Women’s Basketball Tabbed 6th in MASCAC Pre-Season Poll

Westfield, Mass.— The Fitchburg State University women's basketball team has been tabbed for 6^th place in the Massachusetts State College Athletic Conference pre-season coaches poll, while the Westfield State Owls have been selected by the seven coaches around the league to win the 2016-17 MASCAC Women's Basketball Championship.

Earning four of the seven first place votes for 34 points, Westfield State finished last season first in the league during the MASCAC regular season with an 11-1 record. Returning for the Owls is reigning MASCAC Player of the Year Jill Valley. Last season, she led in total points (478), steals (101), three-point percentage (42.3) and free throw percentage (85.4) while leading the team to the MASCAC Tournament title.

Landing the final three first place votes with 33 points is Framingham State. The Rams were 10-2 last season during MASCAC competition. The duo of Alycia Rackliffe and Raegan Mulherin are back the team. Both were named to the MASCAC First Team All-Conference squad last season. Rackliffe led the league in total rebounds (301), rebounds per game (11.6), defensive rebounds (217) and blocks (92) while Mulherin was first in points per game (18.3) and third in steals (76).

Sitting in the third spot with 30 points is Bridgewater State. Last season the Bears had a 9-3 record during conference play. During the 2015-16, Chanelle Melton, Second Team All-Conference honoree, was fourth in field goal percentage (50), fifth in the MASCAC in points per game (13.4) and total points (349) while also registering 19 blocks, 44 steals and 60.8 free throw percentage.

Worcester State is up next in fourth with 17 points. The Lancers tallied four wins during the 2015-16 MASCAC campaign. The reigning MASCAC Rookie of the Year Britt Herring is back for the team after finishing the regular season third in the league in field goal percentage (54.1) and blocks (59), fourth in rebounds per game (9.0), offensive (87) and defensive rebounds (147) and sixth in points per game (13.3).

Grabbing the fifth spot is MCLA. The Trailblazers finished with four victories during league action last season. Returning for MCLA is Kayla Hotaling, a Second Team All-Conference honoree last season. She finished with the second most rebounds per game (10.3), defensive rebounds (173) and total rebounds (277) with the fourth most blocks (48) and eighth best free throw (61.5) and field goal percentage (43.6).

Rounding out the preseason poll are Fitchburg State and Salem State in sixth and seventh with 11 and 10 points, respectively. For the Falcons, Shabeli Villa is back after scoring 175 points last season with 25 assists, 19 steals and 71 total rebounds. The Vikings netted four wins last season. Returning for the team is Kaitlyn Bryan who earned All-Conference honors and tallied 14.2 points per game, a 73.7 free throw percentage and 370 total points which were the fourth best in the league. She also had 52 steals and 42 assists during the regular season.

The women's basketball schedule starts next week as the schools face off in their non-conference contests.

The Massachusetts State Collegiate Athletic Conference, the nation's oldest Division III men's and women's playing conference, has a rich and storied tradition of competitive success while celebrating excellence in the classroom. MASCAC member schools include Bridgewater State University, Fitchburg State University, Framingham State University, MCLA, Massachusetts Maritime Academy, Salem State University, Westfield State University and Worcester State University. Two other institutions, the University of Massachusetts Dartmouth and Plymouth State University, are affiliate members of the conference in the sports of football and men's ice hockey, while Western Connecticut State University joined the conference as an affiliate member in football beginning in 2013.

2016-17 MASCAC Women's Basketball Pre-Season Coaches Poll

(First Place Votes In Parentheses)

1. Westfield State (4)              34 points

2. Framingham State (3)        33 points

3. Bridgewater State               30 points

4. Worcester State                  17 points

5. MCLA                                  12 points

6. Fitchburg State                   11 points

7. Salem State                        10 points