2024-25 NAC Women's Basketball Preseason Poll Released

11/5/2024 4:30:29 PM

WATERVILLE, Maine – The 2024-25 North Atlantic Conference (NAC) Women’s Basketball Preseason Polls have been released. SUNY Cobleskill and Maine Maritime Academy are unanimous choices to top the West and East Divisions, respectively, according to a vote of conference head coaches.

In the West Division, SUNY Cobleskill claimed all five first-place votes and 25 points overall to secure the top spot while VTSU Lyndon is ranked second (17 pts), VTSU Johnson is third (14 pts), SUNY Delhi sits in fourth (11 pts), and Lesley University rounds out the poll with eight points.

Maine Maritime, the reigning NAC Champion, is heavily favored to return to postseason glory with 25 points and all five first-place votes in the East. Husson University – which leads the current NAC membership with seven NAC women’s basketball titles - received 20 points and sits in second while Thomas College (14 pts), UMaine-Farmington (9 pts), and UMaine-Presque Isle (7 pts) complete the five-team East Division preseason rankings.

The 2025 NAC Tournament field will feature eight teams, with four from each division qualifying for postseason play. The top seeds in each division will host the quarterfinal and semifinal rounds on Fri-Sat, February 21-22, with the winning team from each bracket advancing to the NAC Championship, which will be hosted by the West Division winner on Saturday, March 1st.

The NAC Women’s Basketball Champion earns the conference’s automatic qualifier into the NCAA DIII National Tournament, which begins on Friday, March 7th.

NAC WOMEN'S BASKETBALL PRESEASON POLLS:

RANK	WOMEN'S BASKETBALL EAST	PTS (1ST)	RANK	WOMEN'S BASKETBALL WEST	PTS (1ST)
1	Maine Maritime Academy	25 (5)	1	SUNY Cobleskill	25 (5)
2	Husson University	20	2	VTSU Lyndon	17
3	Thomas College	14	3	VTSU Johnson	14
4	UMaine-Farmington	9	4	SUNY Delhi	11
5	UMaine-Presque Isle	7	5	Lesley University	8

WEST DIVISION:

SUNY Cobleskill
2023-24 Record: 25-2 (12-0 NAC, 1st in West Division)
Head Coach: Megan Bowman (6th Season, 68-37)
NAC Championships: None (2024 Runner-up)
# Starters Returning / Lost: 5 / 0
# Returning Players: 16
Top Returners: Logan Thayne / 16.0 PPG / 10.3 RPG / NAC Player of the Year, 2nd Team All-Region, 1st Team All-Conference / NAC blocks leader; Cara Walker / 12.7 PPG / 8.4 RPG /1st Team All-Conference / NAC assists leader; Antonia May / 10.6 PPG / 3rd Team All-Conference; Taylor Meacham / 8.4 PPG; Kyra Pence / Started as a rookie; Annie Canales / 2nd Team All-Conference as a freshman
Top Newcomers: Adrianna Rojas, Laci Prignon, Olivia Schiraldi
2024-25 Opener: at Hartwick College, Fri. November 8th, 6:00 PM
2024-25 NAC West Division Opener: vs. SUNY Delhi, Tue. December 3rd, 5:30 PM

VTSU Lyndon
2023-24 Record: 11-14 (4-10 NAC, 6th in NAC East Division)
Head Coach: Brennen Morton (2nd Season, 11-14)
NAC Championships: None
# Starters Returning / Lost: 3 / 2
# Returning Players: 8
Top Returners: Guard Kerigan Disorda (Benson, Vt.) / 3.0 PPG / 4.0 RPG / 4.0 APG; Guard Sage Smith (Colebrook, N.H.) / 16.0 PPG / 5.0 RPG / 2.0 APG / 2x Third Team All-NAC; Guard Kadienne Whitcomb (Lyndon, Vt.) / 8.0 PPG / 3.0 RPG / 1.0 APG / Center Kiara Mack (Milton, Vt.) / 4.0 PPG / 4.0 RPG
Top Newcomers: Junior guard Ella Huntington (Taylorsville, Utah / Whatcom); Freshman guard/forward Niyjay Wright (Washington, D.C.)
2024-25 Opener: vs. Colby-Sawyer College, Sat. November 9th, 2:00 PM
2024-25 NAC West Division Opener: at VTSU Johnson, Sat. December 7th, 1:00 PM

