In the 2025–26 season, the Golden Grizzlies women’s basketball team features an entirely new coaching staff and nine newcomers on a 13‑player roster. Of the four returning players, only one has four years of experience in an Oakland uniform: Lianna Baxter.

As a freshman, Baxter appeared in 22 games, scoring 23 points and grabbing 21 rebounds. She reached double figures for the first time with a 10‑point performance in a win over Madonna.

Her sophomore year brought a setback — a knee injury that sidelined her for the entire season — but it didn’t derail her determination heading into her junior campaign.

During the 2024–25 season, Baxter averaged 6.3 points, 4.0 rebounds and 0.8 blocks per game. She shot 47.8% from the floor and 41.5% from three, started 20 of 31 games, and posted at least eight points and five rebounds in seven contests. She also earned spots on the 2025 CSC Academic All‑District Team and the Horizon League All‑Academic Honorable Mention, proving her value on and off the court.

Now a redshirt senior and team captain, Baxter has continued that momentum. She has started all 22 games this season, shooting 34.7% from three and 65.1% at the line while averaging 9 points, 5 rebounds and 1.2 steals per game.

When the Golden Grizzlies hit a rough patch — a five‑game losing streak — Baxter never wavered. Oakland snapped the skid with an exhilarating road win over Robert Morris, a game in which she scored 13 points.

“I feel like that was the game where it was a mentality and momentum shift, and we were like, ‘We belong here,’” Baxter said. “After the game, it was just a moment where we were all so proud of each other.”

She is especially grateful for the support she’s felt from her teammates and coaches throughout the season. Team bonding, encouraging notes and a culture of uplifting one another have shaped her understanding of leadership.

“No matter how full my cup is, I want to make sure my teammates are being better people, better players,” Baxter said.

Her actions reflect that mindset. Even on nights when her own game feels off, she focuses on how she can help her teammates rather than dwelling on mistakes.

Baxter also draws strength from her family. Though they live miles away, she knows they are always a phone call away. Her parents — both former college basketball players — continue to inspire her.

“They are always inspiring me to be a better person,” she said.

She also plays in honor of her late Uncle Scott, whose relentless work ethic she carries with her every time she steps on the court.

Before every game, Baxter begins her ritual with prayer, using a rosary or Divine Mercy chaplet, followed by worship music. She is always the first player on the court, moving through her warm‑up routine in a precise order.

Basketball wasn’t always the plan. Before committing to Oakland, Baxter was set on playing volleyball in college.

“If I would have gone to any other school, I would have been playing volleyball,” she said.

She spent her final two years of high school focused on volleyball, enjoying the independence of having a sport that was “her thing” in a basketball family. But when Oakland’s coaching staff reached out, something shifted.

“When I was hearing the coach talk, I just felt like it was God’s way of telling me that this is what my path was going to be,” Baxter said.

Her four years at Oakland have been anything but predictable. She has played under three different head coaches and watched countless teammates come and go. Through it all — including her knee injury — she has remained the program’s constant.

“Seeing it all at the same school is rare,” Baxter said. “It has been a difficult challenge, but one that I was prepared for because I had a lot of those experiences in high school as well.”

Now, with seven games left before the Horizon League tournament in March, Baxter is ready to lead her team down the stretch. With steady improvement and a clearer sense of identity, she’s excited for what’s ahead.

“We all have so much confidence in each other, so we know that even if our confidence is lacking, our teammate will pick it up,” she said.

The Golden Grizzlies will continue to take the season one game at a time — with Baxter guiding them not just as a captain, but as a reliable, grounded and compassionate leader who knows her way around both the court and the campus.