PITMAN --- New Jersey City University was tabbed as the preseason favorite to capture the 2023-24 NJAC Women’s Basketball title, based on preseason polling of the league’s 10 head coaches.
A balanced ballot, NJCU picked up four first place votes. Runner-up selection TCNJ garnered three first place votes; third place selection Rowan picked up two first place votes; and Ramapo, selected fourth overall, earned one first place vote.
Montclair State and Kean round out the group expected to be in contention for a spot in the six-team NJAC Tournament later in the season. William Paterson was picked seventh; Stockton was picked eighth and was named this year’s dark horse squad; and the poll is rounded out by Rutgers-Camden and Rutgers-Newark.
The 2023-24 season opens on Wednesday, Nov. 8, with eyes toward the conference tournament that is set for Feb. 17-23, 2024.
2023-24 NJAC Women’s Basketball Preseason Poll
(first place votes in parentheses)
- NJCU (4)
- TCNJ (3)
- Rowan (2)
- Ramapo (1)
- Montclair State
- Kean
- William Paterson
- Stockton (dark horse)
- Rutgers-Camden
- Rutgers-Newark
TEAM PREVIEWS
NJCU
Defending regular season champion NJCU has a ton of depth back for this season, headlined by reigning NJAC Player of the Year and All-American Damaris Rodriguez. Rodriguez, also a Preseason All-American for this year, was the leading scorer in NCAA Division III last year at 24.3 points per game. The three-time all-conference pick also put up 6.4 assists and 2.5 steals while hitting over 83 percent of her free throws. She is joined by Dayjah Anderson, a First Team All-Conference player who returns after a year off. Two seasons ago, Anderson helped lead NJCU to the NCAA Tournament with 13.5 points and 6.9 rebounds per game. 6’2 senior center and top Gothic Knight rebounder Jimmirah Johnson and top shot blocker Liyah Allen look to be a potent force on the boards.
Newcomers to Watch: Alaisha Mumford (PG; Bloomfield College), Tamia Warner (SF; Cairn), Salma Eddahiri (SG; Ramapo), NaTori Postell (SG; Passaic Arts & Charter), Ciara Forbes (PG; Teaneck), Autumn John (Wing; Piscataway), Kenya Wagner (PF; Brookdale Community College)
Head Coach Pat Devaney: “[This is] the deepest team we have ever had in my tenure. [With the] most talented and best defensive team I have ever coached, we expect to have a winning season and end up back in the NJAC playoffs.”
TCNJ
The Lions look to move up in the standings this season. After finishing fourth a year ago, the squad brings back a veteran group including the three top scorers from 2022-23 who all averaged double figures. Three-time all-conference pick Julia Setaro led the Lions in scoring last year with 13.6 points per game and was among the NJAC’s top 10 scorers. She was also the top free throw shooter in the conference at a 90.8 percent clip. She is dangerous defensively as well, leading the Lions last year with 37 steals. All-Conference selection Nina Branchizio averaged 10.6 points last year and chipped in 2.6 rebounds and 2.1 assists. They are joined by Izzy Leazier, who ranked fourth in the NJAC with an 80.4 percent free throw clip en route to 10.2 points per game. Leazier pulled down 5.6 boards and dished 2.7 assists per game. Kaitlyn Dieter also provides strength on the boards, chipping in 5.2 rebounds per game last year.
Newcomers to Watch: Grace Kowalski (PG; Montville), Natalie Kolb (G; Franklin & Marshall College)
Head Coach Chessie Jackson: “With a talented, experienced group of returners and a strong cohort of newcomers, we have high expectations for the 23-24 season. We have a challenging non-conference schedule to prepare us for the always competitive NJAC, and we are excited for the opportunity to play two top 25 teams. Our squad has worked incredibly hard in the off-season, and our experience playing deep into the NJAC playoffs the last six years have prepared us for this moment. It should be an exciting season ahead!”
ROWAN
Rowan is picked third this year, coming off of the NJAC tournament win last season. Kate Pearson takes over the helm of the program after a recent stint at Cabrini, succeeding the late Demetrius Poles. Pearson will have an experienced group for her first season, including three-time all-conference honoree Nicole Mallard. Mallard, Rowan’s top scorer last year at 10.8 points per game, also led the Profs with 56 steals. Kate Herlihy looks to step up offensively. She chipped in 7.0 points per game last year but with Rowan’s number two and three scorers from last year having graduated, will take on a bigger offensive role. She is also dangerous defensively, grabbing 46 steals last year. Eliana Santana is also expected to strongly contribute after chipping in 5.8 points and 3.2 boards last year.
