Women's Basketball | 11/3/2023 9:52:03 AM
St. John Fisher University will look earn its third straight Empire 8 Champions, as the 2023-24 women’s basketball season gets underway on Nov. 8, with several of teams in action. Empire 8 league play begins on Dec. 1-2. The top six teams will advance to the Empire 8 Championship Tournament, which will take place with first round action on Tuesday, Feb. 20. Semifinal games will be hosted by the higher seeds on Thursday, Feb. 22. while the highest remaining seed will host the championship game on Saturday, Feb. 24. The Empire 8 Champion will receive an automatic berth into the 2024 NCAA Division III Women’s Basketball Championship.
Fans can watch the action all season long, free of charge on the
Empire 8 Network.
2023-24 Empire 8 Women's Basketball Players to Watch
Laura Bogota, Elmira, Jr., G, Jackson Heights, NY/Springfield Commonwealth – Bogota was fourth in the Empire 8, averaging 3.5 assists per game and fourth with 2.4 steals per contest in 2022-23. She will look to lead the Soaring Eagles in 2023-24.
Mary Cotter, Keuka, So., G, Hershey, PA/Hershey – Cotter averaged 6.9 points and 3.1 rebounds per game during her rookie season and will be counted on to be a team leader for the Wolves in 2023-24.
Bree Fargnoli, Hartwick, Sr., F, Binghamton, NY/Chenango Forks – Fargnoli led Hartwick in scoring last season, averaging 8.8 points per game. She shot 77 percent from the foul line.
Leah Harkenrider, Alfred, Sr., G, Hornell, NY/Hornell – Harkenrider earned All-Empire 8 second team accolades in 2022-23 after averaging 13.6 points, 4.1 rebounds and 1.6 steals per game last season.
Crysta Lacrosse, Houghton, So., G, Liberty Township, OH/Mount Notre Dame – Lacrosse was named 2022-23 Empire 8 Co-Rookie of the Year and earned All-E8 Second Team accolades after averaging 11.0 points, 4.4 rebounds, 3.4 assists and 1.6 steals per game.
Katie MacLachlan, Nazareth, So., G, Marcellus, NY/Marcellus – MacLachlan averaged 8.4 points and 2.2 assists per game last season and will be counted on to play a major role for the Golden Flyers in 2023-24.
Lauren Sanderson, Russell Sage, Jr., G, Ravena, NY/Ravena-Coeymans-Selkirk – Sanderson averaged 7.8 points, 3.6 rebounds and 1.6 steals per game last season and will be counted on to play a much greater role for the Gators in 2023-24.
Mackenzie Simmons, Utica, So., G, Red Hook, NY/Red Hook – Simmons earned All-Empire 8 third team honors last season after averaging 11.8 points and 6.3 rebounds per game in just 16 contests.
Sidney Tomasso, St. John Fisher, Jr., G, Waverly, NY/Waverly – Tomasso earned All-Empire 8 first team accolades in 2022-23 after averaging 14.5 points per game, while shooting 47.5 percent from the floor and 93 percent from the foul line.
Team Capsules (Sorted by 2022-23 Standings)
St. John Fisher
St. John Fisher opens the season receiving votes in the D3hoops.com national poll. St. John Fisher is the two-time defending Empire 8 Champion and finished the 2022-23 season with a 26-3 record, while advancing to the second round of the NCAA Tournament. The Cardinals have a strong mix of established returners and highly touted newcomers, as four All-Empire 8 selections in Sidney Tomasso (first team) Claire Kruszka (second team) and Kaitlyn Walker (second team) Presleigh Brunner (third team) and Katie Moravec (third team) are back, along with key contributors Lauren Nawojski and Kelly Moravec. Kruszka, the 2023 E8 Defensive Player of the Year, Spring 2021 Rookie of the Year and three-time All-E8 selection, averaged 11.8 points and 4.2 assists per game. Tomasso led the Cardinals in scoring, averaging 14.5 points per game, while shooting 47.5 percent from the floor and 93 percent from the foul line. Head coach Melissa Kuberka, the 2022 d3hoops.com East Region Coach of the Year has led the Cardinals to a 119-30 record in six seasons with six straight trips to the Empire 8 Championship game. St. John Fisher will look to win its eighth Empire 8 Championship in 2023-24.
Nazareth
The Golden Flyers will look for their second Empire 8 title in four seasons and have played in each of the last three E8 Championship games. Nazareth will have a new look this season with few new starters. The Golden Flyers will look to replace Jadyn Abrams, a two-time E8 Player of the Year, 2022 All-American and five-time All-E8 first selection (three first team honors), who finished her tremendous career with 1,750 points, second most in program history and third most in E8 history. Sophomore Katie MacLachlan will be counted on to lead the Golden Flyers this season, after averaging 8.4 points and 2.2 assists per game in 2022-23. Juniors Madilann Johnson in addition to sophomores Kiera Anglin and Leah Fusilli will play a larger role this season. Graduate transfer Olivia Dobrovsky, a former All-SUNYAC second team selection who played at SUNY Oneonta, will also be counted on to step right in and help lead Nazareth in 2023-24.
