Nine Teams, Nine Days – Over the next nine days we’ll take a look at each of the America East’s nine women’s basketball programs in a lead up to the 2023-24 season. The regular season begins on Monday, Nov. 6 with eight teams in action and the full schedule of contests can be found here.
The sidelines of Bryant women’s basketball games will look very different this winter, as long-time head coach Mary Burke stepped down after 32 years and over 400 wins. A former guard for Burke, Lynne-Ann Kokoski took over the program with visions of bringing it back to the heights she knew as a player, and with the hunger of someone in their first year as a head-coach.
“I’ve really been impressed with what I’ve seen,” said Kokoski. “We’ve really focused a lot so far on the details, the discipline, all the little things and really mindset. The mindset to win, and that’s a very exciting thing for us through the early stages of preseason.”
Bryant was right in most conference games last season into the fourth quarter but couldn’t seem to pull out wins, finishing with a 9-21 mark and 3-13 record in conference play.
This year the Bulldogs bring back four starters from that team and feature an international squad with six players from outside the United States, including five from Spain. Leading that Spanish contingent is 2022-23 Second-Team All-Conference performer Mariona Planes Fortney. As a junior she started all 30 games, averaging 15.6 points, 6.2 rebounds and 1.7 blocks per game while shooting 47 percent from the floor. She’ll be counted on once again to be a low post threat.
In addition to Fortuney, Marta Neira Martinez, Lucie Castagne, Megan Bodziony and Kemari Reynolds all started at least 15 games and averaged over 15.0 minutes per game. Reynolds led the team with 3.2 assists and 1.9 steals per game while ranking third on the team in scoring at 7.2 points per game. In addition to a strong group of returners, six newcomers enter the fold and should give Kokoski more depth this year, including Silvia Gonzalez, Martina Boba and Mia Mancini.
The Kokoski era begins at home on Nov. 6 against Dartmouth at 5 p.m., followed by trips to Seton Hall and Stonehill. The Bulldogs do make a trip down to Florida to face FIU at the end of the month and then in December face off against Boston College. Bryant begins conference play on the road against UAlbany on Thursday, Jan. 4 at 7 p.m.
Bryant – Roster - Schedule
Head Coach: Lynne-Ann Kokoski
2022-23 Record: 9-21, 3-13 (8th)
Scoring Offense: 61.6 points per game (2nd)
Scoring Defense: 63.6 points per game (6th)
Rebounds/Game: 36.7 per game (1st)
Returning Starters (4)
Mariona Planes Fortney, F – 15.6 ppg, 6.2 rpg, 1.7 bpg
Kemari Reynolds, G – 7.2 ppg, 3.2 apg, 2.9 rpg
Marta Neira Martinez, G – 5.6 ppg, 4.7 rpg, 1.4 apg
Lucie Castagne, G – 4.0 ppg, 2.7 rpg
Notable Newcomers (6)
Silvia Gonzalez, F - freshman
Martina Boba, F - freshman
Mia Mancini, G - freshman
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