New York, NY – The Metropolitan Basketball Writers' Association (MBWA) announced on Monday, April 14, the 2024-25 Division III Women's Basketball Player and Coach of the Year honorees.
In addition, the MBWA announced their First, Second, Third and Honorable Mention selections.
John Jay women's basketball senior guard
Ashley Zeolla was named to the Third Team while sophomore forward
Michaela Lattimore earned a spot on the Honorable Mention Team.
The Yorktown Heights, NY standout joins former Bloodhound great
Kamryn Hammond (2023-24), Katie Healy (2022-23, 2021-22), Nyasha Howard (2020-21) and John Jay College Hall of Famers, Jamecia Forsythe (2012-13) in being named to the All-Met Team.
Natalie Bruns of New York University was selected as the All-Met Division III Women's Basketball Player of the Year for the second straight year while her head coach, Meg Barber, earned Coach of the Year for the fourth straight season.
With today's announcement, Zeolla adds to hear collegiate resume, after concluding her Bloodhound tenure with a CUNYAC First Team selection, an ECAC Second Team honor, and being recognized by College Sports Communicators (CSC) as a 2024-25 Academic All-District selection.
Lattimore notches her first recognition from the Met Basketball Writers as she joined Zeolla on CUNYAC First Team, as this marked the fifth straight season that at least two members of the women's basketball team, coached by
Lynda Day, have been honored by the league with All-Stars accolades.
FIRST TEAM
Natalie Bruns, NYU • 6-1, Gr., F, St. Louis, MO
Mia Castillo, Baruch • 5-8, Sr., G, Pleasant Valley, NY
Alexa Charles, Hunter • 5-8, Jr., G, Tarrytown, NY
Alyssa Craigwell, Montclair State • 5-11, Fr., F, Secaucus, NJ
Tova Gelb, Vassar • 5-8, Sr., G, Sharon, MA
Emily Grasseler, USMMA • 6-0, So., F, Millbrook, NY
Belle Pellecchia, NYU • 5-8, Sr., G, Mendham, NJ
SECOND TEAM
Carolae Barton, USMMA • 6-1, Fr., F, Waldorf, MD
Danielle Bessler, Yeshiva • 5-6, Sr., G/F, Brookline, MA
Leyla Castro, Stevens • 5-5, Jr., G, Old Bridge, NJ
Heaven Figueroa, Lehman • 5-7, Gr., G, Brooklyn, NY
Sierra McDermed, Vassar • 5-9, Jr., G, San Antonio, TX
Caroline Peper, NYU • 6-0, Jr. G, South Eston, MA
THIRD TEAM
Vatijah Davis, Centenary • 5-10, So., F, Poconos, PA
Julia Harvey, Vassar • 5-8, Sr., G, Delmar, NY
Brianna Smith, William Paterson • 5-6, Gr., G, Hillsdale, NJ
Maddison Vaughn, Kean • 5-10, Sr., F/C, Roselle, NJ
Ashley Zeolla, John Jay • 6-1, Sr., G, Yorktown Heights, NY
HONORABLE MENTION
Lucy Alberici, Stevens; Jamie Behar, NYU; Sophie Beneventine, Montclair State; Brianna Guglielmo, Mount St. Mary; Alicia Gumbs, York; Anna Kitch, Brooklyn; Michaela Lattimore, John Jay; Esther Ramos, Manhattanville; Erin Smith, Mount St. Vincent; Megan Spina, St. Joseph's-Long Island; Olivia Vero, Montclair State
Player of the Year: Natalie Bruns, NYU
Coach of the Year:
Meg Barber, NYU
