Red Sox
Patriots
Celtics
Bruins
BOSTON COLLEGE
Record: 23-12 (7-7 Atlantic Coast Conference)
Key players returning: 6-0 Sr. Ayla Brown (6.5 ppg, 4.5 rpg); 5-8 Sr. Mickel Picco (15.1 ppg, 2.7 rpg); 6-4 Jr. Stefanie Murphy (10.8 ppg, 6.5 ppg); 6-6 Jr. Carolyn Swords (15.4 ppg, 9.0 rpg).
Key newcomers: 5-9 G Kerri Shields, Drexel Hill, Pa.; 5-9 G Kelsey Reynolds, Mishawaka, Ind.; 6-2 F Mary Nwachukwu, Rehoboth.
Outlook: The Eagles surprised many in Sylvia Crawley’s first season by winning 23 games (seven conference) and advancing to the Final Four of the Women’s NIT. Now they will have to climb out of their comfort zone in order to achieve their goals of winning an ACC championship and going to the NCAA Tournament.
BOSTON UNIVERSITY
Record: 25-8 (16-0 America East)
Key players returning: 6-1 Sr. Aly Hinton (8.0 ppg, 4.9 rpg); 5-9 So. Alex Young (4.1 ppg).
Key newcomers: 6-0 F Deven Green, Germantown, Md.; 5-10 G Kristen Sims, Richmond; 5-10 G Chantell Alford, West Haven, Conn.; 6-1 F Jacqueline Kuczynski, Springfield, N.J.; 5-7 G Caitlynn Moran, Hopewell Junction, N.Y.
Outlook: Sixth-year coach Kelly Greenberg (93-63) will be hard-pressed to duplicate last year’s success, when the Terriers won 25 games, went undefeated in conference, and made their first appearance in the Women’s NIT. Hinton will have to provide scoring, rebounding, and leadership for a young team picked to finish fourth.
HARVARD
Record: 19-10 (11-3 Ivy League)
Key players returning: 6-3 Jr. Emma Markley (14.0 ppg, 7.0 rpg); 5-8 So. Brogan Berry (11.7 ppg, 2.5 rpg); 5-8 Jr. Christine Matera (5.4 ppg, 1.5 rpg); 6-2 Jr. Claire Wheeler (5.4 ppg, 5.3 rpg).
Key newcomers: 5-9 G Jasmine Evans, Menlo Park, Calif.; 6-0 G/F Emma Golen, Novi, Mich.; 5-10 G Elle Hagedorn, Ambler, Pa.; 6-0 G Victoria Lippert, San Diego; 6-1 F/C Miriam Rutzen, Blandinsville, Ill.
Outlook: Coach Kathy Delany-Smith returns a strong nucleus from last year’s 19-win squad that finished second in the Ivy League, led by the top two scorers, Markley and Berry, both of whom should have the Crimson in contention for their third Ivy title in four seasons.
HOLY CROSS
Record: 13-17 (8-6 Patriot League)
Key players returning: 5-10 Sr. Briana McFadden (15.3 ppg, 4.5 rpg); 5-8 Sr. Bethany O’Dell (12.3 ppg, 4.0 rpg); 6-2 Sr. Tayana Carper (8.7 ppg, 2.8 rpg).
Key newcomers: 5-7 G Alexis Nicholas, Jamaica, N.Y.; 6-0 F/G Amy Lepley, Norfolk; 6-0 F Kaitlin Cole, Springfield, Pa.
Outlook: Coach Bill Gibbons, entering his 25th season, returns five seniors from last year’s 13-win squad, led by McFadden, the Patriot League scoring leader, and O’Dell, both of whom topped 1,000 career points last season. They will be expected to lead this senior-laden group back to the top of the league standings.
UNIVERSITY OF MASSACHUSETTS
Record: 12-18 (5-9 Atlantic 10)
Key players returning: 6-1 So. Kristina Danella (9.3 ppg, 4.6 rpg); 5-8 Sr. Diatiema Hill (5.3 ppg, 3.7 rpg); 5-5 Sr. Kim Benton (4.2 ppg, 1.7 rpg).
Key newcomers: 5-8 G Dee Montgomery, Bluff City, Tenn.; 6-1 F Shakia Robinson, North Wales, Pa.; 6-3 C Jasmine Watson, South Bend, Ind.; 5-8 Jr. Megan Zullo, Greenville, N.C.
Outlook: Eighth-year coach Marnie Dacko returns just two starters from last year’s 12-win team (Danella and Hill), but they will be surrounded by an infusion of talented newcomers, which include three freshmen and a transfer from North Carolina State (Zullo). UMass will have nowhere to go but up after tying for 10th in the league last season.
NORTHEASTERN
Record: 12-19 (8-10 CAA)
Key players returning: 5-10 G Brittany Wilson (8.3 ppg, 5.5 rpg); 6-2 Sr. Kim Carr (10.6 ppg, 5.7 rpg); 6-1 Sr. Kendra Walton (8.6 ppg, 6.1 rpg).
Key newcomers: 6-0 F Rachel Pecota, San Francisco; 5-10 G/F Afreyea Tolbert, Teaneck, N.J.; 5-11 G Deanna Kerkhof, Wallaceburg, Ontario.
Outlook: Coach Daynia La-Force Mann has the ingredients to improve upon last year’s disappointing record, especially with the return of three of the team’s top four scorers, led by seniors Carr and Walton.
