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NCAA Division III 2023-24
NCAA Division III Final: New York University - Smith College 51-41 New York U. (Nettie Respondek): Morgan Morrison, Belle Pellecchia, Erica Miller, Natalie Bruns, Megan Bauman, Eden Williamson, Olive Batch, Josie Munson, Caroline Peper, Yasmene Clark, Reese Tremitiere, Alexia Mousouroulis, Kelsey DuBois, Maria Alvarado, Hanna Thrainsdottir, Laya Hartman, Chloe Teter, Honor Culpepper, Mary Fahey, Jordan Janowski, Brooke Batchelor Top25 2023-24
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 Baruch NCAA Division III Final  New York University conquer NCAA Division III trophy
 Ultra violets finish perfect title run-Mar 17, 2024
New York University started the Division III women’s basketball season with a star-studded roster that seemed destined for a national championship, and the Violets finished the season that way, too. NYU’s three All-Americans – Natalie Bruns (6'1''-F), Morgan Morrison (6'1''-F), and Belle Pellecchia (5'8''-G) – combined for 35 points, and the Violets (31-0) defeated Smith College, 51-41, to complete an undefeated run to the 2024 NCAA Division III women’s basketball championship. “I feel like there’s no energy left in my body, it was such a hard-fought game and took just everything we had,†NYU head coach Meg Barber said in the postgame press conference. NYU won that battle with a combination of excellent defense and balanced offense, which has been its calling card all season. The Violets opened the game by holding Smith scoreless for the first four minutes of the game and bolted out to an 8-0 lead as Pellecchia quickly scored six points. Smith took advantage of the first media time out and came out of the extended break with a well-designed play that sprung Sofia Rosa (6'2''-F) for an open layup. Smith closed within 13-10 on Jessie Ruffner (5'8''-G)’s jumper, but the Violets pushed the lead back to five before the period break on Morrison’s jumper. After Smith tied the game at 15, NYU used another 8-0 run to regain the lead, with Morrison hitting another jump shot and then spinning open underneath the basket for a layup that took the Violets’ lead to 23-15. Once again Smith regrouped during the timeout and responded by scoring the final six points of the period, pulling within two at the half. The third period was a carbon copy of the first – NYU held Smith without a field goal for the first four minutes and took a 29-22 lead on another Morrison score. Once again, the Pioneers played better for the rest of the period and cut the deficit to four, but NYU’s third All-American Natalie Bruns scored the final three points of the period, and NYU took a 39-32 lead into the fourth quarter. Both defenses dominated in that quarter, as the Violets and Pioneers each managed just one field goal during the opening five minutes. Sofia Rosa scored her 19th point on a pretty hook shot off the glass, drawing Smith within five at 41-36, but once again Morrison answered with a score at the other end. Then, with two minutes left in the game and NYU leading by seven, the Violets passed the ball to Pellecchia who broke free for a reverse layup. Rosa attempted to block the shot but was called for her fifth foul, sending her to the bench and the Violets into the home stretch of their championship run. Pellecchia made both of her free throws off that foul and Megan Bauman (5'7''-G) went five for six from the foul line in the final 40 seconds, sealing the Violets’ national title. NYU completed a championship run that started in the 2023 offseason, when Morgan Morrison entered her name into the transfer portal after leading Smith College to the 2023 national semifinals and being named national Player of the Year. When Morrison visited NYU, she met Janice Quinn who led the Violets to the 1997 women’s basketball championship. Quinn told her that playing at NYU would elevate her game, and the results are undeniable. Morrison has been the perfect fit for NYU in multiple ways. She studied engineering at Smith, and NYU has an excellent engineering graduate program. She filled the front court spot opened when Jenny Walker graduated. And she provided the perfect complement to All-American Natalie Bruns, who was named the 2024 Player of the Year. Morrison is a traditional back-to-the-back post who draws immediate double- or even triple-teams when she catches the ball in the post. Bruns is an ultra-versatile forward who plays on the perimeter, where she can drive and kick or score on her own. Morrison helped Bruns elevate her game to another level, as she went from first-team All-American last season to the best player in the country this season. And Bruns’ game also changed Morrison’s approach on the court. “I think it made me more agile in a way because I had to read her, and I didn’t know what she was going to do,†Morrison explains. “She helped me read the game better and make better plays, like cutting off ball and not just being a post player on the block.