PITMAN—After advancing to the second round of the 2015 NCAA Tournament en route to a 22-7 record overall, Stockton University has been selected as the favorite to win the 2015-16 New Jersey Athletic Conference Women’s Basketball Championship in a preseason poll of the league’s 10 head coaches. The Ospreys will be seeking their third NJAC title in program history and their first since 2004-05.
Stockton was selected to finish first on 6-of-the-10 ballots cast by the league coaches. The 2014-15 Ospreys finished 16-2 in conference play while advancing to the championship game of the NJAC Tournament. After receiving an at-large selection to the 2015 NCAA Tournament, Stockton produced a first round win over McDaniel before eventually falling in the NCAA second round to Salisbury. The Ospreys return one all-conference performer from their 2014-15 NCAA Tournament team, the reigning NJAC Defensive Player of the Year, sophomore forward Sasha Williams. In addition, Stockton will add the 2014-15 NJAC Rookie of the Year in sophomore transfer center Najha Treadwell. Now in his 24th season as head coach, Joe Fussner has guided the Ospreys to an overall record of 353-257 during his tenure in Galloway.
Montclair State University, which captured its third consecutive NJAC championship in 2014-15, was selected to place second and received three first-place votes. The 2014-15 Red Hawks became just the fourth NJAC women’s basketball team to advance to the NCAA Division III Final Four with NCAA Tournament wins over Regis, Stevenson, Bowdoin and Salisbury. After falling to national runner-up George Fox in the Division III semifinals, the Red Hawks secured a third-place national finish with a victory over Tufts. Led by the 2014-15 NJAC Coach of the Year in Karin Harvey, MSU has produced a record of 174-56 during her tenure, while Harvey’s career collegiate coaching record stands at 187-70.
The College of New Jersey, which placed fourth in the NJAC with a 10-8 league record en route to a 16-11 mark overall in 2014-15, was selected to finish third. Now in her 23rd year at the helm of the TCNJ program, Dawn Henderson has guided the Lions to an overall mark of 412-179, while Henderson’s career collegiate coaching record stands at 458-229. TCNJ returns one all-conference player from its 2014-15 squad in senior guard Angelica Esposito.
Rowan University, which placed third in the 2014-15 conference standings with a 12-6 NJAC mark en route to a 17-9 record overall, was selected to place fourth and received one first-place vote. Sixteenth-year head coach Gabby Lisella has guided the Profs to 188 victories during her tenure in Glassboro, giving her 267 career wins on the collegiate level. Rowan returns a pair of all-conference players from its 2014-15 squad, including junior guard Anyssa Sanchez and senior center Kate Matthews.
The coaches’ dark horse selection, William Paterson University was selected to place fifth. Now in her 23rd season as the leader of her alma mater’s program, head coach Erin Monahan has guided the Pioneers to an overall record of 428-174, including a mark of 14-12 in 2014-15. William Paterson returns one all-conference performer from the 2014-15 season in senior guard Brittany Harden.
Kean University, led by fourth-year head coach Mandy King, was selected to place sixth. King has guided the Cougars to 35 victories during her tenure in Union, giving her 158 collegiate coaching wins. The 2014-15 Cougars finished 12-13 overall.
Rutgers University-Newark, which advanced the championship game of the 2014-15 ECAC Metro Tournament, was selected to place seventh. The 2015-16 Scarlet Raiders will be led by new first-year head coach Ashley Cieplicki. Cieplicki inherits a squad which finished 15-14 overall during the 2014-15 season while advancing the semifinals of the NJAC Tournament.
Rutgers University-Camden, which posted a 9-16 overall record in 2014-15 under second-year head coach Annette Reiter, was selected to place eighth. Reiter has guided the Scarlet Raptors to 14 wins, giving her 20 career collegiate coaching victories. Rutgers-Camden returns one all-conference player from its 2014-15 squad in senior guard Kamari Talley.
Ramapo College, under the leadership of eighth-year head coach Mike Eineker, was selected to place ninth. Eineker has guided Ramapo to 84 wins during his tenure in Mahwah, giving him 171 collegiate victories for his career. The 2014-15 Roadrunners finished 4-21 overall.
New Jersey City University, which will be led by new first-year head coach Robyn Burton, was selected to place 10th. Burton inherits a Gothic Knights squad which finished 10-15 overall in 2014-15.
The 34th season of NJAC women’s basketball will tip-off on Friday, November 13 with three league teams in non-conference action. Conference play will begin just eight days later when Montclair State hosts TCNJ in the first league contest of the year on Saturday, November 21.
The top six finishers in the conference standings will participate in the 2015-16 NJAC Championship Tournament. First round tournament games will take place on Saturday, February 20, with the sixth-seeded team hosting the third-seeded team, and the fourth-seeded team hosting the fifth-seeded team. The top two seeds will each receive a first round bye.
The NJAC Tournament Semifinals will be hosted by the top two seeds on Tuesday, February 23. The two semifinal winners will advance to the 2015-16 NJAC Championship Game on Friday, February 26, to be contested at the site of the highest remaining seed.
The NJAC Tournament Champion receives the conference’s automatic qualification to the NCAA Division III National Championship Tournament.
2015-16 NJAC Women's Basketball
Preseason Coaches’ Poll
1. Stockton (6)
2. Montclair State (3)
3. The College of New Jersey
4. Rowan (1)
5. William Paterson (dark horse)
6. Kean
7. Rutgers-Newark
8. Rutgers-Camden
9. Ramapo
10. New Jersey City
First Place Votes In Parentheses