LATHAM, N.Y. - The United East has rolled out its women's basketball Skye Division preview for the 2023-24 season. The Skye Division consists of ten teams, with each program squaring off against one another twice in conference play.
Six of those teams will earn bids to the postseason which begins on Saturday, February 17, 2024 with the Divisional First Round. Winners of that round will then square off in the Divisional Semifinals on Monday, February 19, 2024.. The Divisional Final will then take place on Wednesday, February 21, 2024.
The Skye Division Champion will then square off against the Volt Division Champion in a culminating Championship on Saturday, February 24, 2024. The winner of that match will be crowned United East Champion and earn the conference's automatic qualifier into the Division III NCAA Championship.
Bryn Athyn College
Bryn Athyn looks to take a step forward in 2023-24 with some new additions and increased roles for returners for Head Coach Travis Ponton in his 5th season in charge of the Lions. Senior Kaylia Duncan (8.4 ppg, 137 career steals) returns for her fifth season as the team’s leading scorer with sophomore forward Alexa Osafo-Mensah (5.7 ppg, 4.9 rpg, 18.7 min per game) taking an expanded role. Sophomore guard Zhymani Smith missed last season with an injury after transferring from Division I Florida A&M. The Lions open with Medgar Evars and Pratt Institute at the Cairn Invitational before the Annual Battle of the Bryns at Bryn Mawr on November 18.
Coach’s Outlook: “I'm excited for our program as we look to continue to build to where we want to be. Opportunity has been a big theme for us, and we have plenty of those available for people to step up and play big roles from the jump. Our incoming recruiting class had a great mix of players who had success in both the high school and junior college ranks, as well as additions from other 4 year schools who know what it takes to win games at this level. It's safe to say a few of these newcomers are going to be impact players this year, so we are excited to see that play out. Having experience returning at the guard spot with Kaylia Duncan and a healthy Zhymani Smith will be huge for us as well. November 10 can't get here soon enough.”
Cairn University
Allen Kuiper begins his second season in charge of the Cairn University women’s basketball program with a young team intent on developing through the season. With twelve of eighteen roster spots listed as First Year’s, the Highlanders will be leaning on junior forward Taylor Hinson (21.8 ppg, 11.0 rpg, 43% FG%, 2nd Team All-CSAC) to provide veteran presence and leadership. The non-conference matchups with Centenary University, Rutgers-Newark, and Pratt will prepare Cairn for United East Skye Division play.
Coach’s Outlook:
Cedar Crest College
Head Coach Kenric Carter begins his 3rd season at the head of Cedar Crest Basketball and is looking forward to improving on their 2022-23 season. The Falcons are led by sophomore guard Jordan McGhee (11.4 ppg, 3.9 rpg, 11 steals) and junior forward Rachel Bilger (16 starts, 6.2 ppg, 7.1 rpg, 19 steals, 5 blocks) who will provide experience and leadership to a young team. Cedar Crest has non-conference matchups with Penn State Berks, Penn State Lehigh Valley, and Centenary before settling in for the United East Skye Division campaign.
Coach’s Outlook: “I'm excited for this season. I think we have a good group this year with some size and depth. We are a little young but my returners and transfers should balance it out with experience. If we can stay healthy, I think we could definitely make some noise in the conference.”
Clarks Summit University
After a finals appearance in 2023, the Clarks Summit women’s basketball team looks to maintain that standard in Head Coach Marvin Evans’ second season at the helm. Though there were losses to graduation, an experienced veteran group will lead the Defenders in 2023-24 led by junior guard Serene Calderon (11.8 ppg, 8.0 rpg, 4.5 apg), sophomore guard Keilani Araniva (3.4 ppg, 15 min per game), and sophomore guard Cristen Winkle. Non-conference matchups with Misericordia, Marywood, and Penn State Abington highlight the schedule before settling in to United East Skye Division play.
Coach’s Outlook: “The team is working hard on and off the court to sustain the recent success of the CSU WBB program. With the return of veterans from the 23' CSAC Championship finalists' team and the addition of a very talented incoming Freshmen class we are looking forward to competing at a high level every night in the new United East Conference.”
Keystone College
Jason Rhine begins his first season in charge of Keystone Women’s Basketball in 2023-24 looking to improve upon the program’s quarter-final appearance last season. Senior guard Riley Berry (13.7 ppg, Honorable Mention All-Conference) provides the veteran presence for the Giants. Keystone opens with a tournament at Western New England University and has non-conference dates with Marywood and Immaculata.
Coach’s Outlook: “I'm very excited to embark on year 1 here at Keystone College! The team we've constructed seems very eager to get to work and thus far, I've been impressed with their efforts.”
