Women's Basketball Program Overview

Colby Women's Basketball, one of the oldest varsity programs for women at Colby, competes in the highly competitive New England Small College Athletic Conference (NESCAC). Since its inception in 1968, the team has developed a rich tradition of success over its history. The Mules have won four ECAC Championships (1984, 1985, 1991, 2001) and qualified for the NCAA Division III Tournament in the 2009-10 and 2010-11 seasons — advancing to the second round both times. Colby hosted a first and second round NCAA regional in the 2009-10 season.

Since 2019, the Mules have been led by Head Coach Chenel Harris-Smith who has qualified the team for the NESCAC Playoffs in three of the last four seasons on top of playing in the conference championship game last year. In program history the team has totaled five All-Americans including two time All-American Kaye Cross '83 (1981 and 1982). Colby Women's Basketball has also tallied 20 All-Conference awards including All-American Sarah Walsh the 2003 NESCAC Player of the Year and Kate Olenik the 2024 NESCAC Rookie of the Year.

The Margaret M. Crook Center is home to the Colby Men's and Women's Basketball programs. Featuring the Whitmore-Mitchell Court for varsity competition as well as a separate recreation court, the Center houses six retractable basketball nets in total, two courtside scoreboards and a Nevco 4-sided, center-hung scoreboard. Overlooking the Whitmore-Mitchell Court, the inviting and multidimensional Hancock Room serves as a meeting space for teams to review film, hold study hall and host game-day events.

Updated as of July 21st, 2025