Worcester State Women’s Basketball Picked Fourth in MASCAC Preseason Poll

MASCAC Release

WORCESTER, Mass. – The Worcester State University women's basketball team has been selected by the seven coaches around the league to finish fourth in the Massachusetts State Collegiate Athletic Conference (MASCAC) this upcoming season.

The Lancers finished last season with an 8-4 league mark and earned the third seed in the MASCAC tournament. The Blue and Gold return 2016-17 All-Conference recipients Britt Herring (West Brookfield, Mass.) and Kaitlyn Berkel (Waterford, Conn.), along with 24^th year head coach, Karen Tessmer, who was tabbed last season's Champion's Choice Coach of the Year.

Herring led the team averaging 12.2 points, 7.8 rebounds and 2.2 blocks per game last season. She marked the team's highest shooting percentage of 52.5%, which was good for second in the conference standings. Herring was third in the conference in total rebound (203) and total blocks (53).

Berkel returns for her junior year after averaging 12 points and 6.2 rebounds during the previous season. She totaled 311 points this season on 126-of-282 (44.7%) field goals, 6-of-19 (31.6%) triples, and 53 made free throw shots. Berkel also was sixth in the conference in blocked shots (29).

In addition to Herring and Berkel, the Lancers return senior guard Brianna Hackett (Hollis, N.H.) junior guard Kate Surprenant (Pelham, N.H.), and sophomore guard Catherine Sweeney (Lowell, Mass.). Hackett averaged 7.7 points per game Surprenant averaged 5.7 points and 3.8 assists per game, while Sweeney averaged 6.0 points, 5.5 rebounds and 3.9 assists per game.

The Lancers' returners are complemented by a strong freshman class, mentioned Tessmer. The team's notable freshman include local standouts Colleen Cutting (Auburn, Mass.) and Sam Maglione (Lancaster, Mass.) of Nashoba Regional High School.

The Worcester State women's basketball team opens its 2017-18 season on November 15 when they travel to Mount Holyoke for a 7 p.m. tipoff. The Lancers play three additional games on the road before opening at home on Nov. 26 at 6 p.m.

2017-18 MASCAC Women's Basketball Pre-Season Coaches Poll

(First Place Votes In Parentheses)