Women's Basketball | 10/28/2021 11:31:56 AM
Nazareth College will look to repeat as Empire 8 Champions, as the 2021-22 women’s basketball season gets underway on Nov. 5-6, with a handful of teams in action. Empire 8 league play begins on Jan. 4, 2022. The top five teams will advance to the Empire 8 Championship Tournament, which will take place with first round action on Tuesday, Feb. 22. The top-seed will host the Empire 8 semifinal round games on Friday, Feb. 25 and the championship on Saturday, Feb. 26. The Empire 8 Champion will receive an automatic berth into the 2022 NCAA Division III Women’s Basketball Championship.
Fans can watch the action all season long, free of charge on the
Empire 8 Network.
2021-22 Empire 8 Women's Basketball Players to Watch
Jadyn Abrams, Nazareth, Sr., F, Bath, NY/Haverling – Abrams was named the 2021 Empire 8 Player of the Year last spring after averaging 18.0 points per game and leading the Golden Flyers to their first league title.
Gillian Flint, Alfred, Sr., G, Caledonia, NY/Caledonia-Mumford – Flint was an All-Empire 8 second team selection last spring after averaging 9.4 points, 5.3 rebounds, 1.9 assists and 1.9 steals per game, while playing 30 minutes per contest.
Meghan McGwin, Keuka, Jr., F, Rochester, NY/Hilton – McGwin averaged 8.9 points and 4.7 rebounds per game last spring.
Sammy Pasinella, Russell Sage, Sr., G, Mechanicville, NY/Mechanicville – Pasinella was an All-Empire 8 first team selection last spring, averaging 13.7 points and 4.3 boards per game.
Giuliana Pritchard, Hartwick, Sr., F, Amsterdam, NY/Amsterdam – Pritchard earned All-Empire 8 second team accolades in 2019-20 after averaging 12.4 points and 8.7 rebounds per game.
Sydney Przygoda, Utica, Sr., F, Freehold, NY/Freehold – Przygoda was an All-Empire 8 first team selection in 2019-20 after averaging 18.3 points and 10.9 rebounds per game, while shooting 56 percent from the floor.
Hannah Roeske, Houghton, So., G, Fillmore, NY/Fillmore – Roeske made her collegiate debut last spring and averaged 8.3 points and 6.7 rebounds per game in three contests.
Kaitlyn Walker, St. John Fisher, Jr., F, Camillus, NY/West Genesee – Walker was an All-Empire 8 first team selection and WBCA Honorable Mention All-American last spring, averaging 12.4 points and 9.0 rebounds per game.
Alyssa Waters, Elmira, Sr., G, Plattsburgh, NY/Beekmantown – Waters played in all 50 games over her first two seasons. She averaged 9.1 points, 3.0 rebounds and 1.9 assists per game during the 2019-20 season.
Team Capsules (Sorted by Spring 2021 Standings)
Nazareth
The Golden Flyers captured their first-ever Empire 8 title in 2021 and are looking to repeat with E8 Player of the Year Jadyn Abrams back to lead the way. Abrams averaged 18.0 points per game last spring and enters the 2021-22 season just 98 points shy of 1,000 for her career. Nazareth’s roster was bolstered by the addition of Sabrina Wolfe, who scored more than 1,000 points in three seasons at RIT, while helping lead the Tigers to two NCAA Tournament appearances. Kim Davis was an All-Empire 8 second-team selection and Caley Cornwell was the Defensive Player of the Year last spring. Overall, 11 players return for the Golden Flyers this season.
St. John Fisher
St. John Fisher opens the season ranked just outside the top-25 in the D3basketball.com national poll. St. John Fisher, who won the 2019-20 Empire 8 Championship, advanced to the league championship game last spring. The Cardinals return four All-Empire 8 selections from last spring, including Kaitlyn Walker, who was an WBCA Honorable Mention All-American last spring, averaging 12.4 points and 9.0 rebounds per game. Senior guard Amy Gardner is back after earning All-E8 first team accolades, while senior Miranda Lynch and E8 Rookie of the Year Claire Kruszka are back to form a strong returning nucleus.
