City of Basketball Love

Jeff Griffith (@Jeff_Griffith21)
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The local Division III women’s basketball scene is among the deeper groups of college basketball programs in the greater Philadelphia area; eight won 18 or more games, five made the NCAA Tournament, and two won tourney games. 

A fair share of key contributors from successful 2021-22 squads are no longer around, but there’s plenty of returning talent around the area, bringing plenty of optimism to a slew of southeastern Pennsylvania women’s Division III programs.  

It’s a challenge to split hairs on so many promising programs, but here’s our initial Top 10 of the 2022-23 season; we’ll have an update on our power rankings in early December:

Also Considered: Swarthmore (14-11, 10-10 Centennial), Lancaster Bible (13-12, 10-6 United East), Cabrini (14-13, 8-4 Atlantic East), Gwynedd Mercy (15-13, 7-5 Atlantic East)

10. Albright Lions
Head Coach: Janice Luck, 20th season
Last Year: 13-11 (7-9 MAC Commonwealth)
Key Departures: Maggie O’Hare (11.9 ppg, 4.4 rpg), Brady Wassel (9.0 ppg, 9.6 rpg), Abby Gaffney (7.6 ppg, 4.4 rpg)
Key Returners: Gabby Boggs (16.9 ppg, 12.5 rpg), Amina Rauf (10.5 ppg, 2.8 rpg), Mackenzie Dover (5.8 ppg, 3.3 rpg)

With a solid group of returning rotation players, Albright is already turning heads, finishing tied with York for third and earning two out of nine first-place votes in the MAC Commonwealth preseason poll. For the Lions, much of 2022-23’s potential success is predicated on Boggs, a 6-foot do-it-all graduate student who added 2.3 apg, 1.7 spg and 2.7 bpg to her double-double scoring and rebounding averages last season. She’s joined by a fellow returning starter in Rauf, as well as Dover, a sophomore guard who came on strong as a key bench contributor, averaging 20.6 minutes in the Lions’ final 11 contests.

First Five: at Moravian (Nov. 9), vs. Ursinus (Nov. 12), Neumann (Nov. 17), at Williams (Nov. 19), vs. Eastern Connecticut (Nov. 19 @ Williams)

9. Penn State Harrisburg Lions
Head Coach: Ross Patrick, 15th season
Last Year: 16-9 (11-5 United East)
Key Departures: Anna Mahan (8.4 ppg, 7.6 rpg)
Key Returners: Kendis Butler (14.2 ppg, 3.1 rpg), Jayla Galbreath (10.3 ppg, 2.4 rpg), Ciani Redd-Howard (9.3 ppg, 5.8 rpg), Jenna Montana (8.4 ppg, 4.8 rpg)

With four of the top five scorers back from a team that put together its most wins since 2012-13, PSU-Harrisburg has plenty of reason for optimism in hopes of building upon its strong 2021-22 campaign. Leading the way, seniors Butler and Galbreath and juniors Redd-Howard and Montana comprised about 60 percent of the Lions’ scoring production from last season. Galbreath is a lights-out shooter, finishing last year just shy of a 40 percent clip — her 39.3 percent mark was tied for 24th nationally. Throw in a couple of returning productive bench players like graduate captain Macy Carroll (4.0 ppg, 0.6 rpg) and sophomore Giahnny Correa (6.4 ppg, 2.0 rpg, 1.6 apg), and the Lions have the chance to play one of the more experienced rotations locally. 

