MORRISVILLE, N.Y. – The SUNY Morrisville women's basketball team is set to begin the 2023-24 season under direction of head coach Erin Rotchford, opening the year slate with a non-conference road trip Wednesday at Keuka.
 
Morrisville, who captured the United East title for the past two seasons and made NCAA tournament appearances, will be stepping on the court for the first time in the North Atlantic Conference (NAC), facing some familiar faces, while taking on a competitive non-conference schedule to prepare for the league slate.
 
Morrisville returns nine to the roster from last season's squad, including senior guard/forward Brooke Hammersley (Weedsport, N.Y.) who took home All-Conference accolades for the United East last season.
 
Hammersley led the Mustangs in scoring, averaging 14.2 points per game and 7.8 rebounds per game, bringing finesse to both the inside and perimeter attacks on the basket. She will be joined inside by Anna Neufeld (Dobbs Ferry, N.Y.) who brings size to the front court for the Mustangs, a presence that was missed in the second half of the season a year ago due to injury.
 
"We graduated more than half of our scoring and rebounding from last year's roster," Rotchford said. "But there are a lot of opportunities and minutes to be had this coming year, and we expect our returners to compete for a more significant role on the court, alongside several first-years to make immediate contributions to our success."
 
The coaching staff added five newcomers in the offseason to the roster, including first years Anyssia Ingersoll (Mexico, N.Y.) and Hannah Bonczkowski (Otego, N.Y.) who are coming off successful high school seasons.
 
"As in previous seasons, our non-league schedule is incredibly competitive, taking on several Empire 8 programs in addition to other top-notch programs in the northeast to prepare for our league schedule," Rotchford said.
 
Those non-conference games will get underway tomorrow night as the squad travels to Keuka College for their first taste of the 2023-24 action at 7 p.m. in Keuka Park.
 
Morrisville will then head downstate to meet Lehman College on Friday, followed by a non-conference at Manhattanville on the 12^th.
 
A short trip to Hamilton College on Tuesday will lead the Mustangs into their home opener, a four-team tip-off tournament Friday and Saturday, taking on Misericordia on the 17^th.
 
Following a road trip at Hartwick on the 21^st, Morrisville will have one final non-league tune-up on the 25^th, hosting Nazareth University, before meeting rival SUNY Poly in conference play on the 28^th to open the NAC schedule.
 
Morrisville will face Cobleskill on Dec. 2, before hosting fellow league newcomer Eastern Nazarene in back-to-back contests on the 8^th and 9^th, wrapping up the first semester schedule with a non-conference battle against Rotchford's alma mater Elmira on the 15^th and another battle against Utica on the 16^th.
 
Morrisville will resume play on Jan. 2 against Geneseo, before getting back into conference action on the 5^th against Delhi where they host five straight, facing Maine Maritime, Maine-Farmington, Vermont-Johnson for the first time on the 12^th, 13, and 19^th, before meeting Canton on the 20^th.
 
The Mustangs take to the road for four straight before returning home for the regular season finale on Feb. 6 against Cobleskill.
 
"We're excited to compete in a conference with some teams that are geographically closer and who's rosters reflect personnel we're familiar with," Rotchford said.
 
"We can't wait to get started."
 
For roster and schedule information, visit the college's athletic website.
 
SUNY Morrisville's curricula are enriched with applied learning and pave the way for opportunity at the Morrisville and Norwich campuses. An action-oriented, interactive learning lab, the college is a national leader in technology and has been lauded for its exemplary, innovative and effective community service programs.
 
The college was ranked among the Best Regional Colleges in the North by U.S. News & World Report Best Colleges 2023 issue and earned additional recognition in Top Public Schools Regional Colleges (North). For more information about SUNY Morrisville, visit www.morrisville.edu.
 
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