November 17, 2009

Hartford, Conn. - The Trinity College Bantam women's basketball team will open the 2009-10 season against the Norwich University Cadets in the opening round of the Golden Bear Classic at Western New England University on Saturday, November 21 at 7 p.m.  Trinity is excited to start the 2009-10 campaign after posting its best season in nine years last winter with a 17-8 record and the program's first-ever trip to the NESCAC Final Four.  The Bantams, coached by Wendy Davis (5th Season), won at Bates, 76-71, last season for their first post-season victory since 1999-00 and also defeated NCAA Tournament teams Babson and Western Connecticut.  Nine seasoned veterans return, along with another excellent crop of freshman prospects eager to continue Trinity's climb up the ladder in the always-grueling New England Small College Athletic Conference.

Senior tri-captain guard and 2008-09 All-NESCAC selection Claire Arnstein (Hicksville, N.Y.) returns for her third seasons as a starter in the Bantam backcourt.  Equally capable at either position, Arnstein will handle the point this winter, after averaging 12.1 ppg and 3.3 apg a year ago.  Senior Tess Donie (Worcester, Mass.), junior Kristen Fahey (Cumberland, R.I.) and sophomores Kaitlin Ciarleglio (Waterbury, Conn.) and Michelle Royals (Torrington, Conn.) give the Bantams an incredibly deep group of wings in Trinity's three-guard lineup, while Ciarleglio can also fill in at the point.  Royals averaged 11.6 ppg as a rookie, while Ciarleglio started the first 14 games of her first season before suffering a season-ending injury.  Donie has been solid at both ends throughout her career, and Fahey has improved drastically over two seasons and in the off-season.  All five returning guards can shoot the ball effectively and with range, as can first-years Carly Napier (Pittsford, N.Y.) and Brittney Huffman (West Hartford, Conn.). 

Senior tri-captain C/F Christine Card (Waterbury, Conn.) is a four-year starter down low and has consistently provided offense, rebounding, and solid defense since her first game as a Bantam.  She averaged 9.6 ppg, 7.5 rpg, and 1.2 bpg in 2008-09.  Fellow senior tri-captain Jessica Sims (Peabody, Mass.), who returns from an injury suffered late last season, is an aggressive rebounder and defensive presence, despite her lack of size at 5-foot-7, while juniors Rebecca Cohn (San Francisco, Calif.) and Molly McGlynn (Sleepy Hollow, N.Y.) are also veterans underneath.  Freshman forward Heather Lyhne (Wethersfield, Conn.) should be a factor immediately as a forward, while sophomore Sarah Ciarleglio (Waterbury, Conn.) can provide depth at both forward and guard.