In the middle of the Southwestern University Pirates women's basketball team's penultimate regular season game, senior center Cecily Woolfolk walked towards her bench during a timeout. 

As the team huddled around Head Coach Greta Grothe, awaiting her instructions against a Colorado College Tigers team Southwestern hadn't beaten in over three years, Woolfolk interjected, delivering her own message: 

The Pirates weren't going to lose this game. Not on this night. 

As usual, Woolfolk provided the muscle, leading the Pirates to a 73-65 victory by dominating inside for 27 points and 10 rebounds with two blocks, shooting 9-for-19 from the field and earning 15 free-throw attempts against an overwhelmed Tigers' front court. 

Perhaps a little unusual was that Woolfolk also provided the voice. 

"It took her a while to become the true leader she is," Grothe said. "It used to be when she would have a bad game or foul out, she'd be so upset at herself she wouldn't talk."

On the court, there's never a moment Woolfolk doesn't draw attention. Her father, Keith Woolfolk, had a professional basketball career that spanned Greece and several other European countries. Her grandfather played professional football for the Dallas Texans. At a powerful 6 feet tall with nimble footwork, Woolfolk is a striking physical presence. 

To defend Woolfolk in the post is to spend the next week in the training room recovering from the physical toll of the task. 

"She's just so strong if she wants to do something, she's going to do it," Grothe said. "If she wants to rip the ball out of someone's hands, she's going to rip the ball out of someone's hands." 

Assistant Coach Georgina German, a former NCAA Division I player at Marshall, has first-hand experience defending Woolfolk in practice. 

"When I go against her, I know she's not going to hold back," German said. "I know I have to brace myself."

"It's not fun at all because I get tossed around like a rag doll," Pratts said, talking about their three-year series of one-on-one battles. "I know [her opponents] are in pain. I wouldn't want to guard her." 

As imposing a figure as Woolfolk strikes on a basketball court, verbally she can appear to follow President Theodore Roosevelt's ethos of "speak softly and carry a big stick." 

"The Schreiner coach watched Cecily's interview for the SCAC Media days," Grothe said. "And told me they couldn't believe she's so soft spoken." 

It isn't that Woolfolk hasn't always been some sort of leader on the team. As a sophomore, Woolfolk made quite an impression on Pratts in her first year, inviting her to trips to Walmart, dinners alongside teammates Naomi Brown and Zhazze Brown, and a lot of basketball practice sessions. 

"We're a lot alike in that we don't really like to talk. It's more about actions," Pratts said. "But I've always seen her as a leader, even before she was team captain. She's the type of person who, when I'd slack off, she'd pick it up and say, 'nah, this is how you're supposed to do that.'" 

Woolfolk's work ethic was an obvious example for other players to follow to Grothe, whose three-year tradition of weekly film sessions with her star player is winding down. 

"We've watched film of every game and even practices since we've been here," Grothe said. "She's slowed the game down, her footwork is better, and she's waiting for double teams or, if they're not coming, making better decisions attacking one-on-one." 

This season, the Pirates have needed more from Woolfolk in terms of leadership. Southwestern opened the season seemingly adrift with a number of early season defections and losses taking the wind out of their sails. 

The low point came during a Feb. 7 road loss to Centenary, giving the Ladies their first win of the season. A night later, Southwestern lost to St. Thomas, bringing their losing streak to five to open conference play at 1-6 with a 3-11 overall record. 

"The season was tough at the beginning, there were issues," Grothe said. "Of course, you don't know how to handle it right away when your teammates are quitting on you." 

"It was tough. Being a team captain, you reflect on yourself, wondering what you could be doing better," Woolfolk admitted. "And then about keeping the morale of the team up through all the turnover." 

"It definitely wasn't easy," Pratts said. "At one point, we're losing games, losing players, and we didn't give up but maybe we did get down on ourselves. We were looking for a spark." 

The Pirates found it their next game, returning home to host a nationally-ranked Austin College team when Woolfolk scored seven of her 15 points in a 20-9 Southwestern third quarter that helped propel the Pirates to a 76-73 victory.

Perhaps more important than her production, however, was her reaction after fouling out with only two minutes played in the fourth quarter.

In the past, Woolfolk might retreat within her own frustrations; not a detriment to her teammates but not a saving grace either. Against Austin College, she was one of the loudest voices carrying her teammates on as Zhazze Brown scored 14 points in the fourth quarter to preserve the victory.

"Her leadership kept getting better and better," Grothe said. "She understands how to use her leadership as a positive and not be so upset at herself.

"Several times this year, she stepped in and told her teammates, 'we are not losing.' And in that loss to Centenary where she fouled out, that's when she was the loudest. That's where it changed."

On senior night, Woolfolk was one of the loudest voices when teammate Naomi Brown, given the rare green light to shoot a 3-pointer, nailed her attempt in a 73-54 victory over Johnson & Wales University. 

As each senior exited their final home game one-by-one, the crowd reciprocated Woolfolk's newfound voice with the loudest ovation of the night, celebrating her 1,375 career points, 730 rebounds, and 102 blocks. Woolfolk followed by wrapping her coach in the biggest hug of the night.

"This group of seniors is the longest I've ever had a group of players. We've been through ups and downs together," Grothe said. "I heard an opposing coach say they couldn't wait for Woolfolk to graduate, but I definitely can." 

Grothe has Woolfolk for at least one more game with the Pirates facing Colorado College once again in the first round of the single elimination SCAC Tournament. If Woolfolk has anything to say about it, her collegiate career could extend beyond that. 

Fortunately for the Pirates, their senior captain has been a lot more vocal lately.