Before there were college arenas, scouting reports and halftime adjustments, there were rec leagues and two sisters separated by just 15 months, chasing the same game.

For Eli and Kayden, basketball was never an individual journey. It was shared, from kindergarten through high school and now, finally, at the collegiate level.

They've rarely been more than a year apart in anything. With only one grade between them and usually on the same team together, when the opportunity came to wear the same jersey at Le Moyne, it didn't feel unusual. It felt right.

"We're just used to playing with each other," they both admit.

That familiarity shows up in subtle ways. A pass thrown before the defender sees it coming. A cut made without needing eye contact. A glance from the sideline that says everything without a word. Years of shared reps create something deeper than teammate chemistry. It creates instinct.

Last season was the first time Eli played without her younger sister beside her. The adjustment was noticeable for her. For someone who had shared nearly every basketball memory with Kayden, the silence felt unfamiliar. This year feels different. With Kayden on the team she feels the comfort and accountability. There's someone who understands not just the game, but the history behind it.

"When you've played with someone that long," Eli says, "you kind of know what they're going to do before they do it." For Kayden, that comfort meant even more as a freshman navigating the transition to college basketball. Being a freshman and stepping into a new program can feel overwhelming. But having a sister across the quad, someone who knows your tendencies, it changes that. "It's just nice to have family here," Kayden says. "Someone I can go to whenever I need something."

When asked to describe each other's game in one word, the contrast is telling.

"Tough," Eli says without hesitation. Kayden wll dive on the floor, attacks and makes contact. She does the things that shift momentum.

In return, Kayden chooses a different word for her older sister. "Calm." When Eli has the ball, the pace slows, decisions are made strategically and the floor feels controlled for Kayden.

Where one brings edge, the other brings steadiness. Together, it balances.

Their sister bond isn't just about basketball. Eli credits Kayden's level-headedness for keeping her grounded. Kayden points to Eli's leadership, not just in basketball, but everyday life. They help to push, critique and support each other. During the tougher stretches of the season, that connection matters even more.

When Eli was sidelined with injury this season, she found ways to lead from the sidelines. Pulling Kayden aside before tipoff, offering feedback during water breaks and reinforcing Kayden's confidence during halftime. When Kayden stepped into new responsibilities, she leaned on that advice.

When it was time to start looking at colleges, both sisters knew they wanted something smaller with a strong community. Close enough to home in New Jersey for family to attend games, but far enough to grow independently. When they stepped on campus, it felt different. "It just felt right," Kayden says. The culture, the people, the sense of belonging, and, of course, the chance to continue something they'd been building since childhood.

Some things haven't changed. Back home, one-on-one games never had a score limit. They ended when someone gave up. Somehow, no matter how long it took, Kayden usually ended up taking the final shot. That's the beauty of their story. Just two sisters who have spent nearly two decades learning each other's rhythm, and now get to share the same stage.

At Le Moyne, they aren't just teammates. They're proof that sometimes the strongest relationship isn't built in a season.

It's built over a lifetime.