FLUSHING, N.Y. – On Saturday (Nov. 12) evening, the Queens College women's basketball 2022-2023 season gets going in Philadelphia, PA as head coach Bet Naumovski and her Knights compete in the fifth ECC/CACC Conference Challenge. 
 
Head coach Bet Naumovski begins her 11^th season in charge on the Knights sideline, already the winningest coaching program, Naumovski is looking to lead the Knights back to the championship-caliber style she knows her squad can play at. 
 
In the East Coast Conference Preseason Coaches Poll, the Knights have been voted to finish seventh, one spot out of the postseason race but Naumovski's Knights have earned one first-place vote. 
 
There is one positive to come out of the preseason poll as they earned a first-place vote. But the Knights know it will be another grueling season especially once gets East Coast Conference play gets going.
 
St. Thomas Aquinas College Spartans have taken two first-place votes and are projected to finish at the top of the nine-team conference. 
 
Defending champions Daemen University Wildcats have taken five first-place votes and are slated to finish second. 
 
The Firebirds of the District of the University of District of Columbia have been tabbed fourth and earned one first-place vote. 
 
Mercy College Mavericks are slated to finish fourth, while the Lions of Molloy University and the Redhawks of Roberts Wesleyan University are tied for the fifth and are tabbed to earn the final two spots in the six-team postseason tournament. 
 
Fellow CUNY member College of Staten Island Dolphins and D'Youville University Saints round out the preseason voting. The Dolphins are eligible for postseason play this year, while the Saints will have to wait one more year. 
 
The 22-23 roster consists of several Knights who have one year under their belt in Flushing along with six freshmen who will hope to contribute as the season gets underway Saturday evening. 
 
Sophomore Chelsea Reeves (Brooklyn, N.Y.) earned All-Conference Third Team honors. In Conference play, the Brooklyn native averaged  12.0 points, 8.5 rebounds, and 3.3 assists per game. She finished 16^th in points, eighth in rebounds, steals, and 10^th in assists per game and tallied six double-doubles on the season.
 
Naumovski will look at Reeves to excel once again but will be wary that her All-Conference honoree will be the first one on the opposing team's list to guard. 
Last season Khadija Demry (Brooklyn, N.Y.) and Aalia Carlson (Montclair, N.J.) were two of five players to average 10 points or more, but with a full year and a true preseason under their belts, the sharpshooters will be counted on heavily.
 
The Knights have added Raven Pitt (Valley Stream, N.Y.) a division one transfer from Wagner College to help lead this young squad. Pitt is no stranger to this Knights' squad with her younger sister and sophomore Farrah Pitt (Valley Stream, N.Y.) on the team. The Pitt sisters and Reeves were all teammates at one point in their high school careers and getting one more chance to play together could spell something trio once the trio gets going. 
 
Sophomore Tayanee Peay (Amityville, N.Y.) has rejoined the Knights, but having spent one season under Naumovski means the Knights are not short of experience this year.
 
Last season the Knights had no depth and would struggle to close out games but this year depth and size should help the squad, especially at the four and five spot. 
 
Sophomore Jennah DeGout (Bronx, N.Y.) averaged nearly a double-double and led the Knights in blocks but will have additional help this year with the addition of junior transfer Kendra McPeek (Binghamton, N.Y.) who has returned to the Empire State following two years at California University of PA and could play a huge part in the Knights success this season at the forward position. 
 
While the new rookies will hope to contribute from days with the additions of guards Brianna Davis (Bronx, N.Y.), Oyinkansola Oke (Staten Island, N.Y.), forwards Cecilia Lapertosa (Whitesboro, N.Y.), Madelyn McMath (Carmel, N.Y.), and centers Gianna Henriques (Bronx, N.Y.), and Graciella Gardner (Newark Valley, N.Y.). 
 
ECC/CACC Conference Challenge Preview
 
The Knights open the season against the Griffins of Chestnut Hill College Saturday (Nov. 11) evening. It will be the fifth straight meeting against the Griffins since the 2017-18 season.
 
Queens fell last season in a closely-contested game in Flushing to the score of 71-67 but will be looking to end a two-game losing streak to the Griffins as they search for their first win since the 2018-19 season. 
 
The conference challenge concludes against host Thomas Jefferson University Rams who advanced to the NCAA East Regional Semifinal game last season.
 
Against the Rams, the Knights are 7-9 overall but are 3-3 in their last six games. Queens fell last season in their home opener but in their last three trips to Philadelphia, the Knights are 2-1. 
 
The first home game will take on Thursday (Nov. 17) evening as the Knights welcome Post University Eagles to town. 
 
All home games will be live-streamed on the ECC Network and fans can follow along on live stats. Live Stats: Women's Basketball 
 

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