Entering her second season as women's basketball coach at the University of Mary Washington in 2004-05, Deena Applebury knew her squad had the potential for an improved record over their 2003-04 mark of 12-13, with the majority of the roster returning. What she did not know was that the nucleus, combined with perhaps the top recruiting class in school history, pushed the program to never-be fore-seen heights, which culminated in the 2005 Capital Athletic Conference championship and advancement to the second round of the NCAA Division III Women's Basketball Championship.
The Eagles began with a bang, winning the Swarthmore College Tipoff Tournament en route to a school-record 8-0 start. In the opening two wins over Plymouth State College and Swarthmore, sophomore sensation Debbie Bruen and freshman Jessica Shifflett took all-tournament team honors. An important 7 I -64 win over regionally-ranked Frostburg State University, who had beaten the Eagles badly a year ago, continued the momentum into a road win at Catholic University (72-65) in the CAC opener.
The Eagles then kicked into overdrive with four straight home wins, over St. Mary's College, Gallaudet University, Newport News Apprentice, and Christopher Newport University. The staggering average margin of victory in these games was 34.25 PPG. After losses in Daytona Beach, Florida, to nationally ranked Wisconsin Eau Claire and eventual NCAA Tournament-bound Maine Maritime, the Eagles dropped their third straight game, at Bridgewater College. That loss seemed to ignite the Eagles, who then won six straight games, including a 62-55 win over eventual NJAC champion Richard Stockton and road CAC wins at Salisbury University and Marymount University.
UMW closed the regular season by winning five of six games, including CAC wins over Salisbury, Goucher, Gallaudet, and York. The lone defeat, a one point loss to Marymount, not only dropped the Eagles into a three-way tie for first place for the CAC regular season title, but stirred the team's emotions and lit a fire that was evident in every game thereafter. The Eagles opened play in the CAC Tournament by hosting York College, and extended a close first half into a 67-54 victory. Having dropped to the third seed due to a tiebreaker and a loss in a coin flip, UMW then had to travel to Catholic University for the CAC semifinals. Having already won at Catholic in the regular season, the Eagles were confident, and that confidence was justified as freshman Liz Hickey made a layup and free throw with eleven seconds to play to give UMW a 54-51 win, and an appearance in the CAC Championship game for the first time since 1997-98. The Eagles later found out that evening that fifth-seeded Salisbury defeated Marymount, so the Eagles would play host to the Sea Gulls in the CAC Championship game. In perhaps the best team effort of the season, UMW clicked on all cylinders, posting an impressive 84-62 win to claim its first ever CAC Championship in the sport of women's
basketball.
After a nine-hour bus ride, the Eagles opened play in the NCAA Tournament at Maryville (Tenn.) University, and came away with a hard-fought 69-66 victory. The most successful season in school history came to an end with an 89-76 loss at fifth-ranked Randolph-Macon College, who would go on to the national championship game, in the second round, matching the furthest advancement in the NCAA Tournament in school history. In addition to school records for victories and winning percentage, several other firsts marked the season. Sophomore Debbie Bruen, who one year ago earned CAC Rookie of the Year, won the CAC Player of the Year award, becoming the second UMW player and second sophomore in league history to win the league's top award. Coach Applebury also garnered CAC Coach of the Year. Bruen finished the season ranked nationally in field goal percentage and free throw percentage, and Liz Hickey completed her freshman campaign in the top five nationally in blocked shots, with a school-record 104. The key to the Eagles' success in 2004-05 was their depth and balance.
Ten different players averaged at least 14 minutes per game, but none averaged more than 27 minutes. Bruen led the team in scoring at 13.6 PPG, but was followed by Jenn Olinger (8.0), Lindsey Forbush (7.8), Liz Hickey (7.7), Amanda Bates (7.4), Lisa Tracy (6.3), and Laura Hanks (5.3), one of two seniors, along with reserve guard Christine Carlisle. As a team, the Eagles ranked nationally in several categories, including field goal percentage defense, rebounding margin, three-point baskets made per game, and winning percentage.