Photo by: Missouri Valley Conference
MVC WBB Media Day marks new beginnings
09/14/2022 | 9:57:00 | Women's Basketball
MOLINE, Ill. — The 2022 Missouri Valley Conference Women's Basketball Media Day means the season is that much closer as a newly-expanded Valley field met at Vibrant Arena at The Mark in Moline on Wednesday afternoon.
The numbers of banners hanging high in the arena were three more than the last time these teams walked off the court in Moline. Belmont, Murray State and the University of Illinois-Chicago, joined the MVC to put the Valley at 12 teams going forward.
"The Missouri Valley Conference held a first-class Media Day for our young ladies. It was a day we are truly thankful for, as we got a chance to work with some of the best and brightest in media and our conference administration," Southern Head Coach Kelly Bond-White said. "My biggest takeaway, is our conference is deep in talent and will provide an incredible national platform for our young ladies to compete."
For Southern Illinois, and the rest of the teams, the day was split with a community service project and the usual Media Day festivities, but this year included a luncheon to celebrate 50 years of Title IX. All 12 league coaches spoke during three separate panels during the luncheon. Each were asked about advancements in Title IX, where they see it in the next decade and how it's impacted their life.
The Salukis spent the morning as Madison Elementary in Davenport, Iowa, where Quierra Love, Adrianna Katcher, Tyranny Brown and Coach Kelly Bond-White, read to third graders in their classroom.
"I think we all left with more than sharing stories," Bond-White said. "As we have possibly looked at others excelling in their field and admired their talents. The young students at Madison marveled at our young ladies. They were the rock stars and I enjoyed watching their Interactions. Little eyes are always watching and it is our obligation to set a great example for them. Our young ladies are doing just that."
Bond-White and her three returners each took a table in the classroom and dove into reading whichever book the students presented.
"My favorite part was reading to the kids at the elementary school," Katcher said. "It didn't feel like a community service project. I enjoyed being a light for those kids, even if it was just for one day."
Love agreed even when one student asked if she played basketball despite being just 5-4.
"She said 'that means I can do it.' It just touched my heart because I realized I'm an inspiration to little girls as others are and have been for me and that's nothing but God," Love said. "I'm very blessed to have read to the children today and help inspire them to fall in love with reading."
Bond-White said she's already got the wheels turning on a similar program here and to be on the lookout for several exciting things in the future.
"I'm excited to bring Reading Day programs back to the Carbondale and Southern Illinois community," she said. "We are working with superintendents and our administrators to make this event a year long investment, culminating at the end of the semesters with our Elementary School Day Games."
The afternoon was spent talking with media, including Debbie Antonelli and Kelly Burke and helping shed some light on what Bond-White has been instilling in her players the last few months.
"Media day was awesome," Love said. "I got to meet a lot of new people like the MVC commissioner, Jeff Jackson, as well as make new connections and network. Blessed and thankful for the opportunity to spread my Saluki pride."
The day ended with Antonelli breaking down film with Love and also drawing up a few plays with Bond-White, even more signs that the 2022-23 basketball season is right around the corner.
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