Lady Trailblazers ready to open 2011-12 season tomorrow night at St. Joseph's (CT)

NORTH ADAMS, MA- The MCLA Women's Basketball program continued its ascension towards to the top of the MASCAC standings during the 2010-2011 season.  With key components returning, including D-III News preseason All American, senior Jen Wehner (Cooperstown, NY), the Trailblazers will begin the 2011-2012 campaign with high hopes.

Along with Wehner, MCLA returns eight players from last season in which they finished 17-10 including a second place finish in the MASCAC and a second consecutive postseason berth (ECAC New England tournament).  According to seventh year head coach Holly McGovern, MCLA will look to their three seniors for much more this season:  "We will need strong leadership from Alie (Dobrovolc), Liv (Olivia McMullen), and Jen (Wehner).  They have the pieces of a quality team which could catapult this team into contention in the MASCAC."

Much of the success has to fall on Wehner, who has begun to rewrite the MCLA record books.  She is poised to become the school's all time leader in scoring and rebounding.  She needs just 155 points to pass Pam Barton's total of 1,321 and 73 boards to jump ahead of Amy Strand's 969 rebounds.   Just a year ago, she was named the MASCAC player of the year, ECAC All New England Region, and now a preseason All American.  Wehner collected an astounding 23 double doubles last year in averaging 17.7 ppg and 14.3 rebounds.  She was held to single digits in only one contest in which she didn't start while collecting double digit rebounds in 24 of 27 contests.  Wehner saved her best for last.  Over the final ten games including the playoffs, she averaged 23.1 ppg and 17.1 boards.   

With all the attention going to Wehner, it may appear that MCLA is a one person show.  That is not the case however, as they also return fellow senior and all MASCAC selection Alie Dobrovolc (Little Falls, NY).  Dobrovolc really came into her own last season averaging over 12 ppg.  She adds a nice complement to Wehner as the slasher poses match-up issues with opposing defenses due to her ability to get to the hoop.  Senior Olivia McMullen (Broadalbin, NY) will see increased minutes this season after starting 13 games last year.  McMullen will be counted on for rebounding help and will typically draw a tough defensive assignment.

Also returning this year is junior Lucy Tremblay (E. Greenbush, NY). Tremblay was the MASCAC rookie of the Year as a freshman, but battled an ankle injury last season.  She appeared in 20 games, including 14 starts, yet wasn't herself.  She averaged over 9 ppg and led MCLA with 23 triples.  Coach McGovern is excited to see her back at full strength; "We are looking forward to having Lucy back on the court after a season full of injuries.  Defensively, she has the potential to be one of the best in the league because of her size and quickness, we are glad to have her back."

Other returnees from last season include Johanna Miner (Greenfield, MA), Danielle Scolpino (Bethel, CT), Kaitlyn Chenevert (Uxbridge, MA), and Jessica Dailey (Castleton, NY).  Newcomers looking to make an impact include Alyson Stolz (Oxford, MA), Danielle Beauchamp (Cohoes, NY), and Tashari Rainwater (Webster, MA).

The schedule appears to be challenging as MCLA will face a tough non conference slate including a pair of NESCAC schools (Bates and Williams), perennial power Southern Maine, and Union College.  The MASCAC slate opens up on January 10^th against Salem State University.