Newcomer to Watch: Charlotte Carlies (Millersville University)
Head Coach Kate Pearson: “The NJAC has shown consistent level of competition each year. With the addition of new players and coaches across the league, we are expecting highly competitive games each night. Ultimately, we are aiming to contend for another NJAC title.”
RAMAPO
With four of its top five scorers back from a team that made the conference tournament last year, Ramapo is poised for a big year in 2023-24. Jackie Ventricelli, the reigning NJAC Defensive Player of the Year and First Team selection, will lead a strong group of Roadrunners. Ventricelli is the second-leading returning scorer in the NJAC this year after putting up 16.2 points per game last year. She also led the conference in steals (3.0 spg) and field goal percentage (44.7%) last season. She is joined by two-time all-conference honoree Jada Thompson, the leading returning rebounder in the NJAC at 7.9 rebounds per game. Thompson also drained 12.2 points per game last year. Olivia Johnstone and Shannon Burns are also back on the court this season. Johnstone added 7.8 points and Burns scored 5.0 points per game, with Burns also ranking fifth in the NJAC with 7.0 rebounds per game.
Newcomers to Watch: Kellie Martinez (G; Fair Lawn/Rutgers-Newark), Lauren Flatt (G; Northern Highlands)
Head Coach Mike Eineker: “Jackie Ventricelli and Jada Thompson will lead a veteran group of talented players, [as] Ramapo looks to get back to the NJAC playoffs.”
MONTCLAIR STATE
With three-time all-conference honoree and top scorer Nickie Carter graduated, Montclair State looks to fill in the offensive roles as the Red Hawks seek a return to the NJAC Tournament. Senior guard/forward Megan Duffy is the leading returning scorer, ranking second on last year’s squad with 8.9 points per game. She added 4.5 rebounds and 1.7 assists as well. Defensively, Olivia Vero led the NJAC in blocked shots (2.3 bpg) while pulling down 6.5 rebounds and contributing 5.0 points and 2.1 assists. The Red Hawks also gain back the services of Kendall Hodges, who averaged near double figures two seasons ago but had her season last year cut short.
Newcomer to Watch: Avery Jackson (G; Ocean City)
Head Coach Karin Harvey: “Montclair returns several experienced players in addition to a few newcomers. It will be a balanced effort from the squad this year. We look forward to challenging the top of the conference.”
KEAN
Kean will face a challenge in filling the vacancy left by five-time all-conference honoree Shannon McCoy, the second-leading scorer in Kean women’s basketball history. However, the Cougars do return a strong core group of players from a squad that finished second in the conference standings last year and are excited about a strong crew of newcomers. Brittany Graff is the leading returning scorer for the Cougars after averaging 10.6 points last year. She also ranked second in the conference last year in assists (4.6 apg), assist-to-turnover ratio (1.5), and steals (3.0 spg). All-Conference honoree Macy Seaman also returns after putting up 9.1 points and 6.3 rebounds per game, as is NJAC top-10 rebounder Shahd Badeer (6.4 rpg) who chipped in 5.7 points as well.
Newcomers to Watch: Gigi Gamble (G; Life Center Academy), Riley Ahrens (G/F; Delran), Cara McCoy (G/F; Barnegat), Brooke Sztenderowicz (G; Cinnaminson)
Head Coach Mandy King: “After graduating seven seniors, including one of the most decorated players in NJAC history in Shannon McCoy, the Kean Women’s Basketball team will lean on a mix of veteran leadership and exciting young talent in the 2023-24 season as it looks to build a new legacy with its refreshed core. Brittany Graff, Macy Seaman, and Shahd Badeer will be leading the team into the new era with the work ethic and goal of reaching an even higher level of success.”
