Traditionally one of the rop programs among Mary Washington College's 23-sport contingent, the women's basketball team had yet another successful season in 1999-2000. The team's thirteen victories included two over CAC Champion Salisbury State University, and wins over rop national programs such as Emmanuel College, Chrisropher Newport University, and Gallaudet University. With four returning starters from the previous season and no seniors on the roster, the Eagles were a young yet experienced sq uad that proved ro be one of the top teams in the Capital Athletic Conference, one of the most balanced and talented in the nation.
Leading the way for MWC was junior Kodak All-America choice Erin Caulfield, who overcame a torn ACL in her sophomore season to return to the elite among NCAA Division III players. Caulfield started every game, leading the team in scoring (16.4 PPG), steals, three-point field goal percentage, and free-throw shooting (CAC-best 77.9%). She was named first team All-CAC and first team All-State by the Richmond Times-Dispatch, and scored her 1,0000th career point against Villa Julie College on February 10, becoming the fastest MWC player to ever reach that milestone.
Another impact player for MWC was junior center Helen Huley, who finished second on the team in scoring (10.3 PPG), and ranked among the CAC leaders in rebounding (8.5 RPG) and field-goal percentage (51.2%). She posted a team-high of 24 points at Virginia Wesleyan College, and led the Eagles in rebounds on twelve occasions, including a season-best fourteen at Frostburg. Junior guard Bernice Kenney netted 9.3 points per game, and led with 4.1 assists per contest. She also was second on the team in steals, with 54, and posred season highs of 16 points (vs. Frostburg) and eleven rebounds (vs. Gallaudet). Senior forward Sarah Seale (7.6 points, 3.8 rebounds per game) and senior guard Dee Harrington (8.4 PPG, team-high 38 3-pt. baskets) rounded out the starring five for Coach Gallahan, who enters the 2000-2001 season jus seven wins shy of the 300 mark for her career.
The Eagles will also welcome back several key reserves, who will again contend for extensive playing time, along with this year's recruiting class. Senior cenrer Jill Hollenbeck led rhe team in blocked shors a year ago, and sophomore Caitlin Wilkinson added a scoring punch off the bench, scoring 90 points while playing in every game as a freshman a year ago.
Other guards returning for fall workouts include sophomores Melanie McComas, Amber Byer, and Kristin Menz, junior Erin Printy, and senior Caroline Loh. Junior Anne Bryce will also return at forward, and senior Jessica Bergner will look for added minutes after overcoming several nagging injuries that limited her minutes a year ago.