Coming off of a very successful 2010-2011 season during which they won 22 games and lost just six, Colby women’s basketball enters this season with high hopes. The Mules look to return to the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) tournament for the third consecutive year and appear poised to do so; d3hoops.com and the ESPN/USA Today national Division III polls featured Colby at 16th and 20th, respectively. Many key players are returning to the Mules’ powerhouse, including four seniors—Rachael Mack ’13, Kelly Potvin ’12, Aarika Ritchie ’12 and Jil Vaughan ’12. Leading the charge is new head coach Julie Veilleux, who replaces Christine Clancy after stints at Bowdoin College and the Naval Academy. Clancy coached Colby last season in an interim capacity and did not return this year.

Veilleux has gotten off to a very promising start at the helm for the Mules. To open the year, Colby won the Brandeis Tournament held in Waltham, Mass. on Nov. 19 and 20. Saturday’s game brought a resounding victory against Clark University, 79-57. Vaughan recorded her first of likely many double-doubles with 16 points and 16 rebounds. Mack put up 20 points and nine rebounds to contribute to a dominant effort on the boards by Colby. The Mules’ dominance continued through the week, as the Mules racked up victories over Brandeis and the University of Maine at Farmington.

On Nov. 28, Colby blew out Thomas College, 87-26. The Mules led the game 46-3 at halftime behind sophomore Jen Nale’s career-high 15 points. Mack finished with 21 points.

Colby’s New England Small College Athletic Conference (NESCAC) opener is this Saturday at 2 p.m. against the Bowdoin College Polar Bears, who are ranked 14th and 11th in the same two national polls. Amherst College, another NESCAC rival, figures to be stiff competition for the Mules; the Lord Jeffs are a national force, perched atop both polls.