When Michele Sung embarked on her first summer as sole head coach of Bison women's basketball back in 2014, she was looking for players who were willing to buy into the idea of turning the program around. At the time that she was hired, the squad hadn't been to the post-season since 2009.

One of locations that she visited during the recruitment process was Regina, as former co-head coach Randy Kusano had built up some strong relationships in the area.

During her time in the Queen City, Sung went to a couple of high school tournaments, which is where she first came across sharp-shooting guard Nicole Konieczny – a 25 point-per-game player for Winston Knoll Collegiate.

The two met a few different times, with Konieczny buying into Sung's pitch.

"I knew the recruiting challenge early would be wanting athletes that wanted to take ownership in turning the program around. And I got that sense from [Konieczny]," the head coach says.

"She was very independent, she wasn't looking to go to school with all her friends – she wanted to kind of create her own path – so right away I knew that was a good sign."

Konieczny impressed Sung even more when she came to campus for her official visit.

"I think when [Konieczny] came in for her recruiting visit I did an individual with her and we did some shooting and I think she shot 90 percent throughout the whole thing and I was like holy cow. Her shot is a little unorthodox, but when you shoot it that efficiently… why change something that works very well?"

The mature guard debuted with the Bisons in 2015-16, starting all 20 games as a rookie while averaging over ten points per game. She's been a stable force in Manitoba's starting five ever since.

"I guess I just knew right off the bat that I was going to be one of the key players coming in to a weaker team," Konieczny says.

"We didn't really have a lot of wins so I knew my role was going to be really important throughout my whole year and I found that super exciting, especially when I was being recruited, because not a lot of rookies get that opportunity to start right off the bat."

Forward Emma Thompson, a Calgary native, was another key piece that Sung brought into the fold in 2015-16. She's started 38 games over the past three years. Additionally, guard Taylor Randall, who calls Dundas, Ontario home, was recruited the following year. Being that the three were all from out of province, they created an immediate bond both on and off the court.

"Tay and Em are my best friends," Konieczny says. "We spend every single moment together so playing with them isn't any different. We trust each other and we support each other to a pretty extreme level and it's just been an absolute pleasure."

That chemistry was evident from year one onwards, as the trio quickly made a name for themselves. All three players averaged more than ten points per game last season, leading the Bisons to the playoffs for the first time in almost a decade.

"She's done a good job of not making it about her," Sung says of Konieczny's leadership on the court.

"She really understands the value of someone like Taylor [Randall], who can do some things she can't on the basketball court, but that doesn't mean that she is of any less value."

Despite the post-season birth, though, Konieczny and her squad weren't pleased with the outcome, as they were eliminated in the first round. The sting of last season's loss hasn't gone unnoticed.

"It's super exciting to make playoffs and I think everyone made it a really big deal here, which was pretty exciting. But just losing out in the first round wasn't what we wanted," the Regina native says.

"We never reached our potential, which was disappointing. Coming into this season, our goal isn't just to make playoffs, we'd like to go all the way."

Konieczny's dedication to Manitoba is shared by her parents as well. Her dad drives out to every game and the family hosted the team for dinner when they played against Regina earlier this year.

"That's been really neat," Sung says. "And I think it's something that has helped us kind of tap into that family environment a little bit."

Additionally, the fourth-year science student – who is hoping to get into dentistry next year – excels in the classroom just as much as on the court. It's another example of her tireless work ethic, which hasn't gone unnoticed by her head coach.

"She's very strong academically. She could have five mid-terms in a week and sometimes you wouldn't know it. And she's very honest sometimes in saying hey I need a day here," says Sung.

"I think it's good for the younger athletes to see that you can be successful in both and it doesn't have to be super stressful all the time, you just have to make sure you're prepared for the stress when it does come."

As Konieczny reflects on her time with the Bisons, she's quick to point out the relationships she's built along the way.

"I'll always remember the experience with my friends. It's kind of made Winnipeg a home to me. And just being able to support the other teams and say hello to them in the hallways. It's an experience I'll never forget and Manitoba's just been amazing for me."