STANDISH, Maine – Head Coach Mike McDevitt '83 is pleased to announce the women's basketball Class of 2023.
Coach McDevitt, who will begin his 27th season at the helm for the Monks this winter, is bringing in a six-player class comprised of four guards and two post players hailing from three different states.
Last winter, Saint Joseph's went 28-2 overall – including a 12-0 mark in conference play – en route to earning the top seed in the GNAC Tournament for the fourth-consecutive year. The Monks cruised past Johnson & Wales and Suffolk in the first two rounds of the tourney before suffering a 65-64 upset at the hands of Emmanuel in the GNAC Championship on February 23rd.
Ranked in the top 10 nationally in the WBCA and D3Hoops.com polls and fourth in the NCAA DIII Regional rankings, Saint Joseph's earned the program's first-ever at-large berth into the NCAA Tournament. The Monks faced MIT in the opening round of the national tourney and defeated the Engineers, 68-61, before falling to pod-host Ithaca College, 74-63, the following day.
The loss signaled the end of collegiate basketball for the Monks' four seniors: Emily Benway (Rochester, N.H.), Julia Champagne (Brunswick, Maine), McNamara, and Hannah Marks (Waldoboro, Maine). With the 2019 class on the court, St. Joe's posted a 103-15 (.873) overall record – the most victories by a senior class in program history - with a 53-2 (.964) mark in conference play, three GNAC Championships, and four NCAA Tournament appearances.
"I am very excited to welcome our Class of 2023," adds Coach McDevitt. "They are very talented and accomplished basketball players who are also outstanding students. I expect them to have an immediate impact on our basketball program and campus community."
WOMEN'S BASKETBALL CLASS OF 2023:
|
Jayne Howe Why Saint Joseph's? Loved the atmosphere, everyone I met on my visit made me feel like I belonged there. It's also close enough to home and has a great reputation for Education Majors High School: Played basketball and soccer at Pembroke High School…Two-time Patriot League All-Star, Boston Globe All-Scholastic, Patriot Ledger All-Scholastic, first 1,000 Point Scorer for PHS Girls Basketball Team…Helped her team win the 2018-19 Patriot League Fisher Division Championship and the 2018-19 MIAA Division 2 South Sectional Championship…Helped PHS advance to the MIAA tournament all four years…Honor Roll student, member of National Honor Society, earned Excellence Math Award junior and senior years…Played club basketball for MT Elite Ducks for 15 seasons, winning various ZG National Tournaments and MA AAU State Tournaments. Community Service: Volunteer for the Standish Humane Society and Special Olympics. Also participated in A Shot for Life Challenge - basketball shooting challenge to raise money for WT Curry Research Lab at Mass General Hospital and volunteered for the Pembroke Appalachia Service Project. Personal: Jayne Ethelyn Howe, daughter of Christine and Bob Howe…Has one sister, Katelyn.
|
|
Brianna Jordan Why Saint Joseph's? I've loved St. Joes ever since I was little and made it my dream school. High School: Played basketball and soccer at Gray-New Gloucester High School…Earned the Mike Direnzo MVP Award…Garnered First Team All-Conference honors all four years…Claimed Second Team All-Conference honors in soccer…Helped GNG win a pair of State Championships with three Regional Championships…2019 Maine Miss Basketball Finalist…Listed on the High Honor Roll, member of the National Honor Society, and listed on various All-Academic Teams…Played club for Blue Wave Basketball for five years, YES program for one year, and Firecrackers for three months. Community Service: Completed three years of community service at Gray-New Gloucester. Personal: Brianna Lindsay Jordan, daughter of Stacia and Dean Bennett…Has six siblings, Nick J, Benny, Ashley, Nick B, Sam, and Chris. |
|
Cassandra Stapelfeld Why Saint Joseph's? For its strong nursing and basketball programs High School: Junior transfer from Simmons College...Four-year letter winner for Hollis Brookline High School...Named to the New Hampshire Basketball Coaches Organization All-State Division II First Team for the Cavaliers following both her junior and senior seasons...Tabbed to the Nashua Telegraph First Team for HBHS...Selected to the Twin State Basketball All-Star Classic and was named the Michael Johnson Memorial Most Valuable Player...Tapped for the NHBCO All-Academic Team…Named the Cavaliers Most Valuable Player and top Offensive Player...Scored more than 1000 career points for Hollis Brookline High School...Member of the National Honors Society at HBHS…Played club for the North Central Blaze and Granite State Rockettes. Community Service: Volunteered with the Nashua Soup Kitchen, the American Red Cross and Bicycles Battling Cancer. Personal: Cassandra Stapelfeld, daughter of Dawn and Douglas Stapelfeld…Has four siblings, Cameron, Alex, Maxwell, and Elisabeth. |
|
Mikayla Van Zandt Why Saint Joseph's? The opportunity to play basketball and it's right on Sebago Lake. High School: Played basketball, softball and soccer at Westbrook High School…Garnered First Team All-Conference, SMAA Best Rebounder, SMAA Rookie Award, Coaches' Award, MVP, First Team All-Star, Blazes Award, and Academic Award honors…Selected as a senior captain…Listed on the Academic Honor Roll…Played AAU for the Maine Renegades for four years and Southern Maine Shock for 1.5 years. Community Service: Interact Club Personal: Mikayla Brooke Van Zandt, daughter of Katie Miller and Mike Van Zandt. |
|
Katie Whitmore Why Saint Joseph's? Good business program, beautiful campus, friendly and supportive atmosphere and opportunity to play basketball High School: Played basketball and volleyball at South Portland High School…Listed on the SMAA All-Rookie Team as a freshman and a McDonald's All-Star as a senior…2019 Maine Miss Basketball Finalist…Listed on the Academic Honor Roll. Personal: Kathryn Elizabeth Whitmore, daughter of Michele and Kevin Whitmore…Has two sisters, Annie and Maggie. |
|
Isabel Wrobleski Why Saint Joseph's? The nursing and basketball programs are great at St. Joe's and it's also close to home. High School: Played basketball and softball at Kennett High School…Jack Ford Award Recipient, First Team All-State senior year, Second Team All-State junior year, 1,000 point scorer…KHS finished as the Division II Basketball Runner Up her senior year…Listed on the Academic Honor Roll for three years, member of the German Honor Society, All-Academic junior and senior year. Community Service: Jen's Friends, Angels and Elves, Reach the Beach, MWV Youth Hockey Personal: Isabel Marie Wrobleski, daughter of Nikki and Abe Wrobleski…Has one brother, Bryson. |