NEW LONDON, N.H. –  The Colby-Sawyer women's basketball team tips off the 2023-24 season today in Waterville, Maine looking to build off their Great Northeast Athletic Conference (GNAC) playoff appearance in 2022-23. Last season the Chargers ended the year 9-17 with a 7-10 GNAC record.

NEW LEADERSHIP
Entering the season the Chargers will have a new head coach as Tim Viola was appointed as the sixth coach in program history. 

Viola joins Colby-Sawyer following two stints throughout six years as an assistant coach at Assumption College where he has since August 2019. In 2022-23 the Greyhounds finished 27-6 securing the NE10 Regular Season Championship, the programs first ever NCAA Regional Championship and a NCAA Elite Eight Appearance.

"I'm so excited to be here at Colby-Sawyer and see all the potential and growth here. I am going to work really really hard day in and day out to be the best coach I can be for my student-athletes and for this school and community. I think it is exciting as a first year head coach coming in with a good base of returners and some exciting first years. It gives us an opportunity to take a step forward quickly. Everyday has been super competitive and everyday is an opportunity to get one percent better."

BACK & READY TO COMPETE
Colby-Sawyer is returning nine Chargers to the 2023-24 roster including six making double-digit starts in 2022-23.

The Chargers coming back are headlined by junior Marissa Holt (Alfred, Maine) who had a breakout year for the Chargers in her sophomore season starting all 24 games she played in averaging 10.9 points, 5.1 rebounds, 2.3 assists and 1.0 steals in 30.7 minutes per game. Holt was later named to the GNAC All-Conference Third Team. 

Sophomore Elyza Mitchell (Spofford, N.H.) is also looking to make that second year leap after averaging 9.5 points, 6.4 rebounds and 1.5 assists per game in 32.2 minutes per game in her first year in New London. 

The other returners include junior Courtney Brewster (Castleton, Vt.), junior Megan Molettieri (Pelham, N.H.), junior Natalie Panagrosso (Wallingford, Conn.), sophomore Kaylee Manzella (Littleton, N.H.), junior Gabby Lucertini (Branford, Conn.), graduate student Lia Raynowska (Brentwood, N.H.) and senior Grace Lister (Orford, N.H.). 

"Our goal is to finish in the top half of the GNAC this year and even host a playoff game", said Raynowska. "We can compete with those teams everyone should be prepared when we do. I think it is such an advantage to have a tight knit core that is left here and to then add on six fresh new face to come in and click with us."

"Our team expectations are really high", said Molettieri. "We have a lot of new first years and a new coach so we have a lot of opportunities to show our growth and compete this year."

THE NEWCOMERS
The Chargers will also add six newcomers to the team in 2023-24 with five first years and a dual sport transfer. 

Guards (4): Larissa Daigle (Fort Kent, Maine), Bree Lawrence (Swanzey, N.H.), Lauren McKee (Littleton, N.H.) & Sophie Desrochers (Derry, N.H.)

Forwards (2): Catherine Chick (Glen, N.H.) & Emma Felker (Dracut, Mass.)

SEASON OUTLOOK
Colby-Sawyer has an 25-game regular season starting on November 8th when the Chargers travel to take on Thomas College. The first home game for the Chargers will take place on November 16th at 7:00 PM against inner-state opponent Keene State. 

Other key conference games on the schedule include hosting Albertus Magnus on December 2nd, traveling to Standish, Maine on January 6th to take on GNAC pre-season poll favorite Saint Joseph's (Maine), on January 16th taking on inner-state rival New England College in Henniker and hosting inner-state foe Rivier on February 7th. 

The Chargers were selected 12^th in the GNAC Preseason Poll getting 79 points. This year 10 teams will qualify for the playoffs with a play-in round added before the season.

For the latest on Colby-Sawyer Athletics, follow the Chargers on Facebook (www.facebook.com/CSCathletics), Twitter (www.twitter.com/CSCathletics) and Instagram (www.instagram.com/CSCathletics).