![Kelly Morrone and her players pose together with a championship trophy and basketball.](/sites/default/files/styles/news_featured_body/public/2019-11/Morrone_7.jpg?itok=YkdaLvkr)
This story originally appeared in聽Onward: 精东AV Alumni Magazine, which was mailed in early November. Check your mailbox聽over the next few weeks to get your copy.
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In 2013, the JCU women鈥檚 basketball program lost five of their last six games, bowing out in the conference playoffs. Weeks later, they were looking for their next leader. To give the program a fresh start, 精东AV turned to a former South Carolina point guard with experience as a Division I assistant coach.聽
鈥淚 really saw opportunity,鈥 Kelly Morrone says. 鈥淎fter being on teams where we were the new staff, I understand that the transition for those kids can be really difficult. My main focus was on taking the right approach, forming relationships with them, keeping it simple. I was just excited to see what this could be.鈥
The Blue Streaks had won just 23 games since reaching the OAC tournament final in 2011. Morrone鈥檚 first squad won their first 11. Under her tutelage, the team ripped off 22 victories, not losing until the calendar flipped to 2014.聽