WNY women's basketball previews: Buffalo, Niagara look to take next steps
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BUFFALO, N.Y. (WIVB) — Western New York’s four Division I women’s college basketball teams are set to kick off their seasons on Monday.
Here's a breakdown of each of the teams heading into the new season.
To see an outlook on the men's teams, click here.
Buffalo
Coach: Becky Burke (31-30), 3rd season
Last season: 19-14 (10-8 MAC), 193 NET
Preseason projections: 3rd in MAC coaches poll
Schedule highlights: Nov. 4 vs. Troy (home opener), Nov. 22 at Canisius, No. 26 at Niagara, Nov. 30 vs. St. Bonaventure, Jan. 1 vs. Central Michigan (MAC opener), Mar. 8 vs. Western Michigan (home finale)
Returning: 5-8 GS Chellia Watson (23.0 PPG, 5.1 RPG), 5-10 So. Kirsten Lewis-Williams (11.8 PPG, 5.2 RPG), 6-0 So. Alexis Davis (7.8 PPG, 6.3 RPG), 5-10 Sr. Sitota Gines (2.0 PPG, 1.6 RPG), 5-8 So. Paula Lopez (2.0 PPG, 1.3 RPG)
Arrivals: 5-8 Fr. Mallory Daly (Pittsburgh), 5-6 GS Noelani Cornfield (Southern Miss), 5-7 Fr. Aniya Rowe (Rochester, N.Y.), 6-1 So. Makenna Shaffer (Florida Southwestern State), 6-2 Sr. Ariana Seawell (UMES), 5-7 Fr. Caylen Spano (Erie, Penn.), 5-9 Sr. Terah Harness (Marshall), 6-0 Sr. Jordyn Beaty (Texas A&M Commerce), 6-2 Sr. Jaylin Hartman (George Washington)
Departures: Rana Elhusseini (graduated), Hattie Ogden (BYU), Kiara Johnson (graduated), Chanteese Craig (Detroit Mercy), Briyanna Baron (graduated), Katie Burton (Detroit Mercy), Ida Jonsson Ojala, Ella Take, Jessica Wangolo (Le Moyne)
Outlook: After a run to the MAC championship game last season and a bid to the WNIT, the Bulls look to take the next step in 2024-25. Two players, Chellia Watson and Kirsten Lewis-Williams, were both preseason first team all-conference picks. Beat Daemen 82-38 in an exhibition game on Oct. 27.
Niagara
Coach: Jada Pierce (109-152), 10th season
Last season: 21-14 (15-5 MAAC), 203 NET
Preseason projection: 3rd in MAAC coaches poll
Schedule highlights: Nov. 5 at Syracuse, Nov. 9 at West Virginia, Nov. 14 at Penn State, Nov. 20 vs. Cleveland State (home opener), Nov. 26 vs. Buffalo, Dec. 17 at St. Bonaventure, Dec. 19 at Siena (MAAC opener), Jan. 30 vs. Canisius, Feb. 11 at Canisius, Mar. 8 vs. Rider (home finale)
Returning: 5-9 Sr. Aaliyah Parker (12.2 PPG, 5.4 RPG), 6-2 Jr. Amelia Strong (8.9 PPG, 4.9 RPG), 5-9 GS Lore Porter (4.9 PPG, 1.1 RPG), 5-10 Jr. Jade Rutledge (4.7 PPG in 2022-23), 5-10 Jr. Marlie Dickerson (3.6 PPG, 1.8 RPG),
Arrivals: 5-5 Fr. LaKeeyah Barnes (Chicago), 5-8 Fr. Nevaeh Otis (Pontiac, Mich.), 5-11 Fr. Jordyn Williams (Buffalo, N.Y.), 5-9 So. Safiatu Kolliegbo (Willingboro, N.J.), 5-5 GS Caliana Fenceroy (Radford), 5-10 Jr. Talia Dial (Scottsdale), 5-11 So. Jemima Lacroix (Waterloo), 5-8 Fr, Myana Cooksey (Detroit)
Departures: Angel Parker (graduated), Chardonnay Hartley (Utah Tech), Destiny Strother (graduated), Saige Glover (Florida A&M), Ary Hicks, Alyssa Rossignol (Post), Kylie Buckley (Oakland), Shelby Fiddler (Presbyterian), Lexie Roe
Outlook: The postseason looked similar for Buffalo and Niagara, with the Purple Eagles reaching the MAAC championship game and earning a bid to the WNIT, getting to the second round. It will have to replace Angel Parker, but sister Aaliyah Parker was a preseason first team all-league pick. The 2023-24 campaign was the first 20-win season for the program in over two decades. Beat Roberts Wesleyan 82-41 in an exhibition on Oct. 30.