VTSU Johnson
2023-24 Record: 2-21 (0-12 NAC, 7th in West Division)
Head Coach: Greg Eckman (14th Season, 84-226)
NAC Championships: None
# Starters Returning / Lost: 1 / 4
# Returning Players: 5
Top Returners: Sophomore guard Faith Meade (Warwick, R.I.) / 7.0 PPG
Top Newcomers: Freshman guard Rikiya Awayle (Burlington, Vt.); Freshman point guard Kamryn Devero (Philadelphia, Pa.)
2024-25 Opener: vs. Colby-Sawyer College, Sun. November 10th, 2:00 PM
2024-25 NAC West Division Opener: vs. VTSU Lyndon, Sat. December 7th, 1:00 PM

SUNY Delhi
2023-24 Record: 1-10 (0-0 NAC, Cancelled Season)
Head Coach: Rasul Jackson (2nd Season, 1-10; 4th Season, 10-52 Overall)
NAC Championships: None
# Starters Returning / Lost: 1 / 4
# Returning Players: 2
Top Returners: Senior guard Jennifer Jimenez (Bronx, N.Y.)
Top Newcomers: Freshman guard Alani Brock (Cibolo, Texas); freshman guard Alexandra Reuss (Cape Coral, Fla.); Sophomore forward Samantha Miller (Queens, N.Y.); Junior guard Shakera Fullenwilder (Phenix City, Ala.)
2024-25 Opener: vs. VTSU Randolph, Fri. November 8th, 7:00 PM
2024-25 NAC West Division Opener: at SUNY Cobleskill, Tue. December 3rd, 5:30 PM

Lesley University
2023-24 Record: 0-23 (0-14 NAC, 7th in East Division)
Head Coach: Martin Rather (2nd Season, 0-23)
NAC Championships: None
# Starters Returning / Lost: 2 / 3
# Returning Players: 2
Top Returners: Senior forward Hillary Berry (Walpole, N.H.) / 4.4 PPG / 3.8 RPG; Sophomore guard Savannah Gravitt (Richmond Hill, Ga.) / 7.8 PPG / 3.1 RPG
Top Newcomers: Senior guard Ahidali DeHuelbes (Eastern Nazarene); Junior guard Leila Chisholm (Santa Barbara CC); Junior forward Bella Terry (San Diego Mesa CC); Freshman guard Mariana Richwine (Estrella Foothills HS, AZ)
2024-25 Opener: at SUNY Purchase, Fri. November 8th, 5:00 PM
2024-25 NAC West Division Opener: at SUNY Delhi, Fri. December 6th, 5:30 PM

EAST DIVISION:

Maine Maritime Academy
2023-24 Record: 23-4 (13-0 NAC, 1st in East Division, NAC Champions)
Head Coach: Craig Dagan (24th Season, 395-199)
NAC Championships: (3) 2005, 2023, 2024
# Starters Returning / Lost: 4 / 1
# Returning Players: 12
Top Returners: Senior guard/forward Erianna Moore (Fitchburg, Mass.) / 13.0 PPG / 6.9 RPG / 111 assists / 1st Team All-Conference; Junior guard Evelyn Dagan (Castine, Maine) / 9.5 PPG / 1.9 RPG / 61 3FGM; Senior forward Sydney Briscoe (Englewood, N.J.) / 8.0 PPG / 6.9 RPG; Senior guard Makenzie Monzon (Orlando, Fla.) / 5.9 PPG / 3.9 RPG / 93 assists
Top Newcomers: Freshman guard Addison Forry (Laramie, Wyo.); Freshman forward Rylee Smith (Miles City, Mont.)
2024-25 Opener: at Wheaton College, Sat. November 9th, 5:00 PM
2024-25 NAC East Division Opener: at Husson University, Wed. December 4th, 5:30 PM

