With a new head coach, a large number of returnees with playing experience, and a recruiting class of one, the 2003-04 Mary Washington College women's basketball team used a unique blend of experience with a fresh start, and evolved into one of the top programs in the Capital Athletic Conference. As the season wore on, the Eagles, who won eight of their final twelve games, emerged into a team to be concerned with, as evidenced by their eight-point victory at home over twelfth-ranked Maryrnount University in February.
After a bumpy start in which the Eagles had to adapt to a new defensive and offensive philosophy, Coach Applebury got her first collegiate victory against the Newport News Apprentice School, with a convincing 67-51 victory on December 16. Three days later, an impressive victory at NJAC power Richard Stockton College set the tone for an exciting second semester, one in which the Eagles would win eight conference games.
The intense style of play introduced by Coach Applebury began to take hold as the new year came. A pair of close decisions at the Lebanon Valley College New Year's tournament were a portent of things to come, as the Eagles nearly pulled a pair of upsets over regionally ranked opponents in Lebanon Valley and Lycoming College.
The Eagles then won two of three, including a home win over Villa Julie College and a road CAC win at St. Mary's College, 71-61. After a close nonconference loss at Washington & Lee University, the Eagles won three straight CAC games, over Gallaudet University (68-45), Salisbury University (64-57), and Goucher College (66-57). The win over Salisbury was the first by the Eagles over the Sea Gulls in five meetings.
After dropping a CAC road game at York, the Eagles won three more contests consecutively, over Roanoke Bible College (73-33), twelfth-ranked Maryrnount (59-51), and St. Mary's College (70-43). Coach Applebury's troops closed out the season with wins over Gallaudet, 66-35, and an overtime thriller at Salisbury, 66-63.
The Eagles' lone freshman, forward Debbie Bruen, was the Eagles' top threat, both offensively and on the boards, pacing Mary Washington with 12.2 points and eight rebounds per game. For her efforts, she was named as the Capital Athletic Conference's Rookie of the Year, marking the first time a UMW player has achieved that honor in the sport since the league began honoring the top rookie seven years ago.
Joining Bruen as a force in the paint was rising junior center Lindsey Forbush. After starting her career as a forward, Forbush moved inside last season, and made the most of the switch, scoring 11.2 points and adding eight rebounds per game, which tied Bruen for the team lead. Rising junior Jenn Olinger (10.2 points per game) and rising senior Laura Hanks (10.0 PPG) also averaged double figures, giving the Eagles a nice balance offensively. Rising junior Diane Frantz started all but one game, dishing out a team-high 96 assists while running the point guard slot for Coach Applebury.
In addition to the return of all five starters, the Eagles should also benefit from a veteran group off the bench in 2004-05, as Laura Vigliotti and Amanda Burnham head a cast that saw significant playing time last winter. Coupled with the exciting group of newcomers that includes Sarah Flanagan (West Springfield High School), Amanda Bates (Forest Park HS), and Jackie DeLoach (Oakton), the Eagles added talent and depth could make the 2004-05 campaign one of the best in the program's long and storied history, which includes two NCAA Division III Tournament appearances in the past decade.