The Kodiaks women’s basketball team is once again in national contention halfway through the regular season thanks in large part to the play of their dynamic trio–veterans and captains Kayla Lambert, Natalie Johnson, and Anne Mercer.

The success of these three on the court has at least one of them in almost every top10 statistical category in the ACAC.  Their success has translated from their relationship on the basketball court to personal relationships.

“If you can get along off of the court, it translates on the court very well,” says Mercer.

“You know each other’s playing styles and it’s really easy after playing with each other for two years.”

Johnson adds, “It works well, because there’s kind of a strength in each of us. Plus, we see each other well on the floor.”

Lambert says before the three became friends, she had to ask what she refers to “Bread and Butter,” referring to Johnson and Mercer. These two have played together for at least five years, dating back to their time in high school when they played for E.P. Scarlett in Calgary.

With each woman being such a strong competitor, Johnson acknowledge that collective they push each other to become better players.

“Working together and competing together against each other, even though we’re best friends, helps to improve my game,” says Johnson. “Both of them have really helped me to improve and boost my confidence. Kayla and Anne have really helped me improve my shot, Anne has really pushed me.”

Head coach Brad Karren says each player brings a different element to the team. “Each one of them has basically different personalities and different qualities they bring to the table. It’s all something helpful for the team.”

Karren says Johnson is fiery and intense, while Lambert is more of a calming influence. Mercer has the personality that blends well with the other two.
“All three of them kind of really hold the team together,” says Karren.

This year, the women are determined to get back to Nationals after last year’s poor play, as the loss still hurts each of them.

“It hurt because we didn’t play well,” says Lambert, speaking of their opening game loss at last year’s nationals. “You can’t go back in time and rewind it.”

“We don’t want it to happen again,” says Mercer. “We all experienced it, we all know what we can change and how to improve the team.”
Johnson says she’s noticed some changes as this year has progressed.

“At the beginning of the year we were still good, but recently we started to depend on one another, especially in games against tough teams like SAIT,” says Johnson.

Because of the strong play of these three women, teams now target them as the key players to stop, but they don’t mind.

“It’s a good and bad thing. It shows that we work good together, but it’s a bad thing because everyone has an aim on us and everyone wants to beat us,” says Johnson.

“The other teams really make sure they guard us well and make sure they stop us. Since they’re so hard on us, it’s kind of more fun,” adds Johnson.
Karren says there isn’t really much others can do to slow down the Kodiaks.

“With the girls we’ve got, you can’t key on one person. That makes us difficult to defend. I think we’re better this year than we were last year,” Karren adds.

“If I was coaching against us, I don’t know what I would do. You know you can’t just press us and get turnovers.”
Karren knows the value of Mercer, Lambert and Johnson.

“It’s huge. They’re the ones that calm down everybody else, they do a major part of our scoring and the leading of the team.
“Without them, we probably don’t win very many games.”