First Five: vs. Mary Washington (Nov. 8), at Franklin & Marshall (Nov. 12), vs. Elizabethtown/Lycoming (Nov. 13 @ Franklin & Marshall), at Washington College (Nov. 19), at Ursinus (Nov. 22)

8. York Spartans
Head Coach: Betsy Witman, 26th season
Last Year: 20-6 (13-3 MAC Commonwealth)
Key Departures: Kayla Ferris (13.9 ppg, 8.2 rpg), Alana Bortner (9.2 ppg, 2.0 rpg), Cassidy Arnold (5.8 ppg, 4.8 rpg)
Key Returners: Savannah Wilson (11.6 ppg, 3.4 rpg), Brandi Zumbrum (9.6 ppg, 7.2 rpg)

Five players on York’s 2021-22 team got the majority of the starts, and two of those return for the upcoming season — two of the Spartans’ top three scorers from a year ago, Wilson and Zumbrum. The pair of seniors figure to be York’s focal point as it looks to replicate what was its first 20-win season since 2015-16. They’ll be joined by a wave of roleplayers from last year’s squad — including two of the first three pieces off the bench in terms of playing time, Brooklyn Naylor (1.7 ppg, 3.2 rpg) and Taylor Burda (2.5 ppg, 1.3 rpg) — which came up just short of a trip to the MAC Commonwealth title game; the Spartans fell to Widener by two in the conference semifinals. The two conference foes finished ust three votes apart in the MAC Commonwealth preseason poll, with the Pride gaining a slight edge for second behind Messiah. 

First Five: at Johns Hopkins (Nov. 8), vs. Moravian (Nov. 12), vs. Catholic (Nov. 13), vs. McDaniel (Nov. 16), vs. Lancaster Bible (Nov. 22)

7. Widener Pride
Head Coach: Alisa Kintner, 20th season
Last Year: 19-7 (13-3 MAC Commonwealth)
Key Departures: Erin Phelan (12.5 ppg, 4.9 rpg), Nicole Barnes (10.8 ppg, 7.3 rpg), Charlotte Stern (7.2 ppg, 3.5 rpg), Brooke Bachtle (6.3 ppg, 4.8 rpg)
Key Returners: Jordan D’Ambrosio (13.1 ppg, 3.8 rpg), Mary McFillin (4.8 ppg, 2.2 rpg), Gianna Samuels (4.3 ppg, 1.4 rpg) 

While the Pride returns its top scorer in D’Ambrosio, she’ll be among unfamiliar company in terms of Widener’s starting lineup; after the senior guard, all four of the Pride’s six other consistent starters, as well as two of their four most notable bench players, are no longer with the program. Samuels and McFillin, who averaged about 12 and 17 minutes apiece last season, will likely need to fill larger shoes. Widener has developed a track record of winning, earning 19, 21 and 20 wins in its last three full regular seasons, but will have to overcome some inexperience in order to keep its string of successful years rolling.

First Five: vs. Western New England (Nov. 11 @ Drew), vs. Drew/Penn State Lehigh Valley (Nov. 12 @ Drew), at Swarthmore (Nov. 15), vs. Middlebury (Nov. 18 @ Marymount), vs. Maymount/Oberlin (Nov. 19 @ Marymount)

6. Immaculata Mighty Macs
Head Coach: Chrissy Esbensen, 8th season
Last Year: 18-9 (8-4 Atlantic East)
Key Departures: Jordan Rook (13.3 ppg, 3.1 rpg), Theresa Kearney (13.1 ppg, 6.8 rpg),
Key Returners: Morgan Falcone (8.7 ppg, 4.3 rpg), Abigail Lentowski (8.6 ppg, 6.5 rpg), Reese Mullins (7.2 ppg, 4.0 rpg), Kaitlyn Racobaldo (6.2 ppg, 5.3 rpg), Erin Kelly (5.1 ppg, 3.1 rpg), Meghan Ricker (4.0 ppg, 1.9 rpg)

While Immaculata enters this season without its top two scorers from a year ago, the Mighty Macs aren’t totally lacking in experience. A program that had 11 players average double-digit minutes a year ago, Immaculata brings back most of its main rotation pieces, including three players who started in at least 25 games in Falcone, Racobaldo and Ricker, plus its top two bench pieces in Lentowski and Mullins. Rook, the team’s top scorer last season, missed all but one game in January, February and March, so several of the Macs’ returners not only have experience playing with one another, they also have experience from Immaculata’s run to the NCAA Tournament. 

