STANDISH, Maine – The 2022 Maine Women's Basketball Coaches Association (MWBCA) postseason honors have been announced and a pair of Saint Joseph's College players have earned accolades.
Senior guard Cassandra Stapelfeld (Brookline, N.H.) has earned First Team All-State honors and sophomore guard Angelica Hurley (Groveland, Mass.) is listed on the All-Rookie Team.
Stapelfeld takes home her first All-State award after averaging 17.7 points, 3.5 rebounds and 2.7 assists while shooting 47.2% (170-360) from the field, 40.8% (69-169) from three-point range, and 81.4% (70-86) from the free throw line over 27 games this winter. She capped the season ranked second in the Great Northeast Athletic Conference (GNAC) in points (479), three-pointers made (69) and three-point percentage and third in scoring average and field goals made (170).
Stapelfeld, who played at Endicott College as a freshman and at Simmons University her sophomore season, transferred to Saint Joseph's prior to the start of the 2019-20 campaign and completed her college career with 1,683 points in 111 games for a 15.2 PPG average. She closed out her senior season ranked third among active NCAA DIII players in free-throw percentage (85.1%, 297-349), eighth in three-pointers made (232), ninth in points and 18th in field goals made (577).
In 61 games at Saint Joseph's, the two-time All-GNAC honoree netted 888 points for a 14.6 PPG average while shooting 43.8% (312-712) from the field, 38.3% (133-347) from downtown, and 83.4% (131-157) from the FT line. She leaves the program ranked fourth in team history in FT% and three-point percentage, seventh in three-pointers made, and ninth in scoring average.
Hurley claims MWBCA All-Rookie honors after averaging 10.9 points, 8.5 rebounds and 3.7 assists per game while shooting 37.2% (90-242) from the floor, 30.5% (32-105) from beyond the arc and 78.6% (81-103) from the charity stripe in 27 starts this winter.
The sophomore guard led the Monks in rebounding and assists average and paced the GNAC in defensive rebounds (201) and assists (100) this winter. She also finished the season ranked second in the conference in total rebounds (230) and was fourth in free throws made and sixth in FT% and assist/turnover ratio (1.7).
Under the watch of 30th-year Head Coach Mike McDevitt '83, the Monks enjoyed another fantastic season with a 22-5 (.815) overall record, including a 14-2 (.875) mark in GNAC play, en route to claiming the #3 seed in the GNAC Tournament.
After defeating #6 Rivier and #2 Albertus Magnus in the first two round of the tourney, the Monks advanced to the GNAC Championship game for the sixth-consecutive season. Playing at top-seeded Emmanuel College in the title bout, St. Joe's nearly overcame a slow start with a strong second half but ultimately fell short, 78-70, in what was the sixth GNAC Championship matchup featuring the pair of conference contenders.
2022 MWBCA POSTSEASON AWARDS:
MWBCA Player of the Year
Bailey Donovan – Husson University
MWBCA Newcomer of the Year
Jordyn Franzen – University of New England
MWBCA Coach of the Year
Alison Montgomery – Bates College
MWBCA First Team All-State
Bailey Donovan, Jr. – Husson University
Meghan Graff, Jr. – Bates College
Cassandra Stapelfeld, Sr. – Saint Joseph's College
Sela Kay, Jr. – Bowdoin College
Lauren Plissey, Sr. – Maine Maritime Academy
MWBCA Second Team All-State
Jordyn Franzen, So. – University of New England
Mia Roy, Sr. – Bates College
Abby Cavallaro, Sr. – University of New England
Caroline Smith, Fr. – Colby College
Keegan Dunbar, Jr. – Colby College
All-Newcomer Team*
Jordyn Franzen, So. – University of New England
Erianna Moore, Fr. – Maine Maritime Academy
Caroline Smith, Fr. – Colby College
Angelica Hurley, So. – Saint Joseph's College
Morgan Kennedy, So. – Bates College
Maria Barela, Fr. - Maine Maritime Academy
*sophomores were eligible because of season lost last year due to COVID-19