†At the other end of the court, Morrison and Bruns are a defensive nightmare who opened multiple Tournament games by blocking the shots of the opponent’s top players. That shut-down defense was present again on Saturday night when the Violets did not simply shut out Smith for the first four minutes. They did not allow a shot that hit the rim during that stretch, either swatting shots away or forcing turnovers. In Thursday’s semifinal, NYU held Transylvania nearly 30 points below their season average. In Saturday’s win over Smith, the Violets held one of the best three-point shooting teams in the country to three attempts through the first three periods and only two makes in the game. As perfect as the NYU fit looked from the outside, Morrison acknowledged that it was not an easy adjustment, moving from Northampton, Massachusetts to New York City. “Honestly, it was really hard to move into NYU, but being able to be welcomed with open arms in the gym every day made it a little bit less chaotic,†Morrison noted. She later explained some of the challenges. “Hats off to these girls for doing this for four years. I got rocked when I came into the city. Just the fact that you have to add in transportation time to get to the gym early. Flying everywhere for games, you’re gone for three or four days, and the academics on top of it. It’s so impressive for what they’ve been doing.†She also acknowledged that this perfect end to a perfect season has a twist that seems too strange to be true. Morrison took the final step in her championship journey by beating the team where she accomplished so much in the prior four seasons. “It was really an emotional game, especially afterwards. I think I was ugly crying. “[Smith] helped shape me into who I am today, and then NYU helped solidify that, and I really am just so grateful to be blessed by two extremely winning teams. I went to a Final Four last year and I’m back here at a championship, playing against my old school. That means I made two decisions that have benefited me in such extraordinary ways, and I’m so lucky that I was able to have these opportunities.†When asked what comes next, Morrison laughed and says, “I finally get to be normal for a little bit.†Now, instead of being an All-American center on the best Division III women’s team in the country and an electrical engineering student at NYU, she’ll just have the second half of that equation, which leaves time for other pursuits. “It’s going be fun. I have some plans.†As for the rest of NYU, they have some plans, too. The Violets will return at least Pellecchia and maybe Bruns, too, depending on how she decides to use her fifth year of eligibility. They have Caroline Peper (6'0''-G) who was All-Conference this year and is aptly nicknamed “instant offense.†And they have a series of players who gained invaluable experience in practice playing against some of the best players in recent Division III history. And they have head coach Meg Barber who knows what it takes to win at the program that has been life changing for her, too. “My dad helped get me to NYU, and he’s not with us anymore. I thought a lot about him on this run because he made sure that, if NYU was an option for me, that he would make it happen. I honestly cannot say how blessed I was to play for Janice Quinn. I grew up in a town with one blinking stoplight. I went to NYU and it was life-changing for me. I grew into a young woman, and I’ve always thought about how special that journey was.†Courtesy of: d3hoops.com D3hoops.com All-America Awards 2024-Mar 19, 2024
Player of the Year:  Natalie Bruns (6'1''-F) of New York U.Rookie of the Year: Lexy Harris (6'3''-C) of Wash.-St.LouisCoach of the Year: Lynn Hersey of Smith
First Team Elyce Knudsen (5'8''-G) of Millikin Jessie Ruffner (5'8''-G) of Smith Natalie Bruns (6'1''-F) of New York U. Mary Schleusner (6'1''-F) of WLU Dasia Thornton (5'11''-F) of Transylvania
Second Team Sydney Jones (5'6''-G) of Bowdoin Paris Kiser (5'7''-G) of HSU Damaris Rodriguez (5'3''-G) of NJCU Aleah Grundahl (6'0''-F) of UW-Whitewater Morgan Morrison (6'1''-F) of New York U.
