BETHLEHEM, Pa. – The Northampton women's basketball team, coming off a successful 18-9 season a year ago, is ready to get the 26-27 campaign underway on Sunday, November 1st. 

Head Coach Carly Gallagher and her young squad have their goals focused on playing one game at a time and focusing on getting better each time out on the floor as they gear up for the start of the new campaign.

"I am excited to watch this group in action," stated Head Coach Carly Gallagher during a short break at practice earlier this week, "Our freshmen have shown tremendous growth in the first few weeks that we have been together. The biggest area of focus for us this year will be making sure our players understand their role and being great teammates on and off the court."

The Spartans will look for sophomore point guard Al-Jhnai McClain (New Holland, PA/Garden Spot) and freshman point guard Simone Smith (Philadelphia, PA/Lincoln) to lead the squad on the floor. Both bring a different style to the point guard position and will allow the Spartans offense to attack with different looks when necessary.

"Al-Jhnai and Simone will be our go to when it comes to the point guard position," explained Head Coach Carly Gallagher, "Both young ladies bring different styles to our offense and that is going to allow us to change things up when necessary."

Along with Al-Jhnai McClain (New Holland, PA/Garden Spot), Head Coach Carly Gallagher will look to 7 freshmen to round out her squad to start the 26-27 season.

The Spartans will put their early faith in freshman forward Justyce McChristian (Whitehall, PA/Dieruff) to be the leader on the floor and provide a significant amount of scoring opportunity for the young squad.

"Justyce McChristian (Whitehall, PA/Dieruff) has a lot of versatility in her game, and we anticipate teams will have some struggles with her early on," explained Head Coach Carly Gallager, "We expect her to be a challenge on both sides of the ball and lead by example."

The Spartans will look to Jordan Dickerson (Milford, PA/Delaware Valley) and Valeyah Zapata (Allentown, PA/Lincoln Leadership Academy) to anchor the shooting guard position with Maria Moore (Fogelsville, PA/Parkland) adding depth. Emma Campusano (Tobyhana, PA/Pocono Mountain West) and Madisyn Miller (New York, NY/Mastery Hardy Williams Charter) will both roster as small forwards.

Head Coach Carly Gallagher, in her 3rd season leading the Spartans, will be assisted by Kelsey Gallagher and Victoria Keenan.

Northampton opens their season on Sunday, November 1^st when they travel to Syracuse, New York to take on Onondaga Community College at 1pm at the Allyn Hall Gymnasium.