Russell Sage
The Gators return four of five starters from last spring, including All-Empire 8 first team selection Sammy Pasinella. Pasinella was an All-Empire 8 first team selection last spring, averaging 13.7 points and 4.3 boards per game. She also scored 348 points in 2019-20, helping lead Russell Sage to the E8 title game. Senior forward Kyra Oeffler and classmate Meghan Murray will also be key contributors in 2021-22. Oeffler averaged 8.8 points and 8.3 boards per game last spring.
Alfred
Alfred advanced to the Empire 8 Semifinals last spring and return nine players from that team. Senior Gillian Flint was an All-Empire 8 second team selection last spring after averaging 9.4 points, 5.3 rebounds, 1.9 assists and 1.9 steals per game, while playing 30 minutes per contest. Senior guard Allison O’Toole, who earned All-American honors for the Alfred softball team, along with sophomore Karly Welty and Grace Rittenhouse will be counted on to lead the Saxons.
Keuka
Keuka advanced to the Empire 8 Semifinals last spring after having won 50 games from 2017-2020 under head coach Gary Broadhurst. Junior Meaghan McGwin averaged 8.9 points and 4.7 rebounds last season. Senior Amelia Poole and junior Killian Mahoney will be expected to see plenty of time on the court this season. Junior guard Lauren Hill transferred to Keuka from Suffolk University to provide offense for the Wolves.
Elmira
Elmira looks to get back to the postseason for first-year head coach Thad Phillips. Senior Alyssa Waters played in all 50 games over her first two seasons. She averaged 9.1 points, 3.0 rebounds and 1.9 assists per game during the 2019-20 season. Seniors Taylor Albrecht and Alicia Johnson, along with Emily Sutryk will be expected to start and serve as leaders on the court, as eight freshmen are on the roster this season.
Hartwick
The Hawks are three seasons removed from an Empire 8 title. Hartwick finished 8-6 in league play during the 2019-20 season and advanced to the Empire 8 Semifinals. Hartwick returns five players from that team for first-year head coach Sarah Lombard. Seniors Giuliana Pritchard and sisters Maggie and Molly Kirby will be expected to lead the Hawks this season. Pritchard earned All-Empire 8 second team accolades in 2019-20 after averaging 12.4 points and 8.7 rebounds per game. Maggie Kirby was a 2019 and 2020 All-E8 honorable mention pick, averaging 13.8 points per game that season. Molly Kirby averaged 9.7 points per contest.
Houghton
Houghton will have one of the younger rosters in the league this season, with nine newcomers (seven freshmen and two transfers). Sophomores Hannah Roeske and Carlee Miller, along with Alexis Klohr will be counted on to lead the Highlanders this season. Houghton did play three non-conference games last season, winning all three of them for head coach Phil Pellegrino, who makes his E8 debut in 2021-22.
Utica
Utica finished 15-11 overall and 8-6 in league play during the 2019-20 season, advancing to the Empire 8 semifinals. Sydney Pryzgoda returns after leading the E8 with 475 total points, a .563 field goal percentage and the second most rebounds per game (10.9) in 2019-20. Head Coach Michele Davis returns for her 21st season on the sidelines for UC. Brigid Johndrow, Petrina DeMarco and Kimberly Soriano were all key components of the 2019-20 team who will be counted on to lead the way for the Pioneers this season.
Final Spring 2021 Empire 8 Women’s Basketball Standings
Nazareth (10-2, 7-1 E8) – League Champions
St. John Fisher (9-3, 6-1 E8)
Russell Sage (2-4, 2-4 E8)
Alfred (2-7, 2-5 E8)
Keuka (0-7, 0-6 E8)
^ Elmira, Hartwick, Houghton and Utica opted out of league play for the 2021 spring season.
ABOUT THE EMPIRE 8 CONFERENCE
The members of the Empire 8 Conference are committed first and foremost to the pursuit of academic excellence and the league is regarded as an outstanding NCAA Division III conference. The membership has distinguished itself among its peer group for its quality institutions, spirited and sportsmanlike competition, outstanding services and highly ethical policies and practices. Its commitment to serve the educational needs of its student-athletes is the hallmark of the E8. For more on the Empire 8 visit
www.empire8.com and
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