Third-year University of New England women's basketball coach Anthony Ewing has reason to be optimistic heading into the 2009-2010 season. The Nor'easters are coming off a 20-win season for the first time in 20 years and return a talented core group. Couple that with a talented recruiting class, and the Nor'easters should have the personnel to challenge for a The Commonwealth Coast Conference championship.

Once again, UNE will feature a balanced lineup. Returning from season-ending injuries are senior co-captains Katie Diggins and Annie Foster. Diggins, a 5'10” forward, led the team in scoring and rebounding as a sophomore. Foster, a 5'8” guard, is a tenacious defender who brings a great deal of energy to the floor.

The Nor'easters also return three players who averaged between nine and 11 points per game a year ago. Sophomore forward Margo Bailey can post-up, as well as shoot the “3”. She accounted for 10.4 points and 5.8 rebounds. Classmate Kelley Paradis (9.7 ppg, 4.6 rpg, 46 steals) is a talented two-way player. Junior guard Carrie Bunnell (9.6 ppg) has the ability to take defenders off the dribble and is a capable perimeter shooter.

Sophomore point guard Kari Pelletier should play a much more significant role this season with the departure of first team all-conference performer Alli Gamache. Pelletier averaged 7.3 points and shot 77.1 percent from the free throw line a year ago. Her on-ball defensive capabilities pester opposing point guards.

Ewing has a quintet of newcomers who should vie for minutes right away. Five-foot-eleven post player Beth Suggs (Bath, Maine/Morse HS) will provide strength inside, while swing player Katie Ziemnik (Oswego, Ill./Oswego HS) is a gifted scorer. Guards Michelle Williams (Eliot, Maine/Marshwood HS) and Liz LeBlanc (Jay, Maine/Jay HS) and 6'0” forward Eden Cianciolo (Fryeburg, Maine/Fryeburg Academy) will provide depth.

The Nor'easters' schedule includes four contests versus teams either ranked or receiving votes in the D3Hoops.com preseason poll (No. 7 Bowdoin, No. 9 Brandeis, No. 13 Southern Maine and Keene State). Ewing expects to improve on last season's 20-8 record and challenge for a TCCC title.

“We have a nice mix veterans and newcomers which will give us considerable depth and allow us to play in transition,” Ewing said. “If we can stay healthy and focused, we should be able to compete at a high level.”