A lot has changed since the season tipped off four weeks ago. Preseason expectations tell us one thing, but on-court results are more telling than ever.
We learned a lot from non-conference clashes and even more since conference play has heated up. While the top three teams remain unchanged, there are major shakeups in our first top 10 update of the season.
Some teams with high preseason expectations have underwhelmed. Other teams are off to surprise starts. It has resulted in a staggering five teams entering the poll this week.
Here’s a look at our newest top 10.
MORE GIRLS TOP 10s:Â Maine | New Hampshire | Massachusetts
1. Northwest Catholic (6-0)
Previous rank: 1
Next game: at Windsor, Jan. 9, 6 p.m.
The Lions have lived up to their number-one preseason ranking, winning their first six games by an average of 33.8 points. Those victories included an 18-point win over No. 8 Mercy and a 30-point rout of East Catholic, who was ranked 10th in our preseason rankings. Senior forward Abigail Casper, committed to Holy Cross, is averaging 18 points and 11 rebounds per game. Senior point guard Maeve Staunton, a UConn soccer commit, is scoring 13 points with seven assists a night. Fellow senior Zoey Canning, a Swarthmore commit, is averaging nine points and seven assists.
2. Sacred Heart Academy (5-0)
Previous rank: 2
Next game: vs. No. 7 Sheehan, Jan. 9, 7 p.m.
The Sharks are off to a 5-0 start in CIAC play, including two wins over top-10 teams, Greenwich and Mercy. In its win over No. 3 Greenwich, Sacred Heart Academy closed the game on a 16-0 run, breaking a 40-40 deadlock to win 56-40. The Sharks also featured at New England’s prestigious Londonderry Holiday Classic in New Hampshire, going 2-1 with blowout wins over Windham (N.H.) and Bishop Guertin (N.H.), and a six-point loss to Bedford (N.H). Those games go down in the schedule as scrimmages, but they marked a good test for SHA.
Senior Molly Gunning, committed to Wheaton College, was named to the All-Tournament First Team. Bentley-bound senior Maddy Burke featured on the Second Team. Junior forward Mila Harmon has also been an early standout.
3. Greenwich (5-1)
Previous rank: 3
Next game: vs. St. Joseph, Jan. 9, 7 p.m.
The Cardinals have bounced back well following their season-opening loss to No. 2 Sacred Heart Academy in the SCC/FCIAC challenge. Greenwich has picked up wins over Masuk, Oxford, New Canaan, Notre Dame Prep, and Fairfield Ludlowe, with wins by more than 20 points in three of those five games. Senior shooting guard Madi Utzinger, an All-FCIAC Second Team selection last season, and All-State sophomore forward Zuri Faison have led the way for the Cardinals. Utzinger was named MVP of the Bethel Holiday Tournament and Faison was named to the All-Tournament team.
4. New Britain (5-0)
Previous rank: 5
Next game: at Plainville, Jan. 9, 6 p.m.
New Britain is off to a terrific 5-0 start after a 13-7 season a year ago. The Hurricanes got a lot of love from other coaches across the state in the preseason, due to an improving core group of sophomores and juniors. Coach Michael Jones thought his team might be a year away, but all indications are that New Britain has arrived this season after notching impressive wins over Hamden and Bristol Central. The trio of sophomore Amelia Faienza (16 points, 5.3 rebounds, 3.2 steals, 2 assists), sophomore Kayla Roberts (14 points, 6.3 rebounds, 4 assists, 3.3 steals), and junior Jazzy Garcia (13 points, 2 assists, 1.2 steals) have led the way for the Canes. Sophomore Yeriani Soto and Kasey Cotto are also averaging seven points per game.
5. Staples (4-0)
Previous rank: NR
Next game: at Brien McMahon, Jan. 9, 5:30 p.m.
