Despite a recent major theft in their own locker room, the Piper women’s basketball team opened conference play this week with a 80-72 loss to St. Mary’s, on Dec. 3, and a 69-61 win against Concordia on Dec. 6. Although both games played last week were obstinate battles, behind the scenes there is an even bigger war being fought.

In a pre-season game on Nov. 25, the Pipers hosted UW-Stout in a scrappy game that turned out to be a big overtime win for the Piper women. Yet little did they know that while their game was in play, a thief or group of thieves was on a rampage in the doubly sealed women’s locker room on the hunt for anything of value.

“To me the most upsetting part is that they didn’t just steal out materials, they took our safe space and our win from us. We didn’t even get to celebrate before the tears and the panic set in from seeing all of our missing things,” sophomore point guard Chloe Graves said.

The team discovered numerous material items were stolen, such as: iPhones, MacBook laptops, wallets, credit/debit cards, cash, cellphones, social security cards, Beats headphones and more.

Graves describes the scene as similar to walking in after a tornado went through the locker room with their bags overturned and the rest of their belongings strewn across the floor. With this game being held right before Hamline’s scheduled Thanksgiving break, senior power forward Jordan Sammons describes many of the team members’ frustration in having to travel home to their out of state destinations without having their cell phones or ID because of the robbery.

To gain entrance into the women’s locker room, one must have access to both a keycard and an undisclosed numerical passcode to get through two doors leading to the actual room itself. This, of course, makes it very difficult to gain access without being either a member of the team or a coach. Nevertheless, in place of a winning celebration after this game, the Pipers were forced to get Hamline’s Safety and Security as well as the police involved. The case remains as an on-going investigation.

Despite all of the mayhem and frustration the Piper women, their coaches and the entire HU athletic department have been faced with, the team has continued to put in work and radiate positive energy. When asked to describe this season’s squad in one word, members of the team boiled it down to just two: “tenacious” and “grit.” 

“On this team, we really have each other’s backs. What happened in our locker room happened to all of us, so now in a sense we’re fighting battles together on and off the court,” first-year forward Alex Peterson said.

Based on their game this past Wednesday, Dec. 3, it looks as if this is true. The Pipers took on the nationally ranked St. Mary’s Cardinals. Trailing by as much as 18 points the Pipers were able to come back strong and cut the deficit down to a mere 80-72 loss. With power on the drive and under the basket, Sammons was a standout in this game with 30 points as well as junior guard Emily Behrman with her hustle up and down the court. 

“This season we really come into every game with the confidence, will, and drive to win and I think it reflected in our performance on the court. Giving up just isn’t an option,” Graves said.  

Moving into Saturday, Dec. 6, the Pipers hosted the Concordia Cobbers. Being a team known for its girth and height, Concordia was favored to take this game. Nevertheless, with that “Piper grit,” the Cobbers didn’t stand a chance, and the Pipers walked away with a solid 69-61 win.

Despite some foul trouble from Sammons and Peterson in the first half, the team was able to kick their offense into overdrive and perform with aggression and composure.

When asked how the team has been able to take this recent theft and continue to play so successfully, team members all referenced their overall goal this season to have a win percentage over .500 in conference play and make it to the MIAC championships. With their eyes on that prize as well as keeping in mind their team’s rule to leave all of their problems and struggles outside the court lines when they come to play, the Pipers  look to have one of their most successful seasons yet.