Third Team Brianna Fitzgerald (5'10''-G/F) of New Paltz St. Kasey Schipfer (G) of Ohio Wesleyan Raegan Sorensen (5'7''-G) of UW-Stout Korin Baker (6'0''-F) of Whitman Zoe Tomlinson (6'2''-F/C) of Colorado Coll.
Fourth Team Kacie Carollo (5'9''-G) of UW-Whitewater Anna Scoblick (5'9''-G) of Catholic Julia Blanck (5'11''-F) of Skidmore Mikaela Reese (6'0''-F) of DeSales Elsa Daulerio (6'3''-C) of Bates
Fifth Team Sophia Guerrier (5'4''-G) of Rhode Island Kaci Kranson (5'11''-G) of Scranton Belle Pellecchia (5'8''-G) of New York U. Olivia Rangel (5'9''-G) of Carroll, WI Jaedon Murphy (6'0''-F) of WartburgD3hoops.com All-Region Awards 2024-Mar 25, 2024
REGION 1 Player of the Year: Sydney Jones (5'6''-G) of BowdoinRookie of the Year: Grace Ramsdell (5'11''-G) of St. Joseph's (Maine)Coach of the Year: Megan Phelps of Bowdoin First Team Sydney Jones (5'6''-G) of Bowdoin Morgan Kennedy (5'10''-G) of Bates Arianna Gerig (6'1''-F) of Williams Elsa Daulerio (6'3''-C) of Bates Reilly Campbell (6'2''-F) of TrinitySecond Team Alexa Mustafaj (5'5''-G) of Middlebury Lyric Grumblatt (5'9''-F/G) of Rivier Bailey Donovan (6'3''-C) of Husson Maggie Russell (6'1''-F) of Tufts Logan Thayne (6'1''-F) of SUNY Cobleskill Kylie Grassi of Bridgewater State Caitlyn Scott of Albertus Magnus Yasmine Santos (5'9''-G/F) of Mitchell Jordan Ouellette of St. JosephREGION 2 Player of the Year: Jessie Ruffner (5'8''-G) of SmithRookie of the Year: Hannah Martin (5'10''-G) of SmithCoach of the Year: Jenna Cosgrove of Rhode Island College First Team Sophia Guerrier (5'4''-G) of Rhode Island College Jessie Ruffner (5'8''-G) of Smith Angela Czeremcha (5'10''-G/F) of Springfield Izabelle Booth (5'10''-F) of Rhode Island College Amanda DeAngelis of SuffolkSecond Team Christina Antonakakis (5'4''-G) of MIT Jeniyah Jones (5'6''-G) of Rhode Island College Madison Medbury (5'6''-G) of Rhode Island College Rachel Vinton (5'5''-G) of Springfield Carly Whiteside (6'2''-F) of Mass-DartmouthREGION 3 Player of the Year: Brianna Fitzgerald (5'10''-G/F) of SUNY New PaltzRookie of the Year: Joleen Lusk (6'2''-F) of St. John FisherCoach of the Year: Meredith Mesaris of Vassar First Team Daniella Bessler of Yeshiva Brianna Fitzgerald (5'10''-G/F) of SUNY New Paltz Tova Gelb (5'8''-G) of Vassar Sidney Tomasso (5'9''-G) of St. John Fisher Julia Blanck (5'11''-F) of SkidmoreSecond Team Olivia Dobrovosky of Nazareth Julia Harvey (5'8''-G) of Vassar Jenny Walton (5'8''-G) of SUNY New Paltz Joleen Lusk of St. John Fisher Logan Streety of Cortland St.Third Team Lanyah Ford of St. Joseph Abby Gress (5'10''-G/F) of Rochester Sierra McDermed (5'9''-G) of Vassar Brooke Tillotson of Cortland St. Vanessa Hall of UticaREGION 4 Player of the Year: Natalie Bruns (6'1''-F) of New York UniversityRookie of the Year: Gigi Gamble of KeanCoach of the Year: Meg Barber of New York University First Team Megan