The Wreckers have vaulted into into the top five, courtesy of a 4-0 start with wins over Cheshire (86-25), Masuk (69-44), New Canaan (51-20), and a signature win over Amity (58-48). Junior forward Chloe Smith has led the way, averaging 20 points and 2.5 steals. Senior guard Freya Harvey has a per game stat line of 12 points, 5 rebounds, 5 assists, and 2 steals. Sophomore Addie Talbott is averaging seven points and six steals, and senior center Marley Belzer is at seven points and six rebounds per game. Staples has also showcased its depth, with valuable contributions from Emma Asiel, Riley Caney, Sadie Katzner, Maeve Best, Sam Selig, and Kennedy Do.
6. Trumbull (6-0)
Previous rank: NR
Next game: vs. Fairfield Warde, Jan. 9. 7 p.m.
Trumbull is off to an undefeated start that even coach Steve Tobitsch wouldn’t have predicted. The Eagles notched a win over Hamden in the season opener and have won all of their games by double digits. Senior guard Mikayla Diamond, a returning All-FCIAC First Teamer, is averaging over four steals a game and has facilitated the offense well. Junior forward Carley Johnston is Trumbull’s leading scorer, averaging 15 points per game. She was named the Fred Kelly Memorial Holiday Tournament MVP, averaging 19 points in wins over North Haven and Kolbe Cathedral. The Eagles have also gotten key contributions from Callie McGillicuddy, Carly Vitola, Kylie Manuel, Payton Escobar, Charlotte Manuel, and Cammy Misner.
7. Sheehan (6-0)
Previous rank: NR
Next game: at No. 2 Sacred Heart Academy, Jan. 9, 7 p.m.
The Titans were the first omission outside of my preseason Top 10, certainly a regretful omission after their undefeated start to the season. The question marks surrounding Sheehan, the defending Class MM state champions, centered on the loss of Springfield College-bound senior point guard Jenna Wresien, who will be out until the second half of the season recovering from a knee injury. Still, Sheehan has overcome her absence thanks to her twin sister Megan Wresien, committed to Pace University, and Wesleyan-bound senior forward Susie Hotaling. Wresien scored a team-high 17 points in Sheehan’s most impressive win, over Fairfield Warde, 39-35, in the season-opener.
8. Mercy (5-2)
Previous rank: 8
Next game: vs. Jonathan Law, Jan. 9, 6:30 p.m.
Mercy remains put at number eight in the rankings after a 5-2 start to the season. While the Tigers have already dropped two games, they came against the two best teams in the state, Northwest Catholic and Sacred Heart Academy. Mercy also notched an impressive 18-point win over the defending FCIAC champions, Ridgefield, in the season opener. The Tigers’ other victories have come against Daniel Hand (39-37), Wilbur Cross (71-27), NFA (56-30), and East Haven (59-20).
9. North Haven (6-1)
Previous rank: NR
Next game: at Amity, Jan. 9, 7 p.m.
The Nighthawks enter the top 10 courtesy of a 6-1 start, including a 64-51 win over St. Joseph in the season opener, handing the Cadets (6-1) their only loss of the season. North Haven has added wins over Foran (62-21), Guilford (54-31), Ledyard (39-37), Shelton (51-27), and Lyman Hall (52-34). Its only loss of the season came against No. 6 Trumbull, 54-41. The Nighthawks are led by 5-foot-8 junior guard Lia Calderon, a Class MM All-State and All-SCC First Team selection last season, who can do it all.
10. Bristol Central (5-2)
Previous rank: NR
Next game: at Simsbury, Jan. 9, 6:45 p.m.
The Rams have earned high praise from coaches across Connecticut, and for good reason. Despite a surprising loss in the season-opener to Lewis Mills, 48-37, Bristol Central responded with five straight victories, defeating Plainville, Conard, Windham, Berlin, and Simsbury. The Rams took their second loss of the season, 48-44, against No. 4 New Britain on Wednesday. Bristol Central has been playing without senior guard Kamaria Bowens, an All-CCC selection last season, due to a knee injury, though she is expected to return in the coming weeks. Senior forward Nicole Reimer, a two-time All-CCC selection, has picked up the slack in the early portion of the season.
Dropped out: Amity (5-2), Fairfield Warde (2-2), Hamden (4-3), Ridgefield (3-2), East Catholic (3-2)
