Westfield, Mass.— Framingham State has been selected by the seven coaches from around the conference to win their third straight MASCAC Women’s Basketball Champion during the 2022-23 season.

The Rams took home six of the seven first place votes for 34 points. They were a perfect 12-0 to claim the regular season title and went on to win the MASCAC Tournament. Flannery O’Connor returns after earning MASCAC Player of the Year. She closed out the 2021-22 year averaging a double-double of 18.9 points and 11.2 rebounds, both in the top three of the league. She also led the league with 44 blocks while adding 38 steals, 34 assists and a 53.3 shooting percentage.

Bridgewater State is second with 31 points and a first place vote. The Bears finished out the regular season at 10-2 in the MASCAC. All-Conference honoree Sydney Bradbury is back for her senior season after averaging 12.2 points, 4.9 rebounds, 2.9 assists and 1.3 steals while shooting 41.6% (122-293) from the floor, 35.9% (52-68) from behind the arc and 76.5% (52-68) at the free throw line.

Sitting in third is Westfield State with 25 points. The Owls were 8-4 during league play in 2021-22. Jordan Grant averaged 14.9 points and 6.4 rebounds per game in her first season with the Owls. She led the team in both field goal percentage and offensive rebounds per game, shooting 54.3% on the season, and grabbed 3.8 offensive rebounds. 

Up next in fourth is Worcester State with 24 points. The Lancers had a 6-6 record during the conference schedule. Elizabeth Gallella earned All-Conference accolades last season after she averaged 9.7 points and 5.1 rebounds per game with 88 assists and 43.9 shooting percentage for the Lancers.

Coming in fifth with 15 points is Salem State. The Vikings finished with four MASCAC wins in 2021-22 and returning for them is Liz Zaiter who ranked fourth and fifth respectively in the MASCAC with a 15.8 points and a 10.1 rebounds per game average. She led the league with 102 offensive rebounds and finished sixth in the league in blocks with 18.

Closing out the preseason poll are Fitchburg State and MCLA in sixth and seventh, respectively. For the Falcons, Rylie Harlow averaged scored 198 points with 102 rebounds, 62 assists, 24 steals and five blocks last season. For the Trailblazers, Brooke DiGennaro is back after averaging 15.5 points and 3.6 rebounds a game along with 52 steals and 25 assists.

The MASCAC women’s basketball teams return to the hardwood over the next few weeks with their opening non-conference contests then after the new year, the MASCAC schedule will begin. Follow all the games at mascac.com

 

(First Place Votes In Parentheses)

1. Framingham State (6) - 36 points

2. Bridgewater State (1) - 31 points

3. Westfield State (1) - 25 points

4. Worcester State - 22 points

5. Salem State - 15 points

6. Fitchburg State - 11 points

7. MCLA - 7 points