Bauman (5'7''-G) of New York University Belle Pellecchia (5'8''-G) of New York University Damaris Rodriguez (5'3''-G) of New Jersey City Natalie Bruns (6'1''-F) of New York University Morgan Morrison (6'1''-F) of New York UniversitySecond Team Mia Castillo of Baruch Gigi Gamble of Kean Julia Setaro of TCNJ Megan Bealer (5'9''-F) of DeSales Cassidy Perry (5'10''-F) of Gallaudet Mikaela Reese (6'0''-F) of DeSalesThird Team Delaney Bell (5'8''-G/F) of Arcadia Kate Fitzpatrick of Lebanon Valley Angela Sanders of PS Abington Alexa Charles of Hunter Brianna Smith of William PatersonREGION 5 Player of the Year: Anna Scoblick (5'9''-G) of CatholicCo-Rookie of the Year: Vatijah Davis of CentenaryCo-Rookie of the Year: Breana Grim of York, PACoach of the Year: Rodney Rogan of Johns Hopkins First Team Alayna Arnolie (5'8''-G) of Gettysburg Reese Harden (6'7''-F/C) of Messiah Kaci Kranson (5'11''-G) of Scranton Anna Scoblick (5'9''-G) of Catholic Mia Robbins of WidenerSecond Team Chandler Eddleton (5'9''-G) of Marymount Summer McNulty (5'7''-G) of Elizabethtown Mackenzie Szlosek (5'7''-G) of Gettysburg Chinwe Irondi (6'0''-F) of Ursinus Clair Marion of Dickinson Greta Miller (5'10''-F) of Johns HopkinsREGION 6 Player of the Year: Mary Schleusner (6'1''-F) of Washington and LeeRookie of the Year: Sam Smith of Randolph-MaconCoach of the Year: Justin LeBlanc of Millsaps First Team Claire Brock (5'7''-G) of Emory Tanaesha Ellison (5'6''-G) of William Peace Haley Franklin (5'7''-G) of Millsaps Jordan Carpenter (5'10''-G) of Mary Washington Mary Schleusner (6'1''-F) of Washington and LeeSecond Team Daniella Aronsky (5'6''-G) of Emory Hanna Malik (5'6''-G) of Washington and Lee Jane Elkins of Randolph-Macon LynKaylah James (6'2''-F) of Berea Hannah Kaloi (6'1''-F) of Christopher NewportThird Team Kayla Cabiness of Ferrum Terese Greene of Shenandoah Kenadie Lee (5'6''-G) of Berry Sam Smith of Randolph-Macon Anna Giannopoulou (6'1''-F) of Guilford Alivia Giles (6'1''-F) of Christopher NewportREGION 7 Player of the Year: Kasey Schipfer (G) of Ohio WesleyanCo-Rookie of the Year: Abby Cooch of DenisonCo-Rookie of the Year: Molly Kosmack of Mt.AloysiusCoach of the Year: Maureen Hirt of Denison First Team Jada Garner (5'6''-G) of Hope Kasey Schipfer (G) of Ohio Wesleyan Brynn Serbin (5'5''-G) of Ohio Northern Sidney Wagner (5'6''-G) of Trine Bella Vaillant (5'11''-F) of Baldwin WallaceSecond Team Ava Hassel of DePauw Bri O'Connor of Capital Taylor Sas of Alma Meghan Dryburgh (5'11''-G/F) of Washington and Jefferson Sydney Vis (5'10''-G/F) of HopeThird Team Catherine Or of Carnegie Mellon Ashlie Louden (5'6''-G) of Chatham Kayla Characklis of Case Western Reserve Machia Hairston (G) of La Roche RyAnn Rohrer of CalvinREGION 8 Player of the Year: Elyce Knudsen (5'8''-G) of MillikinRookie of the Year: Lexy Harris (6'3''-C) of Washington U.Coach of the Year: Juli