Anitielu sisters lead Navajo core as Highlands Cowgirls open new season

By Lee Begaye
Special to the Times

ESPANOLA, N.M.

For the New Mexico Highlands Cowgirls, this season is about more than basketball — it’s about belonging, growth, and the transition from high school heroes to collegiate competitors.

The 2025–26 Highlands squad features six Navajo players — Kapiolani and Kamalani Anitielu (Farmington), Jaelyn Bates (Volcano Vista), Aniya Johnson (Navajo Prep), Hailey Long (Gallup), and Brooke Badonie (Tohatchi) — each carrying a legacy of state championships, community pride, and the drive to represent their homes on the NCAA Division II stage.

Sophomore Kapiolani “Sugar” Anitielu set the tone with 18 points through three quarters, followed by former UNM Lobo Jaelyn Bates, who came off the bench to score 14 points in her Highlands debut. Redshirt sophomore Kamalani “Sweetie” Anitielu and senior Hailey Long each added nine points, while Aniya Johnson chipped in five, powering an offensive surge that mirrored the style of play many of these players grew up with — pressure defense, quick passes, and transition scoring.

Head coach Lindsay Fearing, now in her second season, watched with quiet pride as her team ran the floor with the confidence of a group that had found its rhythm early.

“We knew we were facing a zone defense today, so we went smaller with more guards,” Fearing said after the game. “If Sweetie, Sugar, and Aniya keep doing the right things in practice and games, you’ll see them start more often this season.”

Fearing’s first year at Highlands produced a 13–13 record and the Cowgirls’ first RMAC playoff appearance since 2005 — a milestone nearly two decades in the making.

A former coach at Central Wyoming College and Gillette College, Fearing has brought a player-centered approach to Las Vegas that resonates deeply with Native athletes.

“I like my Native players and their game,” she said. “I don’t think Native kids get recruited enough, and that’s something I want to change. I want to recruit New Mexico players and give them the chance to showcase their talent. They’ve been doing great — why not recruit them?”

“Defensively, this is what they do,” she added. “They want to press, they want to run, they want to jump passing lanes. I’m a players’ coach — I tailor the game to what they do best.”

For Bates, who won back-to-back 5A state titles with Volcano Vista in 2021 and 2022, coming to Highlands meant rediscovering her passion for the game after time away.

“I started out at UNM and decided to take some time off to reevaluate my path,” Bates said. “Coach Eric [Benedict] and coach Fearing gave me another opportunity to play again. Division II feels more personal — the coaches are involved, and they make sure we’re doing well in school and in life.”

“The competition at this level is tougher because everyone here was the best player from their high school,” she added. “That’s what makes it fun — we’re all pushing each other to be better.”

Long, who helped Gallup win the 2021 4A state title, said coming home for her senior year was about family and closure.

“It’s my last year, and I wanted to play in front of my family again,” Long said. “The last three years they couldn’t see me play, so this means a lot. Every school I played for — Wyoming (and) California — helped me grow but finishing here feels right.”

Johnson, a two-time champion with Navajo Prep, averaged 7.5 points and 5.0 rebounds last season and returns ready to expand her role.

“Playing at this level is more aggressive,” Johnson said. “Everybody’s about the same height and strength now, so you really have to fight for position. At Prep we had a huge fanbase that felt like family. Here it’s different, but it’s still a strong community.”

Redshirt sophomore Kamalani Anitielu, who played five varsity seasons for Farmington before playing a season in Wyoming then transferring to Highlands and redshirting last year, said the transition has been smooth thanks to the connection among Navajo teammates.

“It’s been great,” she said. “Playing with other Navajos makes our support system stronger. I transferred here because of the coaches and the community — it just felt right.”

Sophomore Kapiolani Anitielu, last year’s leading scorer at 16.9 points and 5.5 rebounds per game and now a Preseason All-RMAC selection, said leadership comes naturally when you’ve grown up competing at a high level.

“The transition from high school to college came naturally,” she said. “I worked hard to keep the same level of play. It’s more physical here, but I trust myself. My goal this year is to lead — on the floor and in the locker room.”

Badonie, a Tohatchi standout, learned patience after helping the Lady Cougars to a 2023 3A state championship and runner-up finishes in 2020 and 2024 before redshirting her first year at Highlands.

“The competition here is tougher,” said Badonie, a redshirt sophomore. “Everyone’s stronger and faster. It took time to adjust, but I’ve been working hard to get ready to play this season. I want to be physical, play my role, and do whatever the coaches need.”

From the veterans to the newcomers, each player carries lessons for the young athletes watching from home — the next group dreaming of playing college basketball.

“Don’t give up on yourself,” Bates said. “Take care of your body and your grades, and when it gets tough, remember why you started playing.”

“Every place teaches you something,” added Long. “Be open to learning and never lose your confidence. It’s okay to start over — just keep playing.”

“Stay focused and don’t listen to outside noise,” Johnson said. “Love the game. Work hard even when no one’s watching.”

“Stay consistent and keep your head up,” said Kamalani Anitielu. “It’s not easy, but if you love the game, it’s worth it.”

Kapiolani Anitielu echoed that determination. “You have to get in the gym yourself and trust your work,” she said. “No one’s going to hand you anything. Trust in God’s plan and keep grinding.”

And Badonie offered a patient reminder: “Don’t rush it. Trust the process and put in the work. Every year is a chance to get better.”

Fearing said this group of Navajo athletes represents what Highlands basketball is becoming — a program rooted in opportunity, culture, and community.

“We’re building something bigger than basketball,” she said. “When Native players see others like them competing at this level, it gives them belief that they can do it too. That’s what makes this special.”

As the Cowgirls prepare to open the regular season, their mix of veteran leadership and homegrown Diné talent gives the program a heartbeat beyond the scoreboard — one that echoes through the gym and back to the communities that raised them, inspiring the next wave of players to follow.

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