Westfield, Mass.—  The Framingham State Rams have been selected by the seven coaches around the league to win the 2015-16 MASCAC Women's Basketball Championship.

Collecting five of the seven first place votes, Framingham State tallied 35 points for the top spot in the poll. The Rams finished last season with a 7-5 record in conference play. The duo of Sarah Palace and Alycia Rackliffe return for the team after averaging 11.3 and 13.1 points last season, respectively. Rackliffe led the Rams in rebounds with an average of 8.3 per game.

Bridgewater State is in the second slot with a first place vote to give them 28 points. The reigning MASCAC Tournament Champions, the Bears closed out the conference season with an 8-4 record. Chanelle Melton is back for Bridgewater State after netting 10.7 points and 5.3 rebounds during the 2014-15 season. 

2014-15 MASCAC regular season champions Westfield State earned 26 points in the poll for third place. The Owls had a perfect 12-0 record in MASCAC competition last season. Forbasaw Nkamebo, First Team All-Conference honoree, is back for the team after averaging 14.2 points per game and added 9.9 rebounds a contest which were both in the top five of the conference.

Earning the final first place vote for 25 points and the fourth spot is Worcester State. The Lancers netted a 7-5 record during the conference season last year. Second Team All-Conference member Bianca Langford averaged a double-double of 12.6 points and 12.7 rebounds per game during the 2014-15 season.

Fitchburg State lands in the fifth slot with 13 points. The Falcons had four MASCAC victories during the 2014-15 season led by Laura Cote, who averaged 12.2 points and 4.2 rebounds per game and earned a spot on the Second Team All-Conference squad.

Closing out the poll are MCLA and Salem State in sixth with 12 points and seventh place with eight points, respectively. The Trailblazers  netted a win during the 2014-15 conference campaign. Kayla Hotaling returns for the team after averaging 11.8 points and 9.4 rebounds last season. The Vikings, who had  three wins in MASCAC play, were led by Rachael Carter who led the conference in points per game with 19.7 and second in rebounds with 10.7.

All seven teams kickoff their season this weekend, November 13-15, with non-conference contests.

2015-16 MASCAC Women's Basketball Pre-Season Coaches Poll
(First Place Votes In Parentheses)

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