Marlborough, Mass. - October 23, 2026 - As the New England Women’s and Men’s Athletic Conference (NEWMAC) women’s basketball season rapidly approaches, a mix of proven veterans and rising contributors are positioned to shape the conference race. From established award winners to players stepping into larger roles, these 10 standouts are worth keeping an eye on throughout the winter season.
1. Hannah Martin, Guard, Smith College
Senior - North Andover, Massachusetts
Hannah Martin enters her senior campaign in Northampton as the reigning NEWMAC Defensive Athlete of the Year and a two-time All-NEWMAC selection. Martin has led the Bears to conference titles each of her three seasons and took home All-Region accolades both in 2024-25 and 2025-26. In 23 games last year, Martin averaged 12.0 points, per game, 4.4 rebounds per game and 2.9 assists per game and shot a career-best 46.2-percent from the floor in nearly 29 minutes per contest. She enters the 2026-27 campaign just seven points shy of 1,000 for her career.
2. Ruth Lanouette, Guard, MIT
Sophomore - Devon, Pennsylvania
Ruth Lanouette returns to MIT as the reigning NEWMAC Rookie of the Year as the Engineers leading scorer with 13.2 points per game. In 26 contests, Lanouette registered 342 points, almost 100 more than anyone else on the team, 91 rebounds, 66 steals, and eight blocks. She averaged 34.4 minutes per game and produced a career-best 29 points against Salve Regina in January. The Second Team All-Conference pick will look to build on a strong rookie season and once again lead the Engineers back to the postseason.
3. Cyriah Coleman, Guard, Clark University
Junior - Los Angeles, California
Cyriah Coleman and Clark University women’s basketball had a historic 2025-26 season that saw the Cougars reach the NEWMAC title game for the first time in 21 seasons. Coleman was a First Team All-Conference performer averaging 11.3 points per game and 5.0 rebounds per game. In 15 games last season, Coleman shot at a 36.9-percent clip from the floor and also pulled down 75 total rebounds for the Cougars. She is now a two-time All-Conference selection after being named the 2024-25 NEWMAC Rookie of the Year.
4. Natalie Lucas, Forward, Springfield College
Senior - Madison, Connecticut
Natalie Lucas was named to the NEWMAC All-Conference First Team in 2025-26 and will look to lead the Pride under first year head coach Nicole Ambrose. Lucas set career highs across the board in points per game (12.2), points (329), steals (26), blocks (16), assists (47), rebounds per game (5.7) and rebounds (155). In 30.4 minutes per game across all 27 games for Springfield last year, Lucas shot at a 41.8-percent clip from the floor.
5. Virginia Johnson, Guard/Forward, Smith College
Senior - Minneapolis, Minnesota
Virginia Johnson joined Hannah Martin on the NEWMAC All-Conference First Team in 2025-26 and was also an Honorable Mention All-American, named by the WBCA at the conclusion of the season. In 30 games for Smith that saw her on the floor nearly 28 minutes per contest, Johnson registered a career-best 376 points (12.5 per game), 45 assists, 213 rebounds (7.1 per game) and shot at nearly 48-percent from the floor draining 138 buckets over the course of the season for Smith. Johnson will be an offensive catalyst for Smith as the Bears look for their seventh straight NEWMAC title in 2026-27.
6. Jessie Silk, Guard, Emerson College
Junior - Newton, Massachusetts
Jessie Silk played in 23 contests for Emerson last season posting career bests in points per game (14.0), rebounds per game (9.2), total points (322) and total rebounds (211). Silk shot at a 38.5-percent clip from the floor and buried 44 shots from behind the arc. Silk ranked tenth in the NEWMAC in total points last year, while her 14.0 points per game ranked sixth across the conference. She also ranked fourth in the NEWMAC in rebounds per game and fifth in total rebounds as one of the top defensive players in the league a season ago.
7. Ava Giansiracusa, Guard, WPI
Senior - Wethersfield, Connecticut
Ava Giansiracusa was named to the NEWMAC All-Conference Second Team in 2025-26 after playing and starting in all 26 contests for the Engineers. Giansiracusa, in 34.2 minutes per game, averaged a career-best 12.1 points per game and 4.5 points per game. She totaled 315 points and 118 boards while shooting at a 39.3-percent clip from the floor. Giansiracusa was effective from the free throw line ranking eighth in the conference in free-throw percentage at 80.5-percent.
8. Rylie Rosenberg, Guard, Babson College
Junior - New Rochelle, New York
Rylie Rosenberg appeared in all 27 games for Babson a season ago and averaged 11.5 points per game, 3.0 rebounds per game and 2.2 assists per game. The junior produced double-digit point totals in 17 contests and her 65 three-point buckets ranked third in the program’s single season list. Rosenberg saw action in 27 minutes per game and was the fourth-best free throw shooter across the entire NEWMAC last season shooting at an 83.-7percent clip. She also ranked third in the NEWMAC in three-point field goals per game.
9. Cheyenne Colbert, Forward, Wheaton College
Senior - Brookline, New Hampshire
Cheyenne Colbert enters her senior season coming off a year that saw her lead Wheaton in total points scored 338 (13.5 points per game) and rank second on the team in total rebounds (6.4 points per game). Colbert played in all 25 contests for Wheaton in 2025-26 and averaged 32.8 minutes per game. Colbert and the Lyons will look to make it back to the NEWMAC Tournament for the first time since 2022-23 with Colbert leading the charge for Wheaton this winter.
10. Ava Shane, Forward, Wellesley College
Junior - Plano, Texas
Ava Shane was a NEWMAC All-Conference Second Team selection last season after playing in all 24 games for the Blue. Shane averaged 16.2 points per games and 8.1 rebounds per game and ranked third in the NEWMAC in total points (388) in 2025-26. The junior forward finished the campaign with six double-doubles and produced a career-high 28 points in a conference win over Coast Guard in January. Shane will be one of the most potent offensive threats for the Blue heading into the 2026-27 campaign this winter.
About the NEWMAC
The NEWMAC is an association of 13 selective academic institutions: Babson College, Clark University, U.S Coast Guard Academy, Emerson College, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Mount Holyoke College, Saint Anselm College (beginning reclassification process with NCAA in 2027-28), Salve Regina University, Smith College, Springfield College, Wellesley College, Wheaton College, and Worcester Polytechnic Institute, that are committed to providing high quality competitive athletic opportunities for student-athletes within an educational and respectful environment that embodies the NCAA Division III Philosophy. The conference also partners with seven Associate Members: New York University (Men's Volleyball, 2026-2027), Norwich University (Football), Simmons College (Rowing), SUNY Maritime College (Football), SUNY New Paltz (Men's Volleyball, 2026-2027), U.S. Merchant Marine Academy (Football), and Vassar College (Men's Volleyball, 2026-2027), while sponsoring 21 sports.