First Five: vs. Ursinus (Nov. 9), vs. Penn State-Brandywine (Nov. 11), vs. Bryn Mawr (Nov. 15), vs. Haverford (Nov. 17), vs. Alvernia (Nov. 19)

5. Haverford Fords
Head Coach: Grace Elliott, 1st season
Last Year: 18-8 (14-6 Centennial)
Key Departures: Cortlyn Morris (9.4 ppg, 7.6 rpg), Annabelle Copeland (5.0 ppg, 5.0 rpg)
Key Returners: Ally Landau (17.5 ppg, 4.5 rpg), Caroline Andersen (8.2 ppg, 3.7 rpg), Kayla Robinson (8.2 ppg, 10.9 rpg), Gia Flamini (5.3 ppg, 3.0 rpg), Erin Albright (2.7 ppg)

Haverford kept a tight rotation a year ago, with just seven players averaging double-digit minutes — but five of those seven return for the 2022-23 season, including the heartbeat of last year’s production, Landau. Entering her junior season, the 5-foot-3 guard will likely again be the Fords’ go-to, but will have help from returning fellow consistent starters in the form of Robinson and Albright. Andersen — who averaged 18.2 minutes in 13 contests after returning from an early-season absence due to injury — can provide a nice boost of rotation experience as well. The biggest question mark, though, will be how the Fords gel under their first-year head coach; Haverford played under an interim coach a year ago after the summer resignation of former coach Bobbi Morgan, so for the Fords’ veterans, this isn’t their first experience with coaching turnover.  

First Five: vs. Union (Nov. 12 at NYU), at NYU (Nov. 13), at Immaculata (Nov. 17), at Dickinson (Nov. 19), vs. Washington College (Nov. 22)

4. Gettysburg Bullets
Head Coach: Nate Davis, 8th season
Last Year: 25-4 (19-1 Centennial)
Key Departures: Carly Rice (13.1 ppg, 4.5 rpg), Mackenzie Tinner (10.3 ppg, 6.3 rpg), Christian Richson (7.0 ppg, 3.4 rpg), Delaney Donohoe (5.0 ppg, 3.6 rpg), Hannah Sauve (5.0 ppg, 3.6 rpg)
Key Returners: Mackenzie Szlosek (9.4 ppg, 5.9 rpg), Caitlyn Priore (3.2 ppg, 3.9 rpg)

Gettysburg is fresh off of a fantastic season, losing just one game in a deep Centennial Conference and reaching the second round of the NCAA Tournament; the Bullets also enter this season receiving a handful of votes for the national Top 25. In order to replicate last year’s success, though, they’ll have to develop a relatively inexperienced group quickly, as just one of the Bullets’ top five scorers returns for 2022-23, that being Szlosek, a 5-foot-7 sophomore, who started in all 29 contests last season — she owns all but one of the current roster’s total returning starts from a year ago. It’s likely she, as well as Priore — who averaged 16.1 minutes last season as one of two consistent bench contributors — will be the driving force this coming season.

First Five: @ Randolph-Macon (Nov. 12), vs. Mary Washington (Nov. 13 @ Randolph-Macon), vs. Johns Hopkins (Nov. 22), at McDaniel (Nov. 29), vs. Dickinson (Dec. 1)

3. Elizabethtown Blue Jays
Head Coach: Veronica Nolt, 8th season
Last Year: 20-6 (12-2 Landmark)
Key Departures: Veronica Christ (18.8 ppg, 5.3 rpg), Emily Prowell (4.7 ppg, 4.3 rpg)
Key Returners: Summer McNulty (12.7 ppg, 3.8 rpg), DaniRae Renno (10.4 ppg, 7.0 rpg), Cyleigh Wilson (7.3 ppg, 3.0 rpg), Jessica King (6.9 ppg, 8.6 rpg)

While Gettysburg — unlike Elizabethtown — received votes in the preseason national poll, the Blue Jays get the slight edge here on the basis of experience. Other than Christ — who is certainly a big piece to lose, averaging six more points than the next-highest scorer a year ago — Elizabethtown essentially returns all of its major contributors from last year’s 20-win NCAA Tournament team. All of those key returners are either sophomores or juniors, so there’s still a slight youth factor in terms of a lack of four-year players, but to bring back 99 out of 130 total starts from 2021-22 is a major plus. 

