How Trent May rebuilt Southern Nazarene women's basketball: 'We don't worry about zip codes'

BETHANY — A ladder was climbed, a net was cut and an Elite Eight berth was secured Monday night at Southern Nazarene’s Sawyer Center, only it wasn’t the home squad doing the celebrating.

Minnesota State was crowned Central Region champs in the NCAA Women’s Division II Tournament, stomping Southern Nazarene 80-48 on the Crimson Storm’s own court.

Although its season ended with an abrupt thud, Southern Nazarene (30-3) — which won seven NAIA national championships from 1989 to 2004 — had its best-ever year since joining the Division II ranks a decade ago.

Led by coach Trent May, an SNU alum, with a roster of almost as many Australians (six) as Oklahomans (seven), Southern Nazarene women’s basketball is prominent once more, albeit now at a higher level of competition.

Southern Nazarene’s Sweet 16 appearance in the 64-team Division-II bracket was its furthest advancement in program history. The Crimson Storm fell one win short of punching its ticket to the Elite Eight in St. Joseph, Missouri.

“There are so many great moments with these players that I’ll never forget,” said May, who was more appreciative than dejected after the loss.

One of those moments came after the game Monday.

“I walk in the locker room, they’re not separate, they’re not in their lockers, they’re arm-in-arm around each other,” May said. “And that just for me, that was a snapshot of our entire year and who we are as a program.”

More: Ousmane Dieng found his groove in G League. What does that mean for OKC Thunder future?

Hannah Giddey, Josh Giddey’s sister, leads Crimson Storm

In the second round, it was Hannah Giddey who led Southern Nazarene to a 68-65 win over Harding (Arkansas). Giddey, the older sister of Thunder guard Josh Giddey, had 29 points, six rebounds, five blocks and three assists. She played all 40 minutes.

Giddey again scored a team-high Monday night in SNU’s loss to Minnesota State. The 6-foot-2 senior finished with 11 points and seven rebounds.

Hannah Giddey played two seasons at Oral Roberts — coincidentally signing at ORU before Josh was drafted by the Thunder — before transferring to Southern Nazarene.

“She just found the right home coming here,” said her dad, Warrick Giddey. “Been needed, been wanted and been loved.”

Warrick, who is headed back home to Melbourne, Australia, after spending a few weeks in Oklahoma City, was at the game Monday night along with Josh, who signed autographs during timeouts but otherwise blended in with the crowd.

Warrick, a former professional basketball player in Australia, is very much a proud parent, getting the same thrill watching Hannah play at SNU as he does Josh with the Thunder.

“Any time your kids are there, no matter what level, what sport — if they’re playing tiddlywinks I’ll be on the front row,” Warrick Giddey said.

Of the seven players in SNU’s rotation Monday, there were three Australians — two from Melbourne and one from Perth — and three Oklahomans, from Putnam City (Lauryn Reither), Piedmont (Jillian Crawford) and Shattuck (Jena Bay).

“We don’t worry about zip codes,” May said. “Or the equator.”

Southern Nazarene even has a player from Tokyo, freshman guard Umi Otsuka.

May coached an Australian player at his previous stop at Grand Canyon, and that connection started a chain reaction. Whereas some coaches might send an email to an international recruit, May went to Australia multiple times.

By looking abroad, May has found DI caliber players who might have been missed by bigger schools.

The SNU/Aussie connection didn’t start with Hannah Giddey. She only added to an existing trend.

“She’s coachable, she works hard, she’s a great teammate,” May said. “When times are hard, you still have the heartbeats in the locker room, and that’s what Hannah brings day in and day out. I’m so thankful for her and what she’s brought to the table.”

More: 'Dream scenario': How Hannah and Josh Giddey both ended up in Oklahoma

Trent May’s path home

Trent May, having just finished his sixth season at Southern Nazarene, had prior experience jumping a level in competition.

Before returning to SNU, where he went to school and was once an assistant, May spent 10 seasons (2007-17) as head coach at Grand Canyon University. In the middle of his tenure, Grand Canyon joined the Division I ranks. The Grand Canyon women won 21 games in their first DI season, but the school parted ways with May a few years later.

Then came an opportunity to go home.

“I would’ve never thought I’d be back here in a million years,” May said, “but when the opportunity came it’s just one of those things, ‘If I want to keep coaching college basketball, this would be a great place to do it.’

“We just keep stepping in the right direction, but I’ve had great people in front of me who have led the way at this place to show me how women’s basketball can be won. It was NAIA, but it was great basketball … To be able to do it now at the Division II level, it hasn’t been easy, but it’s been worthwhile.”

With the latest accomplishment being a 30-win season and a Sweet 16 appearance in a  year of firsts for SNU women’s basketball at the Division II level.

“A historical run,” May said, “but I will forever tell of the people we did it with.”

Joe Mussatto is a sports columnist for The Oklahoman. Have a story idea for Joe? Email him at jmussatto@oklahoman.com. Support Joe's work and that of other Oklahoman journalists by purchasing a digital subscription today at subscribe.oklahoman.com.

This article originally appeared on Oklahoman: Southern Nazarene women's basketball 'historical run' ends in Sweet 16