The women's basketball program at Mary Washington College has long been one of the most successful among the school's 23-sport contingent, and that looks to continue with the hiring of new head coach Becky Timmins for the 2001-02 season. Timmins will guide a very young squad that gained experience a year ago behind a very deep, talented senior class which graduated six members in May.

 

Gone is All-America forward Erin Caulfield, one of the best players in school history, as well as guards Bernice Kenney and Sarah Seale, forward Helen Huley, and centers Jill Hollenbeck and Jessica Bergner. Also gone is head coach Connie Gallahan, who won 306 games in 24 seasons with the Eagles.

 

But optimism runs high for the program with the hiring of Timmins, who directed the Princeton offense last year, and has a solid pedigree of playing imd coaching at institutions with high academic standards such as MWC.  Heading the group of returnees for 2001-2002 is rising senior forward Caitlin Wilkinson, who has been a solid contributor for the Eagles in each of the past two seasons. Although injuries slowed her somewhat last year, Wilkinson was a 79% free throw shooter, and pulled in 2.7 rebounds per game: Her leadership as well as her play on the floor will be counted on heavily this winter.

 

Also returning for their sophomore season is a group of talented players who will need to continue to develop in 2002. Guard Mary Nash started 17 games for the Eagles a year ago as a freshman, and netted 3.4 points and 1.4 assists per game. Backcourt mate Katie Anderson improved steadily throughout her freshman campaign, averaging 1.9 assists in 24 games played. Forward Adrienne Barnes will be looked upon as the Eagles' top returning theat inside, as she showed her fine potential with 14 second half points and seven rebounds in the Eagles' regular season finale victory at Gallaudet University.

 

 

Other potential .returnees for Coach Timmins include guard Kelly Kinahan (21 garries played, 2.1 PPG), forward Sarah McCarthy (2.8 PPG, 2.0 RPG, 23 GP), and guard Louise Winstead (12 games played).