Canisius
Coach: Tiffany Swoffard, 1st season
Last season: 14-18 (8-12 MAAC), 249 NET
Preseason projection: 13th in MAAC coaches poll
Schedule highlights: Nov. 5 at Pittsburgh, Nov. 7 at Penn State, Nov. 19 vs. St. Bonaventure (home opener), Nov. 22 vs. Buffalo, Dec. 2 vs. Illinois, Dec. 19 at Merrimack (MAAC opener), Jan. 30 at Niagara, Feb. 11 vs. Niagara, Mar. 8 vs. St. Peter's (home finale)
Returning: 5-7 So. Mary Copple (0.8 PPG, 0.7 RPG), 5-9 So, Xanthippi Karatasiou (0.5 PPG, 1.0 RPG), 5-5 So. Saige Randolph
Arrivals: 5-5 GS Jaela Johnson (IUPUI), 5-10 Fr. Ari Parker (Detroit), 5-9 Fr. Alex Moses (Delanson, N.Y.), Corniya Clay (Toledo, Ohio), 5-0 Fr. Irene Rey Pineda (Madrid, Spain), 6-2 Jr. Marian Sanogo (Odessa College), 5-5 GS Cory Santoro (Lander), 6-2 Sr. Sara Carvajal Caro (Troy), 5-8 Jr. Franka Wittenberg (Fresno State), 6-2 Fr. Jordan Day (Cincinnati), 6-1 Fr. Yasmine Djibril (Montreal, Quebec), 6-0 So. Shariah Gailes (Illinois Springfield)
Departures: Sisi Eleko (Eastern Michigan), Athina Lexa (Eastern Michigan), Mackenzie Amalia (graduated), Grace Heeps (graduated), Brooklyn Thrash (Eastern Michigan), Bri Rozzi (graduated), Tihanna Fulton (graduated), Chloe Chard Peloquin (Wright State), Adrien LaMora (Eastern Michigan), Giana Hernandez-Boulden (graduated), Jane McCauley (UMass-Dartmouth)
Outlook: New head coach Tiffany Swoffard takes over as Canisius head coach replacing Sahar Nusseibeh, who departed for Eastern Michigan. Swoffard is a former Penn State assistant. Golden Griffins have 12 new players on the roster, including six freshmen. Beat Lock Haven 66-59 in an exhibition on Oct. 24.
St. Bonaventure
Coach: Jim Crowley (386-420, 262-257 at Bona), 2nd season of second stint, 18th overall
Last season: 4-26 (1-17 Atlantic 10), 285 NET
Preseason projections: 14th in Atlantic 10 coaches poll
Schedule highlights: Nov. 9 vs. Binghamton (home opener), Nov. 19 at Canisius, Nov. 30 at Buffalo, Dec. 17 vs. Niagara, Dec. 29 at Loyola Chicago (A10 opener), Mar. 1 vs. Dayton (home finale)
Returning: 5-6 Sr. Dani Haskell (12.3 PPG, 3.0 RPG), 5-9 Sr. Isabella Middleton (11.5 PPG, 5.9 RPG), 5-6 Sr. Nadechka Laccen (9.4 PPG, 4.3 RPG), 6-0 GS Payton Fields (6.7 PPG, 3.3 RPG), Tamar vooor de Poort (0.7 PPG, 0.6 RPG)
Arrivals: 5-10 Fr. Lena Walz (Erie, Penn.), 5-10 Fr. Mackenzie Pettinelli (Collegeville, Penn.), 5-6 Fr. Macy Smith (Strasburg, Va.), 5-9 Jr. Aurore Eyango (Clarendon College), 6-2 Jr. Mya Davidson (Three Rivers Community College), 6-2 Jr. Gabby Robinson Forde (Gulf Coast State), 6-1 Fr. Caitlin Frost (Les Coteaux, Quebec), 5-7 Fr. Zoe Shaw (Melbourne, Australia), 6-1 Fr. Hannah Richardson (Auckland, New Zealand)
Departures: Tianna Johnson (graduated), Taylor Napper (Radford), Maddie Dziezgowski (graduated), Kirah Dandridge (Radford), Claire Cody (graduated)
Outlook: Jim Crowley returns his top four scorers from last year's Bonnies squad. Six freshman on the team this season. Beat Daemen 71-57 in an exhibition on Nov. 1.
WIVB Sports
Aidan Joly joined the News 4 staff in 2022. He is a graduate of Canisius College. You can see more of his work here.