Discussion about Division III women’s basketball in Maine has begun in recent years with Bowdoin College and the University of Southern Maine.
This season, Colby College of Waterville has thrust itself into the conversation.
The Mules have matched the best start in program history (10-1) after Tuesday’s 82-68 nonleague win over New England Small College Conference rival Bates of Lewiston. Colby has equaled the 10-1 start turned in by the Mules’ 1979-80 squad.
Fifth-year coach Lori Gear McBride has Colby meshing as it prepares for Saturday’s NESCAC opener against No. 8 Bowdoin in Brunswick.
“It’s pretty exciting for the kids,” said Gear McBride. “They’ve worked so hard and really this group is so focused and very determined to accomplish some things in the program that either happened a long time ago or really have never happened before. I’m excited because I feel like the program is at a point where we can compete with anyone and we’re having a whole lot of fun doing it.”
The Mules have won six straight since a Dec. 5 nonconference loss (65-56) to Bowdoin.
Among the strengths of this Colby team is its rebounding. It came into the week ranked No. 2 in Division III with a 12.7 rebounding margin.
The Mules also were fifth in scoring margin (20.9), fifth in 3-point field-goal percentage (.414) and 11th in field-goal percentage (.450).
Colby is led by its two seniors, forward Alison Cappelloni and guard Samantha Allen of Bridgton. Cappelloni (13.7 points per game, 6.9 rebounds per game) is shooting 50 percent from the floor, 48 percent from 3-point range and 84 percent from the foul line.
“For her, it’s all coming together and that’s the most rewarding part is to see that for her,” Gear McBride said.
Allen, a guard, has contributed 9.7 points, 4.5 rebounds and 2.5 assists per game while shooting 42 percent from beyond the arc. She is one of four Mainers on the squad.
“At some points, we have one Miss Maine Basketball and three runners-up at the same time,” said Gear McBride.
“We’ve got a lot of kids who have that winning tradition in their blood and expect to win,” she added. “It’s one of the things that when you’re recruiting, you want talent but you want great people and people who know how to win and want to work their tails off to get there.”
The Mules’ other starters include sophomore forward Rachael Mack of Augusta (9.5 ppg, 6.3 rpg, 2.1 blocks per game), junior forward Julianne Kowalski (9.0 ppg, 7.6 rpg) and sophomore point guard Aarika Ritchie of Lee (8.1 ppg, 3.3 rpg, 4.0 apg).
“She’s our rock,” Gear McBride said of Ritchie.
“She’s been so solid for us. She’s given us buckets whenever we’ve needed them. She’s been a floor leader. She’s a quiet player that people don’t realize how valuable she is to our team.”
Other key contributors are sophomore forward Jil Vaughn (8.6 ppg, 5.5 rpg), freshman guard Diana Manduca of Portland (6.2 ppg, 2.8 apg), sophomore forward Kelly Potvin (4.4 ppg), freshman guard Jacky McLaughlin (3.4 ppg) and junior guard Karlyn Adler (3.4 ppg).
Gear McBride knows Colby faces some tough challenges competing in the NESCAC, which includes not only Bowdoin and Bates but rivals Amherst, unbeaten and ranked No. 2 in the country, and Tufts.
“Although we’re playing really well and we’re excited about what we’ve done so far, we haven’t even entered league play yet. So, really, we’ve done nothing,” Gear McBride said.
“The goal for us and for me taking over the program was to be in the same conversation and competing with all those other programs,” she added.
“Obviously, we still have a lot to prove but we are now going into games and people really have to prepare for us. The kids are really enjoying it.”