WILLIAM PATERSON
The Pioneers return an experienced group, looking to offset the loss of two key starters in Justina Cabezas and Yakira Rosa. They will be in good hands with leading returning scorer Brianna Smith back. The Second Team All-Conference honoree is the fourth-leading returning scorer in the NJAC this year, averaging 15.1 per game last season. Reigning NJAC Rookie of the Year Renee Wells is back. In her first season at WP, Wells, averaged 11.2 points, 5.4 rebounds, and 1.7 assists and was a six-time Rookie of the Week honoree. Victoria Palladino was among the top 10 in the NJAC last year in steals and chipped in 5.1 points and 4.8 rebounds, and Jade Martinez is expected to provide another solid defensive effort this season.
Newcomers to Watch: Mattison Chiera (G; Colonia), Patty Walsh (F; Middletown North), Menna Hafiz (F; Bayonne), Laila Jones (G; Fort Lee)
Head Coach Erin Monahan: “Losing First Team All-Conference fifth-year player Justina Cabezas isn’t going to be easy to replace as well as four-year point guard Yakira Rosa, but we are excited for the future of the program. Brianna Smith’s experience and our combined leadership of Victoria Palladino, Jade Martinez as well as Brianna have re-instilled positive energy to the program. Excited for the NJAC Rookie of the Year Renee Wells, also a leader with a very high basketball IQ, to have another successful season after getting her feet wet in this very tough conference. We’ve added some very talented freshmen to our program who will get some valuable minutes right from the start.”
STOCKTON
This year’s dark horse team to watch, Stockton returns a solid core group looking to move up in the conference standings this season. Emma Morrone is the leading returning scorer for the Ospreys after contributing 8.4 points per game last year. She was third in the NJAC in steals (2.7 spg) and pulled down 5.9 rebounds per game. Offensively, Imene Fathi looks to step up as another strong scoring option after chipping in 7.8 points last year and dishing 2.2 assists per game. Madison Dulude is expected to be among the team’s leaders; she pulled down 6.2 rebounds last year and chipped in 4.0 points. Forwards Ionyonia Alves, Ikechi Wokocha, and Brianna Robinson will be looked to for defensive prowess.
Newcomers to Watch: Grace Speer (F; Atlantic County Tech/Florida Tech), Trina Deveny-Bethea (F; Cedar Creek/Rowan), Sidney Spence (G; Brooklyn Law & Tech/Lackawanna)
Head Coach Devin Jefferson: “I’m looking forward to this season. My seniors have been leading the way so far and have been the top competitors in the first couple of weeks of practices. Their drive and passion for improving this season has been so intense, it’s been fun to watch and to coach. They want to be better this season, they want to win, they have a genuine desire to work hard every day, and I’m glad I get to coach them.”
RUTGERS-CAMDEN
With the third-leading returning scorer in the NJAC back this season and experienced players, Rutgers-Camden enters the 2023-24 season with positive energy looking to make a splash in the conference. Rahzirah Blocker drained 15.4 points per game last year and looks to be among the conference’s leading scorers once again this year. She is also a dangerous free throw shooter, ranking third among all conference players with an 81.1 percent clip last season. Blocker also pulled down nearly six boards a game. Jania Pitts is a strong defensive player who led the Scarlet Raptors in steals last year while chipping in 5.7 points and 4.3 rebounds.
Newcomers to Watch: A’yanna Morton (F; Ocean City), Taja Brown (F; Timber Creek/Kaskaskia Community College)
Head Coach James Boney: “I love our players' hearts and the determination of this group to do hard things. Our work ethic and commitment will soon produce winning results. We must focus on the process and daily discipline it takes to win each day.”
RUTGERS-NEWARK
With experienced players returning for Head Coach Stacey Townsend’s second season in Newark, teams should not sleep on this Rutgers-Newark squad. Two-time all-conference honoree Samiyah Horton returns after having her season cut short last year. In 14 games played, Horton was among the NJAC’s scoring leaders with 15.1 points per game. Ebony Odom Barnes was also among the top 15 in the conference last year with 11.0 points per game and ranked in the top 10 with 6.5 rebounds per game. Barnes was also the Scarlet Raiders’ top shot blocker. Sanaa Brodie returns for her sophomore season. The two-time NJAC Rookie of the Week led Rutgers-Newark in steals last year while also pulling down 4.0 rebounds at the guard position.
Newcomers to Watch: Arlenny Medina (G; Elmwood Park), Tatiana Oliver (F; Byrd HS (Shreveport, LA))
Head Coach Stacey Townsend: “I look forward to another competitive year and the NJAC continuing to show why we are considered one of the top competitive conferences at this level.”