Women's Basketball

West Chester, California voted top teams in 2023-24 PSAC Women's Basketball Preseason Polls

LOCK HAVEN, Pa. – The West Chester Golden Rams and California Vulcans have been voted as the top teams in the Eastern and Western conferences, respectively, in the 2023-24 Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference Women’s Basketball Preseason Polls.

The polls are voted on by the conference’s head coaches.

West Chester sits atop the Eastern Division poll after collecting the maximum eight first-place votes, with Kutztown the only other team to receive one. In the Western Division poll, California received five first-place votes, outpacing Gannon (two) and one vote each for IUP and Pitt-Johnstown.

Find the complete polls as well as team-by-team capsules below.
 
Eastern Division (Number of first-place votes)
 
1. West Chester (8)
2. Kutztown (1)
3. Shippensburg
4. Bloomsburg
5. East Stroudsburg
6. Lock Haven
7. Millersville
8. Mansfield
9. Shepherd
 
 
Western Division (Number of first-place votes)
 
1. California (5)
2. Gannon (2)
3. IUP (1)
4. Edinboro
5. Pitt-Johnstown (1)
6. Seton Hill
7. Mercyhurst
8. Slippery Rock
9. Clarion
 


PSAC EASTERN DIVISION

#1 West Chester (24-9 overall, 18-4 PSAC in 2022-23)
  • West Chester finished last season with a record of 24-9 overall and a mark of 18-4 in league play. The Golden Rams 24 wins are tied for the second most in team history, trailing only the 1992 (25-5) season. West Chester saw its season conclude in the Atlantic Region Championship game with a loss to 2022 National Championship Glenville State. This appearance was the first ever NCAA Division II Atlantic Region Championship game appearance for either the West Chester men’s or women’s basketball programs.
  • The Golden Rams return all five starters and over 2,100 of its DII program record 2,402 points scored from a year ago, led by WBCA Honorable Mention All-American Leah Johnson, who averaged a team best 16.4 points per game last year.
  • In addition to her prolific scoring, which helped her become the 21st WCU player to eclipse 1,000-career points and set a new single-game scoring record with 44 points in the NCAA Tournament vs California (Pa.), Johnson also ended last season ranked fourth in Division II in assists, averaging 6.4 per game.
  • West Chester ranked 12th in Division II in rebounding margin at the end of last season, finishing the campaign with a +7.4 margin.
 
#2 Kutztown (15-15 overall, 12-10 PSAC in 2022-23)
 
  • Kutztown finished last season 15-15 overall and 12-10 in the PSAC; winning a postseason game for the second straight season
  • The KU defense finished on top of DII in blocks per game (6.2) and total blocks (187)
  • The Golden Bears primarily have an upperclassmen laiden team this season with seven players with experience that are juniors or older
  • Kutztown opens the season the weekend of Nov. 11-12 in the MEC/PSAC Challenge against Charleston (W.Va.) and West Virginia State. KU also plays an exhibition game at DI Buffalo on Nov. 26
 
#3 Shippensburg (25-7 overall, 18-4 PSAC in 2022-23)
  • Shippensburg finished with a 25-7 last season and recorded the program’s first NCAA Tournament victory since 2001.
  • The Raiders graduated a pair of 1,000 point scorers in Ariel Jones and Lauren Pettis. Jones, a 2022 NCAA Division II All-American and PSAC East Player of the Year, graduated as the PSAC’s all-time leading scorer (2,806 points) after averaging 24.8 points per game as a senior.
  • SU returns 10 players, including two regular starters, and welcomes five new freshmen.
  • Graduate Treasure George returns after reaching double figures in 22-of-32 outings last season and averaging 10.8 points per game.
  • Returning junior forward Abbie Miller averaged 8.3 points and 6.2 rebounds and was among the best in college basketball at anticipating and drawing charges, drawing a total of 54 a season ago.
  • Kristy Trn won her 400th career game as Raider head coach late last season, becoming the 26th active coach in NCAA Division II with 400 wins. She currently has 403 career victories.
 