Husson University
2023-24 Record: 17-10 (11-3 NAC, 2nd in East Division)
Head Coach: Kissy Walker
NAC Championships: (7) 2010, 2011, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019, 2020
# Starters Returning / Lost: 3 / 2
# Returning Players: 10
Top Returners: Senior guard Sophia McVicar (Calais, Maine) / 6.9 PPG / 3.7 RPG; Senior guard Hannah Richards (Old Town, Maine) / 6.7 PPG / 3.3 RPG; Graduate guard Makaelyn Porter (Smyrna Mills, Maine) / 5.6 PPG / 1.6 RPG; Graduate guard Trinity Montigny (Ellsworth, Maine) / 3.7 PPG / 3.5 RPG
2024-25 Opener: vs. George Fox University (Waltham, Mass.), Sat. November 9th, 7:00 PM
2024-25 NAC East Division Opener: vs. Maine Maritime, Wed. December 4th, 5:30 PM

Thomas College
2023-24 Record: 9-16 (6-8 NAC, 4th in East Division)
Head Coach: Jason Coleman (3rd Season, 13-37)
NAC Championships: None
# Starters Returning / Lost: 4 / 1
# Returning Players: 10
Top Returners: Forward Sky Kubwalo (Indianapolis, Ind.) / 8.5 PPG / 6.5 RPG; Guard Elena Alderman (Mount Desert Island, Maine) / 6.2 PPG / 3.0 RPG / 25 steals; Guard Hannah Coolen (Unity, Maine) / 7.3 PPG / 40% 3FG%; Guard Bri Benecke (Oakland, Maine) / Led team in steals and assists
Top Newcomers: Seven incoming freshmen
2024-25 Opener: vs. Saint Joseph’s College, Sat. November 9th, 7:00 PM
2024-25 NAC East Division Opener: vs. UMaine-Farmington, Wed. December 4th, 5:30 PM

UMaine-Farmington
2023-24 Record: 7-17 (4-9 NAC, 5th in East Division)
Head Coach: Nate Carson (4th Season, 19-48)
NAC Championships: None (2x NAC Runner-up)
# Starters Returning / Lost: 3 / 2
# Returning Players: 6
Top Returners: Sophomore forward Jess Dow (Saco, Maine) / 13.9 PPG / 5.9 RPG / 4x NAC Rookie of the Week, MWBCA All-Rookie Team, NAC 3rd Team; Junior forward Sarah Poli (Benton, Maine) / 8.8 PPG / 10.0 RPG / 1x NAC Player of the Week
Top Newcomers: Freshman guard Makayla Emerson (Bradley, Maine); Freshman guard Jaydn Pingree (Jay, Maine); Freshman forward Jazmine Pingree (Jay, Maine)
2024-25 Opener: at Plymouth State, Sat. November 9th, 1:00 PM
2024-25 NAC East Division Opener: at Thomas College, Wed. December 4th, 5:30 PM

UMaine-Presque Isle
2023-24 Record: 14-12 (8-7 NAC, 3rd in East Division)
Head Coach: Mark Knight (1st Season)
NAC Championships: None
# Starters Returning / Lost: 3 / 2
# Returning Players: 5
Top Returners: Grad forward Alexis Ireland (Howland, Maine) / 15.5 PPG / 12.0 RPG / 1,000 point scorer / 3x All-Conference; Junior guard Olivia Gray (Southwest Harbor, Maine) / 8.1 PPG / 3.9 RPG
Top Newcomers: Senior guard Anaira Ayala (Guaynabo, P.R. / Eastern Nazarene)
2024-25 Opener: at University of Southern Maine, Fri. November 8th, 5:00 PM
2024-25 NAC East Division Opener: at Husson University, Fri. December 13th, 5:30 PM