Basketball: WNEC at Mount Holyoke

November 16, 2009

THE MATCHUP: Mount Holyoke kicks off its 2009-10 slate versus non-conference foe Western New England College tomorrow evening (7:00) at the Mildred S. Howard Gymnasium. In 26 previous meetings between the programs, the Lyons own a 15-11 advantage. They were downed by the Golden Bears twice last season. After falling 49-41 in the season opener for both squads on November 15, they suffered a 50-31 setback at Western New England on January 5.
Game Program

THE LYONS: Mount Holyoke (0-0, 0-0 NEWMAC) begins the 2009-10 season with high aspirations, as six newcomers join an established core of seven returning letterwinners. Last winter, the Lyons posted an overall record of 7-19 and returned to the NEWMAC Tournament after a one year hiatus. Guard Erin Cain returns after posting team highs of 12.2 points and 6.2 rebounds per game last season. Sixth year head coach Michelle Scecina will look for her senior captain to provide consistent production once again. Cain will be joined in the backcourt by Christine Chancy, who averaged 9.0 points and 6.1 rebounds per outing while dishing out 49 assists as a rookie last year. Forward Jess Olson has returned to the squad after a one year absence. Over her career, she has recorded 9.8 points and 9.2 boards per contest. The double-double machine has racked up 15 for her career. Other returnees include center Kate Shafir, guard Emilie Methot and forwards Joanna McDonough and Tricia Chase. Of the six fresh faces, guard Angelica Pascual and forward Bree Hollinger are expected to make the most immediate impacts.

THE GOLDEN BEARS: Western New England (0-0, 0-0 TCCC) has three starters back from a 2008-09 squad that posted a 12-13 mark. The Golden Bears will once again look for big production from Kailah Al-Darraji, who averaged a team best 12.8 points last season. The guard also piled up a squad high 56 assists, while collecting 5.5 rebounds and 4.4 steals per outing. Sarah Proper returns after a solid rookie year in which she posted a field goal percentage of 46.4% and hauled in 6.0 boards per game, both good for tops on the team. The forward chipped in with 6.1 points per game, as well. Western New England has two experienced frontcourt performers in forward Kelly McCormick, who registered 6.9 points and 5.1 rebounds per outing, and center Caitlin Powers, who averaged 6.2 points and 3.8 rebounds. Guard Loren Stock provides the Golden Bears with experience in the backcourt after recording 4.4 points per game last winter. Other returnees include guards Trish Breault and Kathleen Jasinski. Fifth year head coach Nicole Chaszar has added five first years to her roster.

NEXT UP: Mount Holyoke will return to action on Friday, when it faces off against Bates College in the opening round of the Brandeis University Tip-Off Tournament at 8:00 p.m. Depending on the result of that contest, the Lyons will play against either the host Judges or the Wentworth Institute of Technology Saturday afternoon. The Western New England College Tournament is also slated to take place this weekend. The Golden Bears will meet up with Bay Path College on Saturday at 5:00 p.m. before taking on either Trinity College or Norwich University on Sunday.

Permanent link to this story: http://www.mtholyoke.edu/news/stories/5681772