#4 Bloomsburg (9-17 overall, 7-15 PSAC in 2022-23)
  • The Huskies are looking to rebound after an uncharacteristic 9-17 (7-15 PSAC) season that snapped a streak of 12 consecutive seasons qualifying for the PSAC tournament.
  • Bloomsburg looks to upon a solid defensive foundation from last season to help elevate this year’s team. The Huskies ranked in the top six in the PSAC in opponent three-point percentage at 28.2 percent (3rd), opponent total rebounds (3rd) and in total defense at 62.4 points per game (6th).
  • The Huskies bring in seven new additions to the 2023-24 team to help bolster the team’s competitive depth, including transfers Ava Stevenson (Mechanicsburg, Pa. / Trinity / William & Mary) and Madison Johnson (West Orange, N.J. / Union Catholic / Rider)
  • Bloomsburg begins its season on Saturday, November 11, as part of the Carol Eckman Conference Challenge at West Chester. The Huskies open their conference slate on Friday, December 1, at home against Gannon.
 
#5 East Stroudsburg (15-14 overall, 11-11 PSAC in 2022-23)
  • ESU is coming a 15-14 campaign that saw them go 11-11 in the PSAC and return to the conference tournament for the first time since 2019-20 before falling to Millersville in the first round
  • The Warriors finished last season ranked second in the PSAC in scoring defense (57.4), three-point percentage (34.1) and three point % defense (28.0). ESU loses All-PSAC East First Team selection Ryan Weise, who led the league in 3-pt %, 3-pointers made and 3-pointers per game.
  • ESU opens the 2022-23 season on Friday, November 10 when they travel to the Virginia Union Conference Challenge to battle Shaw at 5:30 p.m.
 
#6 Lock Haven (11-17 overall, 9-13 PSAC in 2022-23)
  • The Bald Eagles are coming off a 11-17 overall record and 9-13 mark in the PSAC East, which earned them the sixth seed in the 2022-23 conference tournament. The Haven fell in the first round to the No. 3 seed Kutztown University, 68-60. 
  • The Bald Eagles defense ranked fourth as they held opposing offenses to under 60 points per game and 39 percent shooting for the field.
  • They open the 2023-24 season Friday (Nov. 10) when they travel to Greensburg, Pa. to compete in the Atlantic Regional Challenge at Seton Hill. The Bald Eagles take on Fairmont State on Friday at 3 p.m. before playing Concord at 4 p.m. on Saturday. 
  • The Bald Eagles begin PSAC schedule begins Friday, Dec. 1 at 3 p.m. when they welcome Pitt-Johnstown to town in a PSAC East-West crossover game at Thomas Fieldhouse.  
 
#7 Millersville (18-12 overall, 12-10 PSAC in 2022-23)
  • Millersville is coming off of a season in which it finished 18-10 overall and 12-10 in conference play. The conference mark was good for fourth in the PSAC East and a spot in the playoff tournament. The team won its first-round game against East Stroudsburg then lost to West Chester.
  • The Marauders finished top five in the PSAC in multiple defensive categories last season, including opponent PPG, total rebounds and total steals.
  • The season opens on November 10 when they travel to Richmond, Virginia, to face Virginia Union at 7:30 pm.
  • The first conference test of the season comes on December 1 when they host California at 3 pm.
 
#8 Mansfield (3-23 overall, 2-20 PSAC in 2022-23)
  • The Mountaineer Women’s basketball team begins their season November 10th against Bowie State University and open PSAC play at home against Clarion on December 1st.
  •  The Mounties welcome in four freshmen and one transfer to contribute to a roster laden with 8 returners in hopes to improve on the 2023 season.
  • The Mansfield Mountaineers averaged a total of 54.5 PPG last season and finished 12th in the PSAC for threes made per game with 5.2.
  • Mansfield finished last season top 10 in assists with 12.65 per game. They also finished 11th in blocked shots with 2.58 per game and 9th in steals at 8.23 per game.
 
