Montreat College's women's basketball team began the 2009-10 season on October 31st with a 43-point win.  A great start, but like other things on Halloween, one game can deceive.

On the night before Thanksgiving, the women won by 22 points to raise their record to 7-2, a fine record for which Head Coach Craig Jackson and his team were certainly thankful.
And now, after a successful two-game swing through Florida over the weekend and as Christmas nears, the Cavaliers enter a long winter's break resting on a 10-3 record, and Jackson must feel as if he's already opened many wonderful Christmas presents.

After all, Montreat has already surpassed last season's win total (when the team finished a dismal 9-22) - with 17 regular season games to go when the team resumes play in January.

On Friday, December 11, Montreat faced Warner University in Lake Wales, Florida and played what Jackson called one of his team's "best games from both sides of the ball" in crafting a decisive 69-54 road victory over the Royals.

The Cavs led by only three at halftime but pulled away in the second stanza and led by as many as 18 points.  Tahjma Gabriel led the team in scoring with 18 while Chaecie Bullock and Anjelica Jackson made strong (and similar) contributions: Bullock chipped in with 11 points and 6 assists while Jackson contributed 11 points and 6 rebounds.

Twenty-two hours later, the Cavaliers were in Clearwater, Florida to tackle the Cougars from Clearwater Christian College.  If Jackson harbored concerns about his team's stamina and concentration, playing two games one day apart far from home, then Stephanie Morrison and a host of others allayed his fears as Montreat cruised to a 74-52 win during which they built a 27-point lead.

Morrison scored 16 and Whitney Boone added 15 points.  Gabriel reached double figures again, with 10, while Bullock scored 9.  Suititi Takai scored 8 and led the Cavs with 12 rebounds.

Montreat has amassed a 5-3 record on the road and stands a spotless 5-0 at home.

Jackson said the team is pleased to head into Christmas break with a 10-3 record but wants many more wins starting on January 5 when the Cavs travel to Truett-McConnell College.  Fittingly, perhaps, it was Truett-McConnell who was Montreat's first opponent this season, and Jackson hopes they'll be their first victim of 2010, too.

In other words, after a memorable Halloween, Thanksgiving, and Christmas, he wants a Happy New Year, as well.