Adil brings a defensive-minded approach and an emphasis on leadership both on and off the court.

"I love to play defense," Adil said. "I feel like the biggest impact I can make is just supporting my teammates and making sure that we turn our defense into our offense."

Adil also emphasized the importance of encouraging her teammates and maintaining a strong connection throughout the season.

"I love supporting my teammates from the sideline and just making sure that everybody's feeling uplifted and that we all stay together, especially as the season goes on and things get more difficult," Adil said.

Ke'Myreul "Key" Wheaton arrives from Temple College, where she appeared in all 30 games and made 14 starts during the 2025-26 campaign. Wheaton averaged 5.7 points, 4.2 rebounds and 2.1 assists per game while collecting 53 steals, averaging 1.8 per contest. She also recorded 27 blocked shots, providing additional defensive versatility for the Tornados.

Lexi Arzate transfers to Concordia Texas from fellow SCAC member University of Dallas. Arzate appeared in all 25 games for the Crusaders last season, making nine starts while averaging 3.6 points and 4.8 rebounds per contest. She also recorded 23 blocked shots, including 22 during conference competition. Arzate averaged 5.6 rebounds and 4.1 points per game against SCAC opponents, providing the Tornados with an experienced presence in the paint.

Macie Upshaw joins the Tornados after spending last season at NCAA Division II Midwestern State University, where she started 20 of 26 games. Upshaw averaged 3.9 points and 6.1 rebounds per contest while shooting 41.8 percent from the field. She also contributed 31 steals and 21 blocked shots, adding rebounding and defensive experience to Concordia's frontcourt. Upshaw reunites with Warehime, who was her teammate at Midwestern State during the 2025-26 season.

As the Tornados prepare for the upcoming season, Marstaller has placed a significant emphasis on establishing a defensive identity. After allowing 68.0 points per game last season, the second-year head coach believes her team has already made considerable strides during preseason preparation.

"One of our biggest goals for me as a coach is to make sure that we're really good at one thing and not okay at a few," Marstaller said. "So, we've really had an emphasis on defense this year and I feel that we're already further along at this point than we were in November of last year."

Beyond the defensive improvements, Marstaller has been encouraged by the team's chemistry, toughness and willingness to compete for one another.

"It's just a natural, hardworking group," Marstaller said. "The team chemistry is awesome. I think they'll run through a wall for each other. They'll run through a wall for me. I'm of course going to run through a wall for them."

Adil echoed those sentiments, highlighting the relationships developed throughout preseason practices.

"I hope that just moving forward into the season, we continue to stay close and very tight-knit as we are on the court as well as off the court," Adil said. "I feel like team chemistry is really what pushes a team to the next level, and I feel like that will help us go really far in the season."

With a mixture of returning contributors and newcomers, Concordia Texas will look to translate its preseason progress into results as the Tornados pursue a return to the SCAC Tournament.

"We're going to get back to the conference tournament. There's no doubt in my mind," Marstaller said. "But the ultimate goal is to make sure that we're coming in the season as young ladies and leaving as young women and just being a good person. That's what it's all about."

The Tornados will officially tip off the 2026-27 campaign on Sunday, November 8, when they welcome Southwestern University to the Deb & Don Christian Fieldhouse at 6 p.m. Concordia will then travel to San Antonio for an exhibition matchup against NCAA Division II St. Mary's University on November 9.

Concordia Texas will begin SCAC competition on Friday, December 4, when the Tornados travel to Irving, Texas, to face the University of Dallas at 5:30 p.m. The following afternoon, Concordia will visit Austin College in Sherman, Texas, for a 4 p.m. contest.

The Tornados will conclude the regular season with a pair of home conference matchups against the University of Dallas on February 19 and Austin College on February 20.

The 2027 SCAC Women's Basketball Tournament is scheduled to begin on Friday, February 26, in Shreveport, Louisiana, where the Tornados will look to compete for a conference championship.

To keep up to date with everything surrounding the CTX women's basketball program, follow us on social media (@ctxathletics) and visit athletics.concordia.edu.