#9 Shepherd (1-26 overall, 1-21 PSAC in 2022-23)
  • The Rams are coming off a 1-26 mark with a 1-21 record in conference play last season. 
  • Shepherd adds seven newcomers to this year’s squad. The Rams return five veterans, including three starters from last year. 
  • Peyton Grant returns after leading the Rams in scoring (9.0 ppg), three-pointers (6), and free throw percentage (.938). Other returners include junior guard/forward Sydney Bolles (8.8 ppg, 5.7 rpg, 1.2 apg ) and senior forward Cara Minor (5.9 ppg, 3.9 rpg, 0.6 apg).
 



PSAC WESTERN DIVISION
 
#1 California (21-11 overall, 14-8 PSAC in 2022-23)
  • The Vulcans captured the seventh PSAC Championship in school history in 2023, and the program’s first since back-to-back league titles in 2015 and 2016. California posted a 75-63 victory at nationally-ranked Gannon in the finals of the conference tournament after finishing second in the PSAC West standings.
  • Junior Allycia Harris was named the PSAC Tournament MVP after recording a double-double of 19 points and 20 rebounds in the PSAC Championship. She ranked third last season in the league with 284 total rebounds and fourth with 8.9 rebounds per game. 
  • California earned an automatic qualifier to the NCAA Tournament in 2023, marking the ninth appearance under head coach Jess Strom and 19th in school history. Strom holds a 14-7 mark in the NCAA Tournament, highlighted by the 2015 NCAA National Championship. 
 
#2 Gannon (29-5 overall, 19-3 PSAC in 2022-23)
  • Cleve Wright enters his 16th season overall as head coach at Gannon. Gannon finished with a 29-5 record a year ago and was ranked 21st at the end of the year in the WBCA Div. II Top 25 and 22nd in the D2SIDA poll. The Golden Knights reached the PSAC title game for the third straight year and the NCAA Tournament for the third time in the last four years. 
  • Sam Pirosko returns after earning WBCA Division II honorable mention All-American and D2CCA second team All-American honors and being named the 2023 PSAC West Athlete of the Year. The 5’10” post player scored six points in the season opener then proceeded to reach double figures in the final 33 games. She enjoyed one of the finest seasons ever by a Golden Knight, averaging 20.4 ppg. and 7.5 rpg. while scoring a school record 693 points. She enters her final year ranked sixth in career scoring with 1,541 points, along with ranking 14th in career rebounds (606). In addition, she is seventh in career scoring average (14.7 ppg.), plus eighth in career field goals made (579) and fourth in career field goal percentage (55.5 pct.). She also ranks sixth in free throws made (333), ninth in free throws attempted (401) and fourth in free throw percentage (83.0 pct.). 
  • Guard Bri Claxon lived up to her advanced billing as a top recruit. She came off the bench to average 7.8 ppg. in just under 18 minutes per contest. Claxon was named the PSAC West Freshman of the Year after scoring the most points by a freshman at Gannon (264) since Nettie Blake scored 290 points in 2011-12. 
  • Gannon faces a highly-demanding schedule while having to integrate eight new players. That list includes two transfers, point guard Trinitee Harris, a junior college transfer from Wabash Valley, and sophomore guard Carissa Dunham, who played at Mount St. Mary’s in 2022-23.
 
#3 IUP (18-10 overall, 13-9 PSAC in 2022-23)
  • The women’s program has a combined record of 97-26 (.788) over the last four full playing seasons, making the PSAC Tournament for 17 consecutive seasons. 
  • Head women’s basketball coach Craig Carey returns for his second year with a full recruiting cycle and offseason ahead of the 2023-24 campaign, brought in as head coach in October 2022. Four starters are back for the Crimson Hawks.  
  • All-PSAC West First Team guard Kiera Baughman (14.8 PPG, 4.3 RPG, 3.0 APG, 1.5 SPG in 2022-23) is among the key returning starters for IUP as a junior. 
  • Also returning in the post is graduate student Teirra Preston, who ranked third in the PSAC in rebounding average (9.0) last season. She'll be joined by transfers Nyshae' Weaver and Grace Centrulla in the post for 2023-24.
  • IUP went 13-4 at home last season at the KCAC, opening up the new campaign on Friday, November 10 against Penn State New Kensington. 
 
