By Rich Winter

605 Sports

WORTHINGTON, MN — A year ago, former Todd County basketball player Wiconi Uses Arrow was going to the Minnesota West women’s basketball practice to watch her friend Audrey Drapeau practice.

Uses Arrow’s attendance at the practices drew the attention of women’s basketball coach Rosalie Hayenga-Hostikka and athletic director Bob Purcell. 

"The coach asked me if I had ever played high school basketball and I told her that I played at Todd County High School,” Uses Arrow said. “One day they told me to bring my shoes and lace up in practice.”

Drapeau’s road to Minnesota West happened after a decorated career playing for Crow Creek alongside her twin sister Rozee. The pair had been a fixture in the Chieftains lineup since middle-school and when Minnesota West coach Hayenga-Hostikka reached out to Audrey asking her to join the Minnesota West team in the fall of 2022, Drapeau gladly accepted. 

“The coach called and asked me to play,” Drapeau said. “We got along really well and so it felt like the school was a ‘Meant to be a choice for me.’ ” 

Rozee was initially considering going into the Air Force and when Audrey moved to Worthington, Minnesota for her freshman year, it was the first significant time she had spent away from her twin.

“It was very difficult to be separated from her,” Drapeau said. 

Neither Uses Arrow or Drapeau got significant playing time last year, in part because Minnesota West was having a dream season. The Lady Jays ended their 2022-2023 basketball season by placing second in the Division III NJCAA National Tournament. Overall the team finished 30-5.

While the team was going on their championship run Drapeau and Uses Arrow played on occasion but soaked up everything they were seeing from the bench. 

Wiconi Uses Arrow averaged over six points per game for the Minnesota West women's basketball team - Courtesy photo

“I was able to see some of the different roles and I feel like I learned to see the game differently,” Drapeau said. “If I saw something on the court I would mention it to my coach because that’s what she wanted us to do. Going to the national tournament was really awesome because not many people make it there and it felt like I was really just meant to be there.”

Drapeau missed the two games prior to the national championship game with a broken nose but did get a few minutes in the final game against Rochester.

Uses Arrow is also a member of the Army National Guard and has to fulfill that commitment one weekend per month. Last summer Uses Arrow spent 10 weeks away from her family, the game of basketball and her now friend and teammate. 

Entering Saturday’s game against Bethany Lutheran Minnesota West was 5-2 after being ranked No. 2 in the NJCAA D3 preseason rankings.  

Uses Arrow has grown into a steady and consistent player in her sophomore campaign averaging 6.1 points per game while pulling down 3.4 rebounds per game. She is also shooting 48.7 percent from the field while dropping 41.7 percent of her 3-pointers.

“When I was at Todd County I was definitely more of a role player that would help get people open,” she said. “This year I feel like I have way more confidence to score and shoot the ball when I’m open. The coaches are telling me to shoot the ball more and that gives me a lot of reassurance.”

Drapeau’s shooting percentages aren’t as good as Uses Arrow’s but she is averaging 8.3 points per game, 5.6 rebounds per game and has one of the leading assist totals in her division averaging 6.9 assists per game. 

During their very busy school and basketball careers Uses Arrow and Drapeau may have found the most unique gift of all. Each other

“Me and Wiconi are actually engaged,” Drapeau said. “Having that love for each other actually helps us through some of the difficult times.”

off the court Uses Arrow and Drapeau are involved in a romantic relationship that they say helps them through difficult moments during college - Courtesy photo

Drapeau said knowing each other on that level helps if either of them is having a bad day or a bad practice. 

“If something bothers us or the other girls are getting on our nerves we remind each other of where we come from,” Uses Arrow said. “We tell each other what our people’s strengths are and that within us lies that strength we actually want.” 

Drapeau said her relationship with Uses Arrow and the coaching staff letting her play more has helped. 

“I feel like this year the coaches let me play more and that allows me to play free and find myself,” she said. “In high school I always had my sister and bounced off her energy. I keep telling her that I’m finding that voice within me. I tell my mom I found my little self again and mom tells me yeah I know.”