Women’s Notebook – Setting the Stage – A Seasonal Thumbnail
By Stephen Zerdelian
The 2023-’24 season could be one of the most exciting we have witnessed in a while. No pandemics, a goodly amount of returning stars and some potent teams (at least on paper) mean that engrossing narratives exist right from the start.
The defending regional champion, Assumption, lost some key players but retained more than a few dependable options, and has the benefit of knowing how to win a regional. Kerry Phayre’s crew can call upon point guard Amanda Mieczkowski, wing Molly Stokes and forward Marina Callahan as returning starters and support options like 2023 East Regional Most Outstanding Player Teagan Curran to defend their turf. They start the season at #7 in the WBCA poll.
Jefferson has virtually everybody back for another tilt at the regional crown and it feels like a now-or-never season. The Rams have two D2 East Hoops All-Stars back from a year ago, Haley Meinel (the D2 East Hoops Player of the Year) and Morgan Robinson, and also return potent starters Sam Yencha and Cassie Murphy. Tom Shirley’s club should have hosted the regional last year but let it slip away due to a semifinal loss at home in the CACC tournament, and then tossed away a 13-point third period lead in the regional final at Assumption. So, they have unfulfilled goals in a big way.
Back-to-back NCAA trips have labeled Southern New Hampshire as a regional elite outfit but now Karen Pinkos’ team wants to win something (they lost in the NE10 title game a year ago). The Penmen also have two D2 East Hoops All-Stars back in post Jess Knight and explosive guard Adriana Timberlake, so the base is solid. SNHU lost a few major pieces but have good depth and younger players with real growth potential. They will be a factor in the NE10 and regionally.
Two-time defending NE10 champion Bentley will be in the mix, as usual. C White’s crew (18th in the WBCA poll) has the bulk of its roster back, led by D2 East Hoops All-Star forward Maggie Whitmore. Ella Thompson leads a strong backcourt unit while sophomores Ciara Norman and Julie Elie could take big steps forward up front. Nobody ever makes the mistake of sleeping on the Falcons and it is not beyond the realm of possibility that they could put it all together and rule the region for the first time since 2016.
Pace and Adelphi both ended up under .500 a season ago but hopes are high for them this time around. The Setters advanced to the NE10 semifinals last March and return several key parts (look for a breakout seasons from post Tower Lorde and forward Ciara Collins, along with veterans Arianna Stockinger, Kat Mansaray and Shanice Sinclair) while Adelphi boasts veterans Jenna Jordan and Lauren Hammersley to lead the attack. New Haven, AIC and Southern Connecticut all posted winning records last winter and hope to build off it. At UNH, the Chargers will have some rebuilding to do if they hope to keep the pressure on, but pivot Aurora Deshaies and Saint Rose transfer Makela Johnson will be productive. AIC loses D2 East Hoops All-Star Taylor Tomlinson but adds a fellow D2 East Hoops All-Star in the shape of Felician transfer Briana Lee. Meanwhile, SCSU has bobbed around the middle of the pack the last couple of seasons but haven’t had a breakthrough despite fielding a talented roster including forwards Katie Williamson and Ashley Evans and shooter Delaney Haines. Maybe this year?
Among last season’s bottom tier in the NE10, look for Franklin Pierce to rise. The young Ravens sustained substantial injuries last year but if they stay healthy, they have the talent to surprise. Saint Anselm will have to refresh the roster to reverse their recent slide while the College of Saint Rose (under new coach Will Brown) and St. Michael’s are looking to get into the middle of the pack.
The ECC seems to be a two-team battle between 2023 NCAA tournament squads St. Thomas Aquinas and Daemen. The former is led by D2 East Hoops All-Star Sarah Ericson and returns much of the roster from last season, including forward Erin Leary. The latter is in a bit of a transitional phase but has built enough of a culture to make them perennial contenders. The Wildcats should be led this term by Alahna Paige, Claire Pickett and Kaytlyn Matz. Mercy (fronted by D2 East Hoops All-Star Katie Wall) and the University of the District of Columbia (with last season’s top two ECC scorers, Latavia Jackson and Destiny Ryles, back) made up the ECC’s top four last season along with STAC and Daemen, but the distance they need to close to make an impact is substantial. Rising recent newcomers College of Staten Island and D’Youville should continue to climb the ladder while former contenders Molloy, Queens, and Roberts Wesleyan will attempt to improve upon down seasons.
Who is best equipped to challenge Jefferson in the CACC? How about defending CACC champion and NCAA participant Dominican? After a stunning run to the league title, the Chargers gave Assumption a scare in the NCAA’s and opened a few eyes. While there are a few gaps in the roster due to graduation, DU has every chance to be among the CACC’s top teams with the likes of Alexis Saurez returning. Holy Family was firmly in the NCAA discussion late into the season but faltered and came up short despite 20 wins. With D2 East Hoops Rookie of the Year Skyler Searfoss back to lead a solid group, the Tigers might take that next step. Like HFU, Post won 20+ games last season, and the Eagles also reached the CACC title game. They have a new head coach in Courtney Burns now, so it remains to be seen how Post adjusts in their quest to tame the league and hoist the title. In the same harbor, if not the same boat, is Chestnut Hill. The Griffins won 19 games last time out but must also navigate a season with a new head coach, Reggie Daniels. Sleepers in the North Division include Caldwell and Felician with Goldey-Beacom and Georgian Court lurking in the South Division.
The only 2023 NCAA East Regional combatant that won’t be in the mix in 2024 is now-Division I Le Moyne, but the other seven will take some beating as the race to March kicks off. As always, there will be teams that unexpectedly rise and become challengers, and others that dip and disappoint – and we will look at some early season talking points next week. As the season opens and teams start to reveal themselves, it’ll be fun to dissect results across the region.
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That’s it for now - until next time, enjoy the games!