Western New England Picked Fourth in CCC Preseason Coaches’ Poll

CCC Poll Release/Video

Golden Bears seeking third straight trip to CCC title game

SPRINGFIELD, Mass. (November 8, 2017) – The Western New England University women's basketball team has been picked to finish fourth in the 2017-18 Commonwealth Coast Conference (CCC) Preseason Coaches' Poll, which was released on Wednesday afternoon by the league office. 

The University of New England was selected as the preseason favorite among the CCC head coaches, as the Nor'easters received seven of a possible ten first place votes and 94 total points. Roger Williams University picked up one first place vote, finishing second in the poll with 88 points, while Endicott College garnered the final two first place tallies and placed third with 83 points.

Western New England followed in fourth with 72 points, while Salve Regina University (56 points), Eastern Nazarene College (48), Gordon College (37), Curry College (36), Nichols College (24) and Wentworth Institute of Technology (12) rounded the final six spots in the poll.

The Golden Bears will be seeking their third consecutive trip to the CCC Tournament championship game this season after posting consecutive runner-up finishes in 2015-16 and 2016-17.

Western New England will be led by senior point guard Dorothy O'Neill (Staten Island, N.Y.), a two-year captain and three-time All-CCC performer with career averages of 10.1 points, 3.2 assists and 3.0 rebounds per game. After losing four of their top five leading scorers from a season ago, the Golden Bears will look to sophomore forward Meghan Orbann (East Hampton, Conn.) to take on an expanded role on offense. Junior guard Meghan Gilhool (Montrose, Pa.), who led the CCC with a 2.50 assist/turnover ratio last season, will also be a key contributor for Western New England.

Now in her 13^th season at Western New England, head coach Nicole Chaszar is just 11 wins shy of 200 with a career record of 189-136 (.582).

The Golden Bears open their 2017-18 campaign on Wednesday, November 15 at crosstown rival Springfield College, before returning home to host MCLA on Saturday, November 18. CCC play gets underway on Wednesday, November 29, when Western New England welcomes Roger Williams to the Alumni Healthful Living Center.

2017-18 CCC Women's Basketball Preseason Coaches' Poll