MILTON, Mass. – The Curry College women's basketball team improved from 10-16 to 12-14 last season. The 2018-19 look to continue to improve this season. The 2017-18 squad finished sixth in the Commonwealth Coast Conference (CCC), earning a quarterfinal playoff spot. They fell to Endicott on the road. The Colonels look to advance past the quarterfinals this season.
Read Head Coach Fran Elms' Season Outlook Below:
Returners
The Colonels have eight returning players, including four starters. Headlining the returners are this year's captains: Emily Irwin (Billerica, Mass.), Molly Plunkett (Quincy, Mass.) and Sam Bamford (North Easton, Mass.). Other returners are Gina Coote (Dedham, Mass.), Caroline Kilduff (Rockland, Mass.), Zoe Gallishaw (Springfield Gardens, N.Y.), Maeve Foley (Wethersfield, Mass.), and Marie Desmornes (Waltham, Mass.).
In terms of the returners, Irwin, Plunkett, Bamford, and Coote are all returning starters. Irwin, an All-Conference selection and the Defensive Player of the Year last season, will run the point again this year. Plunkett is an exceptionally strong player who shoots well and can also post up, which is very versatile. Bamford is a tenacious defender who wreaks havoc on opposing guards. Coote was the lone freshman to start last season who we hope will continue to excel again this year. Our veteran returners: Foley, Kilduff, Gallishaw, Desmornes, and transfer Alexa Galucci (North Stonington, Conn.) will add experience and depth to our guard and post play this season.
Newcomers
We have a solid incoming class of freshmen in Peyton Perine (Oakton, Va.), Amanda Leal (Tyngsboro, Mass.), Zuquila Mbachiantim (Stratford, Conn.), Ellie Holler (Hingham, Mass.), Julia O'Connor (Dalton, Mass.), and Karina Murcia (Culver City, Calif.).
Perine and Leal will be pushing for starting rotation. Holler, Mbachiantim, and O'Connor will look to help improve and push the starters as well as fill in as needed.
We have a great group of talented veterans with a talented group of newcomers. Our expectations are high and as long as we continue to work hard and learn from our mistakes, this team will excel.
Who in League to Look Out For
The University of New England has won the last five championships so they will be the front-runners. We expect to be in the group with Roger Williams, last year's runner-up as well as Western New England England plus Endicott.
Curry opens the 2018-19 season on Friday, November 9 at home against Framingham State in the Curry College Tip-Off Tournament at 5:00 p.m.
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