Merrimack Set to Open 2010-11 Slate at Bentley

NORTH ANDOVER, Mass.- With nearly a full squad of returners, the Merrimack women’s basketball team will look to kick off the 2010-11 season with the same success that they finished last season with. The Warriors won three of their final five games last year, including taking down then-No. 1 Franklin Pierce. Merrimack also secured its first playoff victory since the 2004-05 campaign with a 77-70 win over Saint Rose.

The Warriors posted a 12-17 overall record last season and a 9-13 mark in the Northeast-10 Conference.

Merrimack was selected to finish tenth in the Northeast-10 Conference in the Preseason Coaches’ Poll. The Warriors sported a 9-13 mark in the conference in 2009-10.

Junior co-captain Gennifer Roy (Granby, Mass.) is Merrimack’s top returning scorer. Roy averaged 14.7 points per game last season while shooting 43.2% from the floor. One of four seniors on the squad, co-captain Sarah Benischek (Shrub Oak, N.Y.) averaged 11.2 points per contest a year ago and dished out 98 assists.

Kelly Schatzlein (Tolland, Conn.) is a key returner in the Warriors frontcourt. The sophomore ranked first on the team with 7.6 rebounds per game and 41 blocks last season.

 The Warriors return nine players from the 2009-10 roster and have added just one rookie for this season.

Head coach Helen Williams is entering her fifth season at the helm of the Warriors. Merrimack has earned double-digits in the win column in two of her four years in North Andover. Under Williams’ tutelage, four players have garnered All-Northeast-10 Conference honors. Roy was tabbed to the all-conference third team last season and Schatzlein earned a spot on the All-Rookie squad.

Merrimack finished twelfth in the Northeast-10 Conference last season, claiming a spot in the postseason tournament. The twelfth-seeded Warriors met fifth-seeded Saint Rose in the first round. Merrimack upset the Golden Knight 77-70 to move on to face Bentley in the Northeast-10 Conference quarterfinals. The Falcons eliminated the Warriors from the playoffs, handing them an 88-77 loss.

Merrimack will look to avenge the season-ending loss to Bentley as the two teams square off in the Warriors’ opening game of the 2010-11 slate November 17.

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