First Five: at McDaniel (Nov. 8), vs. Lycoming (Nov. 12 @ Franklin & Marshall), vs. PSU-Harrisburg/Franklin & Marshall (Nov. 13 @ Franklin & Marshall), at Lebanon Valley (Nov. 22), vs. Salisbury (Nov. 30)

2. DeSales Bulldogs
Head Coach: Fred Richter, 33rd season
Last Year: 22-4 (16-0 MAC Freedom)
Key Departures: Averi Jordan (18.1 ppg, 8.7 rpg), Rylie Rittenhouse (12.7 ppg, 6.8 rpg)
Key Returners: Mikeala Reese (15.2 ppg, 7.9 rpg), Megan Bealer (10.8 ppg, 6.5 rpg), Lindsey Welsh (9.0 ppg, 4.7 rpg), Amelia Saunders (8.7 ppg, 4.0 rpg), Maria Newsome (4.1 ppg, 2.7 rpg)

The first team outside the national rankings and the MAC Freedom preseason favorite and defending champion, DeSales has a fair argument for the top spot. The Bulldogs haven’t lost a game in conference since Jan. 11, 2020, good for a streak of 42 wins over that stretch. DeSales shows no sign of slowing down either, returning all but one of its top seven season-long contributors from last year’s team. That main departure, though, is certainly a notable loss — Averi Jordan, 2021-22’s CoBL Division III women’s player of the year. Rittenhouse, however, appeared in just six games, so several of DeSales’ returners bring a wealth of starting experience; Reese, Bealer and Newsome each started in at least 20 games last season. 

First Five: vs. Penn State Hazleton (Nov. 12 @ Lebanon Valley), vs. Penn State Schulykill/Lebanon Valley (Nov. 13 @ Lebanon Valley), vs. Muhlenburg (Nov. 16), vs. Moravian (Nov. 22), vs. Messiah (Nov. 28)

1. Messiah Falcons
Head Coach: Mike Miller, 36th season
Last Year: 23-4 (14-2 MAC Commonwealth)
Key Departures: Leah Springer (17.5 ppg, 11.1 rpg), Eleana Eckley (10.0 ppg, 2.0 rpg) 

Key Returners: Morgan Adams (8.7 ppg, 5.3 rpg), Reese Harden (8.3 ppg, 2.5 rpg), Megan Zimmerman (8.2 ppg, 5..3 rpg), Amber High (6.0 ppg, 2.2 rpg), Sidney Stutzman (6.0 ppg, 2.2 rpg), Chloe Milanesi (4.9 ppg, 4.8 rpg)

It’s hard to say no to a team that has won its conference six years in a row and is nationally-ranked — the only nationally-ranked local team, per d3hoops.com’s preseason rankings. The Falcons lose both of their top scorers from 2021-22’s NCAA Tournament team, but still return the vast majority of a rotation that went as deep as 11 players. That being said, replacing a player who averaged a double-double is never an easy task. On its run of conference titles and 20-win seasons, though, Messiah has been just fine when it comes to reloading and filling key lineup openings, and has the luxury of five different returners with at least 10 starts in 2021-22. 

First Five: vs. Johns Hopkins (Nov. 11 @ Rochester), vs. TBD (Nov. 12 @ Rochester), vs. Lycoming (Nov. 18), vs. Clarks Summit/SUNY New Paltz (Nov. 19), at DeSales (Nov. 28)