Even with the graduation of Hailey Diestelkamp from Drury University, the Great Lakes Valley Conference (GLVC) will still have one more Diestelkamp to contend with for three more years.

That is because Hailey’s younger sister Breanna Diestelkamp just finished her freshman season in a Lady Triton uniform at the University of Missouri - St. Louis (UMSL).

“Breanna was in a unique situation with coming in as the only freshman on the squad,” UMSL Head Women’s Basketball Coach Katie Vaughn said. “Freshman have so much to overcome that first year and when there are multiple freshmen, they can lean on each other and not feel like they’re on an island all by themselves.”

According to Vaughn, that never bothered Diestelkamp.

“She jumped in with both feet and tackled every opportunity she had with a positive attitude,” Vaughn said. “She was a sponge on the court and would seek any opportunity to be coached and learn from her upperclassmen.

Playing in 25 of UMSL’s 29 games this season, Diestelkamp had plenty of opportunities in a Lady Triton uniform.

“Bre grew in so many ways this year and then in the last month of the season, she got very ill,” Vaughn said. “She was down and out for over a week and came back very weak. The timing could not have been worse for her. She was progressing and her minutes were increasing each game.”

Diestelkamp’s peak game came at home in the Mark Twain Building on the UMSL campus in mid-January against the University of Indianapolis Lady Greyhounds.

Scoring 12 first-half points, Breanna was limited to two points in the third quarter before breaking out in the fourth quarter scoring eight of UMSL’s last 13 points giving her a career and season-high 22 points in UMSL’s 81-71 victory over the Lady Greyhounds.

“Through the time she was set back, she stayed positive, continued to cheer her teammates on and try her hardest to get back into the swing of things,” Vaughn said. “That showed us more about her future as a Triton than any many minutes she played for us.”

Starting their season in early November of last year against Grand Valley State, Diestelkamp made her collegiate debut scoring seven points to go along with three rebounds, a steal and a blocked shot.

Diestelkamp’s first bounce back game came after being held scoreless on the road at Kentucky Weslyan.

Hosting Newman over Thanksgiving weekend, Breanna saw 18 minutes of playing time leading her to her first double-digit scoring effort in an UMSL uniform.

Netting 13 points, Diestelkamp was 5-7 from the field in addition to a 3-4 showing from the free-throw line.

Opening GLVC play in early December against Lindenwood, Diestelkamp recorded a season-high two steals only to match it in two additional games later in the season at home against Maryville University and on the road against the University of Illinois - Springfield Prairie Stars.

Diestelkamp’s next double-digit scoring effort came the very next game against Lincoln (Mo.) with her scoring 12 points in 16 minutes.

Spending the week before Christmas in Puerto Rico, Diestelkamp just missed her first collegiate double double scoring 13 points and pulling down eight rebounds in a 60-32 win over Puerto Rico-Bayamon.

Among those 13 points, Diestelkamp hit a season-high nine free throws on 12 attempts.

Opening 2020 hosting Maryville University, Diestelkamp once again just missed her first double double.

Playing 25 minutes, Bre finished with nine points and a season-high 10 rebounds.

Two days after facing Drury and her older sister Hailey, Bre played a season-high 28 minutes in Bolivar against Southwest Baptist University (SBU) scoring 14 points along with hitting her first college 3-point shot.

“Bre’s ceiling is high and through her experiences this year, her desire to be coached, and her love for the game I know she will continue to grow as a player and person,” Vaughn said.