First-year Head Coach Kelly Mahlum did an outstanding job with the team. Despite losing both returning post players, she led Greensboro to wins over every conference opponent except the DIAC regular season champion: Methodist.  Highlights for The Pride included wins over Dixie Tourney champs Shenandoah as well as breaking Christopher Newport’s nine-game winning streak—a win that knocked  the Captains out of first place. 

At the DIAC Tourney, Greensboro beat Ferrum, 72-59, in the first round. In the semi-finals, The Pride lost to Methodist, 67-54.

Mahlum impressed onlookers with her abilities as a game-day coach and mature administrator of the GC women’s basketball program.

 “Kelly did an outstanding job in her first year,” said Jean Lojko, GC’s assistant athletic director and senior women’s administrator. “She has passion for the game, works well with players, and has the program on the right track.”  Mahlum loses only one player to graduation: guard Heather Macy. Macy tallied a career high of 218 points this season. She ended her four years at GC with 707 points, which places her 11th on the all-time list. Macy  also recorded 207 assists in her four-year career at GC—which places her in the top 10. Macy also set the single-game three-point mark with five treys against Shenandoah earlier this year.

The lion’s share of The Pride lineup, however, is slated to return next year. Leading the way is forward Tricia Ziegler. She picked up her second first team All-Dixie Conference award in the current academic year when she was named to the DIAC basketball squad. Ziegler won the same award for her prowess on the volleyball court.

 The Harrisonburg, VA native averaged 10.7 points and 7.1 rebounds, which led The Pride in both categories. Her determination and will-to-win, however, will be more valuable to GC than any statistics next year—which is her senior season.

 Mahlum will also expect senior leadership from Karin Johnson, Jennifer Lea, and Lindsey Merkl in 2000-2001.

Johnson improved her game as the season progressed. She averaged 11 points in Dixie contests and has a fine shooting touch...with either hand. Lea has the best mid-range jump shot on the squad and excels coming off the bench. She averaged 9.9 points and should improve on those numbers next season. Merkl, the point guard, led GC with 98 assists and averaged 8.1 points. 

Sophomore Whittney Clendenin was second on the team in assists (58) and could move into the starting lineup next season.

Mahlum was extremely pleased with the development of sophomore Tineta McMillan. “If we had a team full of Tinetas, we would win the conference,” the coach said. McMillan, despite being only 5-7,  averaged 6.5 rebounds for GC. Her hustle, defensive abilities and quickness are reasons she will make an even bigger impact in the future.