College basketball teams and coaches are often evaluated by - and lauded for - their ability to reach the 20-win plateau during a season.  In the NCAAs, reaching that mark is often seen as a major hurdle toward receiving an at-large invitation into the March Madness bracket as well as media acclaim as a successful program.

By that measurement, then, the 2009-2010 Montreat College women's basketball team has had a successful year already, though one suspects that Head Coach Craig Jackson and his troops want more than the 20th win that they collected when they smothered Bennett College on Monday night, February 15, by the score of 72-37.

Moving to 20-8 signifies a team that has vastly improved over last season (the Cavaliers were 7-21 after 28 games last year), but with the Appalachian Athletic Conference tournament set for late February, the Cavaliers have plenty of goals remaining and motivation to drive them forward.

Leading Montreat to its sixth win in a row was center/forward Titi Takai, a junior from Honolulu, Hawaii who has emerged as a major force for the Cavaliers.  Jackson praised Takai's effort, saying that her 20 points and 14 rebounds marked the team's "first double-double of the season."

Jackson had been displeased by Montreat's lackluster 58-50 win over the Belles at home the previous week and found his players' improved effort gratifying.  Stephanie Morrison chipped in 8 points and 7 rebounds, and Brittany Boyce played a fine, balanced game with 9 points 6 rebounds, 6 assists, and 4 steals.

At 7-7 in the AAC, Montreat has plenty to play for during their final two games of the regular season.  Wins over UVa-Wise and Virginia Intermont would give them a winning record in regular season league play and position them for an easier first-round tournament game.  Twenty wins is a great accomplishment, but there are more hurdles waiting to be cleared.

The Cavaliers play next when they travel to Union College to face a tough Bulldog team who are 9-5 in the AAC and 18-9 overall.  Tip-off is 5:30 on Wednesday, February 17.