The America East preseason poll dropped Monday, September 28, and frankly, I’m scratching my head. The Bryant women’s basketball squad got slotted in at fifth, which feels like a serious misread of the talent they’re bringing to the court. How do you pick a team fifth when they’ve got not one, but *two* of the top six players in the entire league, plus a rock-solid, experienced senior core ready to make some noise? It just doesn’t add up, and I think a lot of opposing coaches are about to be seriously surprised.
This Senior Squad Isn’t Just Good, It’s Smart
Coach Lynne-Ann Kokoski isn’t pulling punches, and she shouldn’t have to. On a live broadcast with The Field of 68, she laid out the facts: having three seniors who have been with the program all four years is a game-changer. These aren’t just players, they’re veterans who have seen “the good, the bad and the ugly” of a rebuild, and they’re totally locked in on propelling this program forward. Mia Mancini and Nia Scott are already all-conference selections, huge, proven leaders holding down both the backcourt and the frontcourt. And joining them is Martina Boba, a fellow senior stepping up as a team captain. This is a group that absolutely understands what it takes to win, and you can bet they’re looking to play like the team that *started* 2025-26, not the one that scuffled their way to the finish. That kind of collective drive from a senior class? That’s championship DNA, man.
Mancini and Scott Are Bringing the Firepower
Let’s talk about the individual talent, because it’s legit. Mia Mancini has been an absolute force since her debut in 2023-24, where she scooped up Rookie of the Year honors. This player is *everywhere*, leading the Bulldogs in scoring, rebounding, assists, and steals per game. Seriously, she’s doing it all! Plus, she knocked down a ridiculous 59 three-pointers last season, putting her firmly inside the conference’s top five. Coach Kokoski made it clear that a big step for Mancini was becoming a more vocal leader, and the coach confirmed, “we’ve seen that.” When your best player also becomes your loudest leader, that’s a combo that can carry a squad far.
Then you’ve got Nia Scott, a walking double-double waiting to happen. She dropped 11 of those beastly performances in 2025-26, averaging 11.8 points and 8.7 rebounds, all while shooting an efficient 53% from the floor. But here’s the kicker: Scott isn’t stopping there. She’s explicitly planning to expand her game to the perimeter this season, adding an outside shot to her already dominant post presence. Imagine a player who can own the paint *and* stretch the floor. That makes her an absolute nightmare for opposing defenses.
So, yeah, America East coaches, enjoy that preseason poll while you can. Because with a senior core like this, led by all-conference studs Mancini and Scott, Bryant is about to show everyone exactly why picking them fifth was a massive mistake. This team has the talent, the drive, and the leadership to prove every single one of those coaches wrong. Get ready for some serious basketball, because these Bulldogs are coming to play!
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Yahoo Sports.
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