#4 Edinboro (17-12 overall, 13-9 PSAC in 2022-23)
  • The Scots finished 2022-23 with a 17-12 record overall record and 13-9 conference mark, advancing to the PSAC quarterfinals.
  • Head coach Callie Wheeler enters her sixth season as the head coach of the program and is the reigning PSAC West Coach of the Year.
  • The Scots return First-Team All-PSAC West guard Hayley Sims who averaged 14.7 points per game.
 
#5 Pitt-Johnstown (17-13 overall, 13-9 PSAC in 2022-23)
  • Head Coach Mike Drahos’ Pitt-Johnstown team was 17-13 overall and 13-9 in the PSAC West on its way to advancing to its third straight PSAC Tournament and second consecutive trip to the PSAC Quarterfinals.
  • The Mountain Cats will be led by 2022-23 Second-Team All-PSAC West selections Olivia Fasick (SR, G) and Peyton Alazaus (JR, G)
  • Last season, Pitt-Johnstown ranked in the Top-5 in the PSAC in Six statistical categories, including third in assist-to-turnover ratio and assists per game
  • The Mountain Cats must replace Ashley Norling, the team’s leading scorer (14.6 ppg.) and rebounder (7.8 rpg.), and top defender Makalyn Clapper, the team’s top defender.
 
#6 Seton Hill (18-14 overall, 11-11 PSAC in 2022-23) 
  • Former assistant Maeve Gallagher will begin her first season as head coach for the Griffins.  She will be joined by assistant coaches Krystal Gibbs and Ashton Funderburg.
  • The Griffins return three of their top four scorers from last season including leading scorer and All PSAC West selection Christiane Frye.  
  • Seton Hill looks to make it ten seasons in a row as a PSAC Tournament Team.  The Griffins have made the past nine PSAC Tourneys. 
 
#7 Mercyhurst (15-14 overall, 10-12 PSAC in 2022-23) 
  • The Lakers finished with a 15-14 mark last season, going 10-12 in PSAC play to finish tied for seventh in the West. Their 14 wins were the most since the 2016-17 when the team finished 24-8.
  • Mercyhurst returns two of their top players in Lexi Wagner and Danielle Grim. Wager scored 7.6 points per game off the bench a season ago while shooting 41.9% from the field and 42.6% from three for the best clip on the team. Grim averaged 9.7 points to go along with 4.2 rebounds while being one of only two players in the conference to have 45 or more steals and 25 or more blocks.
  • Mercyhurst begins their season on November 10th in the PSAC v MEC Challenge when they take on West Liberty. They’ll begin their PSAC schedule on December 1st when they travel to East Stroudsburg to take on the Warriors. 
 
#8 Slippery Rock (15-13 overall, 10-12 PSAC in 2022-23)
  • Slippery Rock concluded 2022 ranking second in the PSAC West in steals per game with 9.50, as well as total rebounds per game, at 39.5.
  • SRU wrapped up last season with the PSAC’s top three-point defense, allowing a percentage of just .278.
  • Slippery Rock welcomes first-year head coach Ryenn Micaletti, a former SRU assistant coach who brings 12 years of collegiate coaching experience, the last seven of which have come at the Division I level.
  • The Rock open their 2023 season Nov. 11 at Division I Youngstown State University, the first of two Horizon League opponents on the upcoming schedule.
 
#9 Clarion (5-22 overall, 5-17 PSAC in 2022-23)
  • Danielle Fleming became the program’s ninth head coach earlier this year, and will start her first season at the helm of the Golden Eagles in 2023-24. Fleming was previously at Columbia International where she led the Rams to three straight NCCAA tournaments.
  • Clarion welcomes ten new players to the roster in 2023-24, including six transfers and four freshmen.
  • Of the returning players in 2022-23, Abby Gatesman has the most career experience, with 55 games played and 23 starts to her credit. She has averaged 5.5 points and 3.6 rebounds per game over the course of her career.
  • The Golden Eagles open the season with a pair of games in Erie against Notre Dame College (Nov. 10) and Glenville State (Nov. 11). The home opener is slated for November 15 against Roberts Wesleyan.