November 2, 2020 | by Taylor Pill

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WATERTOWN, Wis. -- It still hurts to think about it - on March 12, 2020, the Sabercats were denied the chance to finish their title run at the 2020 NCCAA DII National Basketball Tournament because of local shutdowns surrounding the coronavirus. 

Undefeated through eight NCCAA games. North Region champions. Best winning percentage in program history. The team achieved all of those, yet they were denied the chance to crown it all with a coveted national title - their first since 2014.

Last year, the motto going into the season was "unfinished business". At the end of the season, it was "unfinished business". And that sentiment still lingers as the Sabercats face a 2020-21 season that brings uncertainty, hope, and opportunities all at the same time.

The team is already facing adversity, as they have the challenge of beginning games without their entire roster present. With multiple athletes competing in fall sports, the team won't have their full complement of players until November 30 - it's a challenge of depth, but the Sabercats are already preparing for what lies ahead - both in the following weeks and for the rest of the 2020-21 season.

AT A GLANCE

• 11 student-athletes return to the roster
• Only four student-athletes on the roster are college rookies
• The team opens play next Saturday (November 7) at Northwestern
• Only five of the team's 23 possible games will be at home
• NCCAA Regionals will be held at Faith Baptist Bible College on the weekend of February 25-27
• NCCAA DII Nationals will return to Joplin, Missouri, March 11-13

HOW TO FOLLOW

• mbusabercats.com/schedule - visit for gameday information including directions, live statistics, and live video.
• Twitter (@MBUSabercats) - visit to join gameday and season-long conversation about Maranatha Athletics.
• Facebook (/MBUSabercats) - visit for photo galleries, live video, and regular updates.
• Instagram (@mbusabercats)

HOME GAMES

• 12/5 vs North Central (Minn.)
• 1/26 vs Emmaus
• 2/5 vs Mount Mary
• 2/6 vs Finlandia
• 2/9 vs Lincoln Christian

KEY PLAYERS

Many faces on the 2020-21 squad could be highlighted here, but three of them that will take the floor this weekend are the following:

Callie Morrison returns to the squad for her junior season. The junior is already a two-time NCCAA All-American, and has already amassed 776 career points, 262 rebounds, and 239 assists. 

Kiersten Johnson and Katelyn Morrison return for their sophomore season. Johnson hit 100 points exactly in her first collegiate season and will look to bring her sharp-shooting hand to the floor, and Morrison was one of the starters in last year's NCCAA postseason, logging 39 minutes in the 2020 NCCAA North Region Championship and 29 minutes at the National Tournament.

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The Sabercats begin their season next Saturday at 1:00 p.m. with a visit to Northwestern (Minn.). Visit mbusabercats.com/schedule for gameday information.