PITMAN, NJ --- The College of New Jersey, coming off of a regular season title, was predicted to win the conference title again this year on a preseason vote of the league’s head coaches.
The Lions picked up five first place votes. Montclair State was picked second and earned three first place votes. Kean earned two first place votes and is predicted third in the conference standings. Rowan was predicted fourth, Rutgers-Newark fifth, and William Paterson sixth. Stockton (this year’s dark horse selection), Ramapo, Rutgers-Camden, and NJCU round out the rest of the predictions.
NJAC women’s basketball looks to be strong this year overall, with 12 of the 18 all-conference honorees from last year back including reigning Defensive Player of the Year Shannon Devitt (TCNJ) and Rookie of the Year Shannon McCoy (Kean).
The Lions return their two leading scorers and rebounders from last year’s 17-9 squad, including Devitt (14.2 ppg, 12.7 rpg) and fellow All-Conference First Team pick Jen Byrne (14.2 ppg, 7.7 rpg). Junior guards Elle Cimilluca and Jane Beiermeister return and sophomore Rachel Gazzola returns with a year under her belt. Head Coach Chessie Jackson, entering her third season, is excited for her deep lineup this year and has scheduled tough nonconference opponents to prepare her group.
The Red Hawks, who had one six consecutive conference titles prior to last year, look to be back in the mix this season. Last year’s young group, which finished third in the conference standings, brings another year of experience into this season. Four starters return, including all-conference honorees Alex McKinnon and Kim Calloway. McKinnon led last year’s squad with 12.7 points and Calloway chipped in 9.2. Head Coach Karin Harvey enters her 13
th season with the Red Hawks, compiling a 276-94 record in that time.
Kean, which finished sixth last year but ran all the way to the NJAC title game, looks to propel that late-season success into this year. The Cougars picked up two first-place votes, as they return top-two scorers McCoy and Payce Lange. McCoy was on fire against NJAC competition last year en route to earning Rookie of the Year honors, averaging a team-high 16.5 points per game. Lange, an all-conference pick last year, netted 14.1. Leading rebounder Cindy Foresta (6.7 rpg) is back for her senior year. Head Coach Mandy King is entering her eighth season in Union.
Rowan, under the tutelage of first-year head coach Demetrius Poles, fields a young squad this year. He will look to sophomore trio Grace Marshall, Kennedy Brown, and Ayanna Johnson, along with returning junior all-conference honoree Alexis Kriley. Kriley is the leading returning scorer (10.5 ppg) and Johnson led all conference players last year with 2.1 blocked shots per game.
Rutgers-Newark is picked fifth this year after its Cinderella run to the NJAC Championship title. Although the Scarlet Raiders lose the services of graduated senior and NJAC Player of the Year Faith Ashby, fifth-year head coach Ashley Cieplicki returns a handful of starters. Hannah Ashby is back for her senior season, and is this year’s leading returning scorer (10.8 ppg). Two-sport athlete Comfort Akinbo, a standout on the volleyball team as well, turns her attention to the basketball court. Akinbo ranked second in the NJAC in blocked shots last year (1.9 bpg) and chipped in 7.4 points.
William Paterson looks to get back into the conference tournament after a seventh place finish last year. Head Coach Erin Monahan is excited for this year’s leadership, including fifth-year senior Alisa Giordano (9.8 ppg) who ranked fifth in the NJAC in assists last season (2.9 apg). She also looks to juniors Brianna Brooks and Vianca Soriano to step up on the court and lead a talented group of newcomers. Among the newcomers is junior transfer Jykayla Elting, a guard who played at Manhattanville, along with four true freshmen.
Stockton, this year’s dark horse selection, has six returning players and a large class of new recruits as head coach Devin Jefferson heads into her second season in Galloway. Among the leading returners is point guard Emily Donzanti, who led the NJAC in assists (5.2 apg) as a rookie last season and led Stockton with 12.0 points per game. Raquel Harris-Scott (6.1 ppg, 5.3 rpg) and Lajerah Wright (6.3 ppg, 4.6 rpg) also look to move the Ospreys up in the standings. Jefferson welcomes a large group of newcomers, including junior transfer Chyna Wooten from Lackawanna College.
Ramapo, under 12
th year head coach Mike Eineker, welcomes back a large senior class. Eineker looks for his veteran squad to vie for a playoff spot. All-Conference Second Team honoree Jenna Harsh and fellow senior Samantha Rinaldi were the top two scorers last year, averaging 12.6 ppg and 10.0 ppg respectively. Cherie Smedile and Stacey Porzi are back for their senior seasons, and junior Alison Wickersheim is expected to step up as well. Eineker welcomes three freshmen to the group this season, including two guards and a forward.
Rutgers-Camden will field a very young team this year, with 11 rookies on the court for the Scarlet Raptors. Seventh-year head coach Annette Reiter will lean on the experienced leadership of senior Fatimah Williams, who is the leading returning scorer in the NJAC this season. Williams ranked second among all NJAC players last year with 17.8 ppg. Reiter will also look to junior Shane Holmes, who ranked fourth in the conference in assists last season (3.1 apg).
NJCU, under the direction of second year head coach Pat Devaney, is excited about the potential in this year’s squad. With a mix of transfers and talented rookies, Devaney’s Gothic Knights hope to make the NJAC tournament for the first time in school history. The Knights return Jasmine Reese after her rookie season was cut short to injury last year. He also expects transfers Hannah Johnson, Alexandria Sams, and Dayjah Anderson to make a splash on the court, along with freshman Janari Newsome. Zyearah Taylor-Gaston and Mya Neal also return to the court with more experience under their belts. Devaney looks to test his group as he put together the toughest strength of schedule in NJCU women’s basketball history.
The 2019-20 women’s basketball season tips off on Friday, Nov. 8, when TCNJ opens against Christopher Newport. Ramapo also tips off this weekend at John Jay, and four more squads open their season on Tuesday, Nov. 12.
2019-20 Preseason Poll (First place votes in parentheses):
- The College of NJ (5)
- Montclair State (3)
- Kean (2)
- Rowan
- Rutgers-Newark
- William Paterson
- Stockton (dark horse)
- Ramapo
- Rutgers-Camden
- New Jersey City