Ivy League Player of the Year Betsy Gilmore '94, who scored 8.5 points a game last year, will use her last year of eligibility and return to the hardwood next year.
Gilmore did not play basketball during her sophomore year, so she still had one year of eligibility left.
"Betsy will be returning next year," Coach Chris Wielgus said.
Gilmore was the emotional leader of the women's basketball team that finished with a 16-11 record, good for a first-place tie with Brown University.
The team lost a playoff game to Brown that determined which team would represent the Ivy League in the NCAA Women's Basketball Tournament.
Gilmore's return will make the Big Green likely favorites next year. Almost everyone from last year's team is returning -- including Ivy Rookie of the Year Sally Annis '97.
Two year's ago the Big Green finished 8-18. Last year, Coach Chris Wielgus returned after coaching somewhere else, and had the team focus on its defense.
And Gilmore spearheaded that defense, terrorizing Ivy opponents with her tenacity and quick hands.
She led the Ivy League in steals with 4.69 a game, and finished second in the league with 5.07 assists a game.
Wielgus said Gilmore's return has been cleared by the Ivy League and the College. In fact, Wielgus said it was more difficult to convince the College that Gilmore needed to stay than the league.
Wielgus said Gilmore held off in announcing her status because of the unsure status of the education department.
"She's not just coming back for basketball," Wielgus said. "She wouldn't be spending that kind of money to just play basketball. There are a lot of factors involved."
Gilmore also had to clear the move with her parents, Wielgus said.
"The decision to return was made by Betsy and her parents," she said.
They did it at their own pace, which is their prerogative. This decision was academically motivated and I know she had to make sure she could get the courses she wanted," Wielgus added
Wielgus compared Gilmore's return to "a card game when you have all the cards."
"We're delighted to have Betsy back," she said. "She is a joy to coach and a team leader ... She has a year left, a year coming to her."
Gilmore could not be reached for further comment.
