Westfield, Mass.— Reigning MASCAC Regular Season and Tournament Champions Bridgewater State has been selected by the seven coaches from around the conference to win back-to-back MASCAC Women’s Basketball titles during the 2023-24 season.

The Bears took home six of the seven first place votes for 35 points. They were 10-2 to claim the regular season title and went on to win the MASCAC Tournament. 2022-23 MASCAC Player of the Year Kylie Grassi averaged 17.3 points, 2.9 assists and 2.2 steals in 26 games last season while shooting 42.7% (149-349) from the field and 82.5% (127-154) at the free throw line.
 

Framingham State is second with 30 points and the final first place vote. The Rams finished out the regular season at 9-3 in the MASCAC. All-Conference honoree Flannery O’Connor is back for her senior season after she averaged a double-double of 17.8 points per game and 10.3 rebounds. Her average points per game were first while rebounds second at the end of the regular season.

Sitting in third is Westfield State with 27 points. The Owls were also 9-3 during league play in 2022-23. Jordan Grant led the Owls in scoring with 16 points per game, and rebounding with 6.4 per game. She grabbed two steals per game and shot 50.2 percent from the floor while playing in 24 of the Owls 28 games to earn a spot on the All-Conference team.  

Up next in fourth is Worcester State with 19 points. The Lancers had a 6-6 record during the conference schedule. Katie Hurynowicz is back after she averaged 10.2 points and 5.5 rebounds per game last season with 49 assists, 39 steals and 14 blocks.

Coming in fifth with 15 points is Salem State. The Vikings finished with 6-6 in the MASCAC in 2022-23 and returning for them is Liz Zaiter who was the Vikings’ leading scorer (15.8 ppg), which ranked fifth in the league and her (8.6 rpg) placed her in the top-four in the MASCAC. The senior ranked in the top-10 in blocks (23), field goal percentage (44.2) and field goals (142). 

Closing out the preseason poll are Fitchburg State and MCLA in sixth and seventh, respectively. For the Falcons, Rylie Harlow scored 183 points with 117 rebounds, 58 assists, 26 steals and four blocks last season. For the Trailblazers, Zaylee Ramos is back after averaging 12.1 points and 5.9 rebounds a game along with 30 steals and 37 assists while shooting 70.8 from the free throw line.

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. Bridgewater State (6) 36 points

2. Framingham State (1) 30 points

3. Westfield State 27 points

4. Worcester State 19 points

5. Salem State 18 points

6. Fitchburg State 9 points

7. MCLA 8 points