Russell Sage
The Gators advanced to the Empire 8 Semifinals for the second straight season in 2022-23 and return 10 players, including juniors Lauren Sanderson and Olivia Huneau in addition to sophomore Layla Acosta. Sanderson averaged 7.8 points, 3.6 rebounds and 1.6 steals per game last season and will be counted on to play a much greater role for the Gators in 2023-24. Acosta emerged as a top shooter from long distance and was an Empire 8 Rookie of the Week. The Gators will look to replace former 1,000-point scorers and All-Empire 8 selections Sammy Pasinella and Giuliana Pritchard.
Houghton
Houghton enjoyed a tremendous 2022-23 season, winning 18 games and advancing to the Empire 8 Tournament. The Highlanders return 10 players and its top four scorers from last season, including sophomore guard Crysta Lacrosse. Lacrosse was named 2022-23 Empire 8 Co-Rookie of the Year and earned All-E8 Second Team accolades after averaging 11.0 points, 4.4 rebounds, 3.4 assists and 1.6 steals per game. Senior Carlee Miller averaged 9.6 points, 5.6 boards and just under a block per game in 2022-23, while sophomore Emma Cole Shot 48 percent from the floor and led the E8 with 2.5 blocked shots per game. Junior guard Kayla Camacho also averaged 9.8 points and 5.2 rebounds per contest. Head coach Phil Pellegrino has brought in a strong group of newcomers, including guard Trinity Copeland.
Elmira
The Soaring Eagles won 15 games and advanced to the Empire 8 Tournament for the first time since the 2006-07 season last year. Elmira returns 13 players from last season, including senior Alleney Klunk and juniors Laura Bogota, Olivia Ayres and Nevaeh Winston. Bogota was fourth in the Empire 8, averaging 3.5 assists per game and fourth with 2.4 steals per contest in 2022-23. Winston led all Empire 8 student-athletes with 79 steals and 3.0 steals per game in 2022-23. She also added 9.4 points and 4.3 boards per game, while shooting 46 percent from the floor. Ayers had 38 made 3-pointers last season. Winston is also a standout goalkeeper on the Soaring Eagles women’s soccer team.
Alfred
Alfred advanced to the Empire 8 Quarterfinals after winning 15 games last season. The Saxons return seven players from last season’s team, including senior Leah Harkenrider, classmate Grace Rittenhouse and junior Felicia Stewart. Harkenrider earned All-Empire 8 second team accolades in 2022-23 after averaging 13.6 points, 4.1 rebounds and 1.6 steals per game last season. Rittenhouse and Stewart will look to play a larger role in 2023-24 after both becoming mainstays in the starting lineup last season. In addition, seven talented newcomers join Alfred this season, all looking to make an immediate impact.
Utica
Utica will look to earn an Empire 8 postseason berth in 2023-24 and has 10 players back from last season. Sophomore McKenzie Simmons returns after earning All-Empire 8 third team honors last season after averaging 11.8 points and 6.3 rebounds per game in just 16 contests. Seniors Krissy Geraci and Hannah Stack, along with graduate student Julia Rotando will also be counted on to play a greater role in 2023-24. Stack was second on the team in both scoring (9.8 points per contest) and rebounding (5.4 caroms per game) while averaging just 17 minutes per game, while Geraci averaged 8.3 points and 4.8 assists per game. In addition, head coach Michele Davis has brought in a group of talented newcomers, including Hayleigh Lagase, Vanessa Hall, Kiki Kirvan.
Hartwick
The Hawks will look to get back to the Empire 8 postseason in 2023-24, as nine players return from last season’s team. Seniors Bree Fargnoli, Isabella Astorino, Sareena DiCerbo and Angelina Maselli will be counted on to lead the way for the Hawks this season. Fargnoli led Hartwick in scoring last season, averaging 8.8 points per game. She also shot 77 percent from the foul line. DiCerbo led the team in rebound at 7.0 caroms per game, while Astorino blocked more than a shot per game. Newcomers Macy Durkin and Yadi Smith will vie for immediate playing time.
Keuka
Keuka will look to get back to the postseason in 2023-24 and has eight players returning from last season’s squad. Sophomore Mary Cotter averaged 6.9 points and 3.1 rebounds per game during her rookie season and will be counted on to be a team leader for the Wolves in 2023-24. Senior guard Sydney Brown averaged 8.0 points and 3.7 assists per contest. Newcomers Caiden Crego and Meghan Ellis will look to make an immediate impact for Keuka this season.
Final 2022-23 Empire 8 Women’s Basketball Standings
St. John Fisher (26-3, 18-0 E8) – League Champions
Nazareth (19-8, 14-4 E8)
Russell Sage (17-10, 12-6 E8)
Houghton (18-11, 10-8 E8)
Elmira (15-11, 10-8 E8)
Alfred (15-10, 10-8 E8)
Utica (10-15, 5-13 E8)
Hartwick (7-17, 5-13 E8)
Medaille (6-18, 4-14 E8)
Keuka (5-20, 2-16 E8)
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
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