Notre Dame of Maryland University
After a 2022-23 season where Notre Dame of Maryland finished 23-5 (17-1 CSAC) and appeared in their second-ever NCAA Tournament, the Gators are on the rebuild after losing four starters in Head Coach Kalin Wynn’s 4th season at the helm. Junior Bethani Newbold returns after starting in all 28 games last season and averaging 5.1 ppg and 4.2 rpg. Sophomore Alexis Jones (6.3 ppg, 3.9 rpg) and Junior Amya Durham (5.3 ppg, 3.8 rpg) appeared in all 28 games and will provide veteran leadership to a young squad. The Gators have non-conference games with Salisbury and Washington College in addition to a Division I contest with Morgan State on November 16.
Coach’s Outlook: “We have one returning starter and 10 talented incoming freshmen. We will need to jell quickly during this rebuilding season.”
Rosemont College
Rosemont College women’s basketball has a new head coach in Christina Floyd, the Ravens have a large group of newcomers on campus, and they’re looking to improve on past season’s successes. Senior guard Alona Stanley, sophomore guard Danaijah Wise, and sophomore guard Lakay Holloway will lead the younger team by example as the Ravens look to improve in 2023-24.
Coach’s Outlook: “Entering a rebuilding year here at Rosemont, one thing I am looking forward to the most is positively impacting the players within this program, both on & off the court. We've added a total of nine new players to our program, including five freshmen ranging from skilled ball handlers to explosive power forwards. It is exciting to see what this team will do this season & beyond.”
Saint Elizabeth University
The Saint Elizabeth University Eagles have a couple of key players returning and are looking to build off of a big 2022-23 season in Head Coach Trey Bailey Strothers’ second season. Junior Destiny Battle (16 ppg, 6.1apg 5th in D3, 4.4 steals per game 3rd in D3) had a monster 2022-23 season where the guard picked up honors as CSAC Defensive Player of the Year, First-Team All-CSAC and Second Team All-Metropolitan Region. Senior Aryanna Baytops returns as well after averaging 6.6 points per game and 6.8 rebounds per game. The Eagles have a strong non-conference slate with contests against Fairleigh Dickinson and pre-season #17 DeSales University before opening up United East Skye Division play.
Coach’s Outlook: “We are looking to build off of our 17 win year to reach the division/conference finals and God willing, an NCAA appearance. We are returning Destiny Battle, our defensive player of the year who was also named First-team all-conference while also returning senior captain, Aryanna Baytops. We bought in some key young pieces as well as additional veteran leadership in a junior transfer.”
University of Valley Forge
Cassandra Taylor takes over for Valley Forge in 2023-24 for her first season in charge, looking to build the program over the course of the season. The Patriots have a veteran group led by senior forward Jessi Manning (10 ppg, 8 rpg), senior guard Mariah Matthews (12 ppg, 20 steals in 2022-23), and junior forward Dominique Barnes (11 ppg, 9 rpg) who only played 8 games before a season-ending injury. The Patriots have non-conference matchups with Bryn Mawr and Penn State Schuylkill in addition to Skye Division-Volt Division United East games with Lancaster Bible, Penn State Berks, and Penn State Abington before starting Skye Division play.
Coach’s Outlook: “We have a solid group of returners and a few newbies. Of course with a new head coach, game style will change drastically. Our goal is to shake things up in the conference a little bit for the first season and progress every season. Looking for Jessi Manning to have a big year and Mariah Matthews to develop more as a guard. Also, the return of Dominique Barnes from an ACL injury will be key for the team. New players to look out for are Leah Lakits and Olivia Rochkind who I believe can make some noise in the conference over the progression of the season.”
Wilson College
Head Coach Shane Rottier enters his 3rd season at the helm of the Phoenix looking to build upon a semi-final appearance in 2022-23. A solid group returns led by Senior Ayanna Cannon who returns for her fifth year (9.9 ppg, 50.8 FG%, 2022 2nd Team All-CSAC) as well as Sophomore Adrianna Stricek (13.8 ppg, 9.5 rpg, 15 double-doubles, CSAC Rookie of the Year). Sophomore guards Jewels Torres and Laela Robinson averaged 20 minutes per game as first-years on top of 10 points per game. The non-conference schedule is challenging with matchups against Misericordia, Bridgewater, Salisbury, Shenandoah, Mary Baldwin and Lynchburg on top of the United East schedule.
Coach’s Outlook: “With the departure of 100+ minutes per game and one of the toughest non-conference schedules in school history, getting off on the right foot will be important. We are excited about our new players (Laleh Black, Allie Cullison, Mackenzie Caldwell-Degnon, and Hanna Brownlee) and hope that they settle in quickly. With our new additions and our overall youth, it will be important that the team stays together during the tough times and grows together for conference play. Consistency will be key for this team's success.”
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The United East boasts 17 NCAA Division III full member institutions which include: Bryn Athyn College, Cairn University, Cedar Crest College, Clarks Summit University, Gallaudet University, Keystone College, Lancaster Bible College, Notre Dame of Maryland University, Penn College, Penn State Abington, Penn State Berks, Penn State Harrisburg, Rosemont College, Saint Elizabeth University, St. Mary's College of Maryland, University of Valley Forge, and Wilson College. For more information, please visit gounitedeast.com.