Fulks of Transylvania First Team Lauren Huber (5'8''-G) of Illinois Wesleyan Elyce Knudsen (5'8''-G) of Millikin Olivia Rangel (5'9''-G) of Carroll Sam Leisemann of Wisconsin Lutheran Dasia Thornton (5'11''-F) of TransylvaniaSecond Team Jessica Brooks (5'9''-G) of Washington U. Sophie Darden (5'9''-G/F) of Millikin Ellie Gross (5'8''-G) of Chicago Annette Ramirez (5'5''-G) of Westminster (Mo.) Natalie Gricius (5'10''-F) of CarrollThird Team Victoria Perry (5'5''-PG) of North Park Mallory Powers (5'10''-G) of Illinois Wesleyan Elle Sutter of North Central (Ill.) Annie Tate of Wheaton (Ill.) Lexy Harris of Washington U.REGION 9 Player of the Year: Aleah Grundahl (6'0''-F) of UW-WhitewaterRookie of the Year: Maddy Grove of Minnesota-MorrisCoach of the Year: Bob Amsberry of Wartburg First Team Kacie Carollo (5'9''-G) of UW-Whitewater Caydee Kirkham of Coe Raegan Sorensen (5'7''-G) of UW-Stout Jaedon Murphy (6'0''-F) of Wartburg Aleah Grundahl (6'0''-F) of UW-WhitewaterSecond Team Cassie Nash (5'10''-G) of Simpson Carlee Sieben (5'7''-G) of Concordia-Moorhead Makayla Anderson (5'11''-F) of Concordia-Moorhead Sami Martin (6'1''-F) of Loras Ella Ten-Pas of RiponThird Team Maddy Grove of Minnesota-Morris Emma Kniefel (5'9''-G) of Gustavus Adolphus Ella Mackiewicz of UW-Platteville Macy Nilsen (5'10''-G) of UW-River Falls Peyton Sparsk of Macalester Kayce Vaile (6'1''-F) of UW-OshkoshREGION 10 Player of the Year: Paris Kiser (5'7''-G) of Hardin-SimmonsRookie of the Year: Jamie Ruede (5'5''-G) of Trinity (Texas)Coach of the Year: Anahit Aladzhanyan of Occidental First Team Paris Kiser (5'7''-G) of Hardin-Simmons Arieona Rosborough (5'8''-G) of Mary Hardin-Baylor Korin Baker (6'0''-F) of Whitman Chiara Brown (5'10''-F) of La Verne Zoe Tomlinson (6'2''-F/C) of Colorado CollegeSecond Team Anna Fanelli (5'5''-G) of Hardin-Simmons Paige Gerhart of Puget Sound Rhe Nae Leach (5'7''-PG) of Whittier Josie Napoli (5'6''-G) of Trinity (Texas) Toni Thompson (5'9''-F/G) of Occidental Parris Parmer (5'10''-F) of Hardin-SimmonsWBCA NCAA Division III All-America Awards 2024-Mar 25, 2024
Player of the Year: Natalie Bruns (6'1''-F) of New York UniversityCoach of the Year: Juli Fulks of Transylvania
All-America Team Natalie Bruns (6'1''-F) of New York University Chandler Eddleton (5'9''-G) of Marymount Aleah Grundahl (6'0''-F) of Wisconsin-Whitewater Sydney Jones (5'6''-G) of Bowdoin Paris Kiser (5'7''-G) of Hardin-Simmons Elyce Knudsen (5'8''-G) of Millikin Morgan Morrison (6'1''-F) of New York Jessie Ruffner (5'8''-G) of Smith Mary Schleusner (6'1''-F) of Washington & Lee Dasia Thornton (5'11''-F) of Transylvania
