Women’s Basketball Slated to Finish Fifth in MASCAC Pre-season Poll

Buzzards Bay, Mass. – The Framingham State University women's basketball team has been chosen to finish fifth and the Trailblazers of MCLA are the pre-season pick to win the 2011-12 Massachusetts State Collegiate Athletic Conference (MASCAC) Women's Basketball Championship in a vote of the league's coaches.

MCLA claimed four first place votes to amass 42 points in taking the top spot in the poll, as the Trailblazers topped defending conference regular season champion Westfield State's total of 40 points that included one first place vote.  2010-11 MASCAC tournament champion Bridgewater State is next in third place with 37 points that includes one first place vote, while Worcester State, which collected the other first place vote, follows in fourth with 30 points.  The Rams are next in fifth with 21 points, while Fitchburg State and Salem State round out the poll in a tie for sixth place with 13 points apiece.

The 2011-12 Rams under the direction of fifth year head coach Trish O'Brien will be led by the reigning MASCAC Rookie of the year in sophomore Kristen Hoffman.  Hoffman, who transferred to FSU midway through last season, averaged 14.9 points and 4.1 rebounds per game.  Also returning for the Rams is junior Kia Minor, who was a second team All-MASCAC selection during her sophomore season.  In 2010-11 Minor recorded seven double doubles as she averaged 10.6 points and 8.9 rebounds per game.

The Massachusetts State Collegiate Athletic Conference, the nation's first Division III men's and women's playing conference, has a rich and storied tradition of competitive success while celebrating excellence in the classroom.  MASCAC member schools include Bridgewater State University, Fitchburg State University, Framingham State University, MCLA, Massachusetts Maritime Academy, Salem State University, Westfield State University, and Worcester State University.  Two other institutions, the University of Massachusetts Dartmouth and Plymouth State University, are affiliate members of the conference in the sport of men's ice hockey.

Portions of release courtesy of MASCAC Media Relations.