Finishing her second full season as the women’s head basketball coach, Kelly Mahlum and her team finished with an overall record of 9-16. In Dixie Conference games, The Pride was 6-6. Though the team finished with one fewer win overall than the year before, The Pride garnered one victory better than the 1999-00 club.

At the beginning of the season, The Pride put an experienced group of players in its starting five. GC’s bench lacked experience, since freshmen and sophomores complemented the veterans in the starting lineup.

There were very positive signs during the 2000-01 season. In a two-week span, The Pride won five of six games and had a four game winning streak. During this period, Greensboro posted two wins over Peace College, and victories over conference foes Averett, NC Wesleyan and Shenandoah. 
 
At the DIAC Tournament, Greensboro lost to NC Wesleyan, 55-42. Despite beating the Bishops earlier in the year, 50-32, The Pride shooting touch went cold at game’s end.
 Finishing their GC collegiate careers were guard Lindsay Merkl, forwards Tricia Ziegler, Jen Lea and Karin Johnson.  Merkl led the team in minutes played (32.6/game) and steals (2/game). 

Ziegler, a two-sport athlete (she also played  volleyball for The Pride), was selected to three first-team All-Dixie Conference teams during her tenure at GC. She finished the season averaging 8.7 points-per-game while hauling in an average of six rebounds for The Pride. Last year’s Fred Joseph Award winner closed four years with 1,056 points—placing her fourth all-time.

Lea finished her tenure at GC averaging almost nine points a game (8.8). Johnson, the leading scorer this season will also be missed. She averaged ten points a contest for The Pride while averaging almost five rebounds a game.  

 “This group of young ladies will always be special to me,” said Mahlum. “I started my college coaching career at Greensboro College with these four individuals. We’ve lived and learned together, both on and off the court. “

Probably the brightest spot for the team this season came from the constant progress from junior guard Whittney Clendenin. The Greensboro native was second to Johnson in points (9.4/game) as well as shooting a conference-leading 47% from the three-point arc. 
 

WHITTNEY CLENDENIN:  Led DIAC in treys.

Tineta McMillan continued her improvement this season. The forward averaged 7.7 points per game and was the team’s leading rebounder (6.8/game). McMillan was an honorable mention DIAC selection. 

Heading into next season, The Pride looks to rising seniors Clendenin and McMillan for leadership. Stephanie Philip, a sophomore who improved dramatically this season—and six freshman—are expected to return. In her third year as The Pride’s Head Coach, Mahlum expects Greensboro to contend for a Dixie Conference Championship with continued improved play.

“Tineta and Whittney will be the key components for our team next year,” Mahlum said. “But our rising sophomores will really  need to step up if we’re to improve on this year’s marks.”