HADLEY, Mass. – The New England Small College Athletic Conference (NESCAC) announced its women's basketball awards for the 2025-26 season as voted by the league's coaches.
Bates senior Elsa Daulerio was selected as the NESCAC Player of the Year and Defensive Player of the Year. The center is the third player in conference history to win both awards in the same year and the first from Bates. An All-NESCAC First Team for the third consecutive season, Daulerio is the sixth Bobcat to earn Player of the Year honor and the second Bates player to garner Defensive Player of the Year. She helped the Bobcats win their second NESCAC title in program history by leading the team in scoring (14.2 ppg – 5th in the NESCAC), rebounding (7.3 rpg – 5th in the NESCAC), and blocks (73 – 1st in NESCAC).
Sofia Tavarez was named the NESCAC Rookie of the Year after leading Connecticut College back to the NESCAC Tournament for the first time in 2022. An All-NESCAC Second Team selection, Tavarez came off the bench to lead the Camels in scoring (15.2 ppg – 3rd in NESCAC), assists (2.6), and steals (1.4 stlpg).
The Bates College staff was voted the NESCAC Coaching Staff of the Year by its peers. Led by head coach Alison Montgomery, the Bobcats captured the program's second NESCAC title in team history on Sunday. It’s the first Coaching Staff of the Year for Montgomery in her 11th season at the helm of the Bobcats.
2026 NESCAC Women’s Basketball
Player of the Year: Elsa Daulerio, Bates
Defensive Player of the Year: Elsa Daulerio, Bates
Rookie of the Year: Sofia Tavarez, Connecticut College
Coaching Staff of the Year: Bates College (Alison Montgomery, Jackie Luckhardt, Jack Stannard, Mike Seltzer)
| All-NESCAC First Team |
| Pos |
Name |
School |
Yr |
Hometown |
Previous Honors |
| C |
Elsa Daulerio |
Bates |
Sr. |
Harpswell, Maine |
2025 1st Team, 2024 1st Team |
| G |
Kendall Harris |
Hamilton |
Jr. |
Chapel Hill, N.C. |
2025 2nd Team |
| G |
Sarah Hughes |
Bates |
Jr. |
Rumson, N.J. |
|
| G |
Grace Kinum |
Bowdoin |
So. |
New Providence, N.J. |
|
| G |
Kate Olenik |
Colby |
Jr. |
Medfield, Mass. |
2025 1st Team, 2024 ROY, 2024 2nd Team |
| F |
Abbie Quinn |
Bowdoin |
Jr. |
Bangor, Maine |
2025 2nd Team |
| G |
Micah Walton |
Williams |
So. |
Austin, Texas |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| All-NESCAC Second Team |
| Pos |
Name |
School |
Yr |
Hometown |
Previous Honors |
| F |
Taylor Lambo |
Hamilton |
Sr. |
Watertown, Mass. |
2025 2nd Team, 2024 2nd Team, 2023 ROY, 2023 2nd Team |
| G |
Avery Marzo |
Trinity |
Jr. |
Shrewsbury, Mass. |
|
| G |
Annie McCarthy |
Amherst |
Sr. |
Medfield, Mass. |
|
| G |
Laura Mendell |
Amherst |
Sr. |
Westport, Mass. |
2025 2nd Team |
| G |
Olivia Quinn |
Wesleyan |
Sr. |
Franklin, Mass. |
|
| C |
Marlo Simms |
Trinity |
Jr. |
Decatur, Ga. |
|
| F |
Kathleen Smith |
Williams |
Jr. |
Plaistow, N.H. |
|
| G |
Sofia Tavarez |
Conn. College |
Fy. |
Cortlandt Manor, N.Y. |
|
