Erin Gold '11, McKinley Tennant '11 & Allie Southam '11 Named Captains for 2009-10 Campaign

Juniors Erin Gold '11 (#25, main photo), Allie Southam '11 (#33, photo insert upper right), and McKinley Tennant '11 (#10, photo insert upper left) have been named tri-captains for the highly anticipated 2009-10 Wesleyan women's basketball season.

Gold, a native of New Hope, Pa. and a government major at Wesleyan, was an essential starter last season as a punishing penetrator and physical defender. Southam, a native of Santa Monica, Ca. who is majoring in neuroscience and behavior, missed last season due to injury. After a year of successful rehabilitation, Southam is excited to add her intensity, court vision and leadership to the mix as a junior. Tennant, a native of Swampscott, Mass. and a government and International relations major, assumed the point-guard duties last year and demonstrated her poise and confidence under pressure as Wesleyan's floor leader. Head Coach Kate Mullen expects this junior trio to bring talent, a competitive mindset and love for the game that will provide the foundation for Wesleyan's success in the coming season.

In 2008-09, the Cardinals posted a 12-11 record, the team's ninth straight winning campaign. Wesleyan went 4-5 in NESCAC play, earning the #6 seed and met #3 seed Tufts in the opening round of the NESCAC tournament. Tufts prevailed, 71-57, and went on to receive a bid to the NCAA Division III tournament. Wesleyan had two all-NESCAC players in 2008-09, first-teamer Ali Fourney '09, who led the NESCAC in scoring with an 18.7 PPG figure, and second-teamer Lucy Sprung '08, who was third in scoring at 14.4 PPG.

The 2009-10 campaign got underway Fri., Nov. 20 at the Stevens Tech Tournament in Hoboken, N.J. There Wesleyan faced Babson for the first time in history. The Beavers used a 14-0 run in the first half to turn a 12-12 tie with 12:49 left into a 26-12 advantage with 6:12 to go and never looked back. Wesleyan got no closer than 11 the rest of the way as Babson methodically extended its lead in the second period, eventually winning by a 66-37 count. Eileen Gaffney '12 had the best all-around game for the Cardinals with 11 points, five rebounds, four blocks, an assist and a steal.

Wesleyan will face New Jersey City U., a 71-47 victim of host Stevens Tech, in the consolation game of the tournament Sat., Nov. 21.

(photos of Tennant and Southam courtesy of SteveMcLaughlinPhotography.com)

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