This was not how Guilford’s women’s basketball season was supposed to unfold. Not after Anna Giannopoulou ’26, the Quakers’ All-Region forward and top returning scorer, went down in a preseason practice with a twisted left ankle and missed the first eight games of the season.

But among the many strengths this year’s Guilford team possesses is depth. And speed. Resilience, too. Those qualities have conspired to propel Guilford to a 7-1 record for the second straight season.

Coach Sarah Mathews said it was hard watching Anna on crutches, but that didn’t change things dramatically for the Quakers. “This is a pretty special group,” said Matthews. “We’ve got a ton of upperclassmen and a ton of experienced players that have played a lot for us these last couple of years. Anna is only one piece of this team.”

Sarah hopes Anna is back later this month – perhaps even Friday when Guilford plays William Peace University at Ragan-Brown Field House – but until then, she is confident in her players maintaining the Quakers’ trademark fast-paced offense.

“We’re more than one player and (the start) to the season has shown that,” said Sarah. “We can’t wait to get Anna back but we’re focusing on things we can control.”

Forward Carleigh Perry ’25 was a first-year when Sarah took over the program. She says the team is now thriving under Sarah’s up-tempo offense. “When everyone is playing our game, we’re a very good team,” says Carleigh. “Our opponents can only keep up with us for so long before you start to see the fatigue set in.”

Nowhere was that more evident than December 7 when Guilford improved its Old Dominion Athletic Conference record to 2-1 with a 65-51 victory at Virginia Wesleyan University. The Quakers entered the fourth quarter with a 46-41 lead before pulling away on fast break layups.

“You see the fatigue a lot in the fourth quarter,” says Carleigh. “We’re pushing the ball right by them and they can’t keep up. It’s fun.”