Honorable Mention Christina Antonakakis (5'4''-G) of Massachusetts Tech Megan Bealer (5'9''-F) of DeSales Julia Blanck (5'11''-F) of Skidmore Izabelle Booth (5'10''-F) of Rhode Island Claire Brock (5'7''-G) of Emory Jessica Brooks (5'9''-G) of Washington St. Louis Chiara Brown (5'10''-F) of La Verne Reilly Campbell (6'2''-F) of Trinity Kayla Camacho (5'10''-G) of Houghton Alayna Arnolie (5'8''-G) of Gettysburg Kacie Carollo (5'9''-G) of Wisconsin-Whitewater Jordan Carpenter (5'10''-G) of Mary Washington Angela Czeremcha (5'10''-G/F) of Springfield Elsa Daulerio (6'3''-C) of Bates Meghan Dryburgh (5'11''-G/F) of Washington & Jefferson Brianna Fitzgerald (5'10''-G/F) of SUNY New Paltz Haley Franklin (5'7''-G) of Millsaps Jada Garner (5'6''-G) of Hope Abby Gress (5'10''-G/F) of Rochester Sophia Guerrier (5'4''-G) of Rhode Island Reese Harden (6'7''-F/C) of Messiah Sydney Hauger (5'8''-G) of Gustavus Adolphus Lauren Huber (5'8''-G) of Illinois Wesleyan Kaci Kranson (5'11''-G) of Scranton Hanna Malik (5'6''-G) of Washington & Lee Summer McNulty (5'7''-G) of Elizabethtown Jaedon Murphy (6'0''-F) of Wartburg Alexa Mustafaj (5'5''-G) of Middlebury Belle Pellecchia (5'8''-G) of New York University Olivia Rangel (5'9''-G) of Carroll Mikaela Reese (6'0''-F) of DeSales Arieona Rosborough (5'8''-G) of Mary Hardin-Baylor Maggie Russell (6'1''-F) of Tufts Kasey Schipfer (G) of Ohio Wesleyan Brynn Serbin (5'5''-G) of Ohio Northern Toni Thompson (5'9''-F/G) of Occidental Sidney Tomasso (5'9''-G) of St. John Fisher Zoe Tomlinson (6'2''-F/C) of Colorado Kayce Vaile (6'1''-F) of Wisconsin-Oshkosh Sidney Wagner (5'6''-G) of TrineCoach of the Year Finalist Bob Amsberry of Wartburg Meg Barber of New York U. Bill Broderick of Christopher Newport Jenna Cosgrove of Rhode Island Matt Donohue of Catholic Kendra Hassell of Hardin-Simmons Lynn Hersey of Smith Maureen Hirt of Denison Laurie Kelly of Gustavus Adolphus Meredith Mesaris of Vassar Megan Phelps of BowdoinWBCA NCAA Division III Collegiate All-Star Game 2024-Mar 24, 2024
All-Star Selection Christina Antonakakis (5'4''-G) of Massachusetts Institute Korin Baker (6'0''-F) of Whitman College Izabelle Booth (5'10''-F) of Rhode Island College Claire Brock (5'7''-G) of Emory University Jessica Brooks (5'9''-G) of Washington University in St Louis Chiara Brown (5'10''-F) of University Jordan Carpenter (5'10''-G) of University Sophie Darden (5'9''-G/F) of Millikin University Bailey Donovan (6'3''-C) of Husson University Chandler Eddleton (5'9''-G) of Marymount University
All-Star Selection Lyric Grumblatt (5'9''-F/G) of Rivier University Aleah Grundahl (6'0''-F) of University Paris Kiser (5'7''-G) of Hardin-Simmons University Elyce Knudsen (5'8''-G) of Millikin University Hanna Malik (5'6''-G) of Washington & Lee University Kennedy Osterman (5'5''-G) of University Brynn Serbin (5'5''-G) of Ohio Northern University Kasey Schipfer (G) of Ohio Wesleyan University Toni Thompson (5'9''-F/G) of Occidental College Jenny Walton (5'8''-G) of SUNY New Paltz | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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