Westfield, Mass.— After winning the MASCAC Regular Season and Tournament crowns last season, Bridgewater State has been selected by the coaches from around the conference to repeat as MASCAC Women’s Basketball Champions during the 2025-26 season.

The Bears took home seven first place votes for the top spot. They were 9-1 during the MASCAC slate. Tournament MVP Hailey Burchardt is back after averaging 6.4 points, 3.8 rebounds while shooting 77.2 percent from the free throw line with 43 assists and 25 steals. 
 

Framingham State is next in second with the final first place votes. The Rams were 6-4 last season in conference play. Faith Greene returns after she was a double-double machine for the Rams, averaging 13 points and 10.9 rebounds per game. She also had 23 blocks, 27 steals and 11 assists on the year to earn MASCAC Rookie of the Year honors.

Coming in third is Westfield State. For the Owls, they were 6-4 in league action in 2024-25 and bring back 2023-24 MASCAC Defensive Player of the Year Tavi Williams. She was a key part of the Owls defense as she collected 101 defensive rebounds, 57 steals and five blocks while adding 56 assists, 44 offensive rebounds and 97 points. 

Landing in fourth is Salem State. The Vikings were also 6-4 last season in MASCAC competition. Ernidia Goncalves is back after earning MASCAC Co-Defensive Player of the Year. She led the league in rebounding for the second straight year at 13.9, good for third in the nation and once again paced the MASCAC with a league-leading blocks (44). Goncalves was sixth in the league in scoring at 14.4 points per game and finished the season ranked fourth in the NCAA with 19 double-doubles.

Worcester State sits in fifth place in this year’ poll. Hannah Lomonaco averaged 9.4 points, 5.4 rebounds and 4.4 assists per game while shooting 69.3 perfect from the charity stripe. She also collected 110 assists, 30 steals and five blocks. 

Anna Maria joins the MASCAC women’s basketball teams for the first time this season. During the 2024-25 season, Kiara Gauthier averaged 10.3 points and 3.3 rebounds while shooting 80 percent from the free throw line with 20 steals and 13 assists. 

 

Closing out the preseason poll are Fitchburg State and MCLA in seventh and eighth, respectively. For the Falcons, Kaelynn Tanner averaged nine points and 4.3 rebounds per contest with 24 assists, 24 steals and four blocks. For the Trailblazers, Hailey Peabody returns to the hardwood and look to new head coach Russell Beauchamp to lead them this season.  

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

 

 

 

1. Bridgewater State (7) - 49 points

2. Framingham State (1) - 43 points

3. Westfield State - 33 points

4. Salem State - 30 points

5. Worcester State - 27 points

6. Anna Maria - 21 points

7. Fitchburg State - 14 points   

8. MCLA - 7 points