Westfield State Picked To Win 2014-15 MASCAC Women’s Basketball Championship
The Westfield State Owls have been picked to win the 2014-15 Massachusetts State Collegiate Athletic Conference Women’s Basketball Championship as voted on by coaches from around the conference.
Westfield, Mass.— The Westfield State Owls have been picked to win the 2014-15 Massachusetts State Collegiate Athletic Conference Women’s Basketball Championship as voted on by coaches from around the conference.
The Owls collected four first place votes for 32 points to take the top spot in the poll. All-Conference honoree Jen Ashton returns for the squad after averaging 12.9 points, 5.5 assists and 3.5 steals while teammate Forbasaw Nkamebo tallied 10 points and 8.9 rebounds per game.Framingham State is next in second with one first place vote for 29 points.
Alycia Rackliffe, the reigning 2014-15 MASCAC Rookie of the Year is back for the Rams after a freshman campaign that saw her average 13.4 points per game, 9.9 rebounds and 2.7 blocks.
Last year’s regular season and tournament champions Bridgewater State are in the third spot with a first place vote and 28 points. The Bears look to rebound from the loss of Jenna Williamson after averaging 15.1 points and 3.5 steals for the team in the 2013-14 campaign.
Earning the last first place vote for 20 points is Worcester State in fourth place. The Lancers bring back Julie Frankian that averaged 11.8 points, 6.7 rebounds and 2.4 assists last season.
Slated to finish fifth is Salem State with 17 points. The Vikings bring back reigning 2013-14 MASCAC Player of the Year Rachael Carter who led the conference in points per game with 21.6, second in the conference in rebounds per game with 8.3 and fourth in field goal percentage at 44.4 percent.
Rounding out the preseason poll are Fitchburg State and MCLA in sixth and seventh with 14 and seven points, respectively. Although the Falcons lost senior Amy Fahey to graduation, Laura Cote returns for the team after averaging 13 points, three steals and 2.2 assists. For the Trailblazers, Kayla Hotaling is back after a freshman season that saw her with 10.5 points per contests, 8.9 rebounds and 2.5 blocks.
Bridgewater State, Framingham State, MCLA and Worcester State jump-start their season this weekend with non-conference contests.
2014-15 MASCAC Women's Basketball Pre-Season Coaches Poll
(First Place Votes In Parentheses)
| 1. | Westfield State | (4) | 32 points |
| 2. | Framingham State | (1) |
29 points |
| 3. | Bridgewater State | (1) | 28 points |
| 4. | Worcester State | (1) | 21 points |
| 5. | Salem State | 14 points | |
| 6. | Fitchburg State | 13 points | |
| 7. | MCLA |
7 points | |