MASCAC Releases Women's Basketball Preseason Poll

FITCHBURG, MA: The Massachusetts State Collegiate Athletic Conference (MASCAC) released the 2023-24 women's basketball preseason poll early this afternoon. Bridgewater State was selected by the coaches to win back-to-back titles.

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 were 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. Erin Gallella earned All-Conference accolades last season after she averaged 11.7 points and 4.6 rebounds per game with 120 assists and 71 steals for the Lancers.

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.

2023-24 MASCAC Women’s Basketball Preseason Coaches Poll

(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

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