ST. LOUIS, MO. — Before taking the floor for its first official practice, the 2022-23 Saint Louis women's basketball team had the unique opportunity to participate in Toughness with the Marine Corps (TMC).

For five weeks throughout September, the Billikens were out training before sunrise each Friday morning with numerous exercises with members of the marines.

"Toughness with the Marine Corps is a program that continues to elevate teams long after the training is complete," said head coach Rebecca Tillett. "We are grateful to the many Marines who worked with our team every Friday morning. If our women knew the requirements in advance, they likely would not believe they could finish, yet every single week they met the challenge. Our women learned how to rely on each other, be great teammates, and face adverse conditions with mental and physical toughness."

TMC took the Billikens through a program designed to help the team outside its comfort zones. Each session posed different focuses for the team to key into, with an emphasis on trust, communication and toughness.

"Facing my fears and tackling those kinds of challenging obstacles alongside my teammates really brought us all together and showed us that we are much stronger than we think we are," senior center Brooke Flowers said.

Training was completed Friday mornings beginning at 6 a.m., and was held in different elements, including the outdoor practice fields and the pool at Simon Recreation Center on SLU's campus, forcing the Billikens overcome different obstacles as a team.

Week one took place on the turf practice field, in between Hermann Stadium and Billiken Sport Center's baseball field, and posed the question, "What are you willing to do for a teammate?"

The second week of training placed an emphasis on communication. The Billikens learned that good communication starts with listening.

For week three, the team visited the track at SLU Medical Center Stadium on the south campus and took part in a combat fitness test, where the Billikens learned there's always room for more.

"Completing the fitness test revealed that with positive encouragement from my teammates along with determination to complete the task ahead, you can always do more than what you think you are capable of doing," said sophomore guard Kennedy Calhoun.

TMC brought out the boxing gloves in week four for a workout to teach toughness and collective responsibility.

"Completing the boxing workout really challenged me both mentally and physically," senior guard Julia Martinez said. "It helped me realize that I can push past fatigue when I have my teammates there with me by my side and that teamwork is the biggest key to success."

The final session of TMC placed an emphasis on trust at the Simon Recreation Center pool.

"Swimming is not one of my strong suits." graduate guard Camree Clegg said. "Having my teammates and staff support me helped me get through an area where I struggled. As a team, we helped elevate each other's weaknesses while highlighting each other's strengths to help us reach our ultimate goal."

The Billikens ended the five-week program with better understanding on how to support and rely on each other, how to be great teammates and how to handle mental and physical adversity.

"We were pushed to limits as a team and had to overcome," senior guard Kyla McMakin said. "This experience helps teach us that we can get through anything when we stay together."

SLU opened practice on Saturday, Oct. 1, in preparation for the 2022-23 campaign, which begins Monday, Nov. 7, at Indiana State.