The Mary Washington women's basketball program began a new era in 2001-02, with new head coach Becky Timmins taking the reigns of a program that was very successful through the 1990's, including two trips to the NCAA Division III National Tournament. The Eagles, who play in the Capital Athletic Conference, one of the top Division III conferences in the nation, fielded a very young team last winter, as MWC lost seven letter winners to graduation in 2001. Leading the group of underclassmen was sophomore center Adrienne Barnes, who led the team in scoring (9.4 PPG) and rebounding (7.0 RPG). Junior Caitlin Wilkinson, who graduated in May but is returning·to begin her graduate studies at MWC, netted 9.1 points per contest and hauled in six rebounds per game,

 

Injuries to several players curtailed the young Eagles' season, including season-ending knee injuries to Wilkinson, freshman Laura Hanks (6.8 PPG, 5.5 RPG), and sophomore Tricia Piccinino (2.2 PPG, 2.2 RPG). Sophomore guard Katie Anderson started every game, averaging 6.4 PPG and 2.1 assists per game, and freshmen Dottie Propst (4.9 PPG, 4.1 RPG) and Kristin Sorrell (5.6 PPG, team high 49 steals) provided depth in both starting roles and coming off the bench. Sophomore Kelly Kinahan also contributed in a starting role at the two guard.

 

If the Eagles are to return to the upper echilon of the CAC, which has seen five different schools advance to the NCAA Tournament in the past five years, including two schools in each of the past two years, they must rely on one of the better recruiting classes in recent history at the school. Among the newcomers expected to make an impact are guards Jennifer Olinger (Liberty High School), Lindsey Forbush (Fairfax High School), and point guard Diane Frantz (Fairfax High School),

 

Others who will look to contribute in a major way include forwards Meghan Marchica and Stephanie Boyer, guard Kristen Studer, and post player Amanda Burnham.