Assumption University Women's Basketball

Head coach Kerry Phayre enters her 29th season as the women’s basketball head coach at Assumption during the 2025-26 campaign. Not only is Coach Phayre the winningest coach in Assumption’s men's or women’s basketball history, but she is also the winningest coach in the history of Assumption Athletics, with 477 career wins. The 2022-23 season for the Assumption Greyhounds Women's Basketball team was a historic one. For the first time in program history, the Hounds secured an East Regional Championship as the #1 seeded host and progressed to the Elite Eight. Under Phayre's guidance, the women's basketball team is just the ninth in Assumption history to win a regional title and has reached the NCAA Tournament on ten occasions. The Hounds had their best start in program history (11-0) and won their first NE10 regular season championship. The squad set a program record of 27 wins on the season, surpassing the previous record of 22 wins, which was last done in 2012-13. The Greyhounds ranked in the top 25 nationally in scoring defense (1st, 50.8), field goal percentage (1st, 32.9), three-point defense (5th, 25.1), fouls per game (11th, 13.3), winning percentage (15th, 84.4), and scoring margin (22nd, 12.7). Additionally, Assumption ranked in the WBCA Top 25 for 10 weeks and concluded the season ranked #10, marking the highest ranking in program history. When the season had concluded, the Blue and White were ranked D2 NCAA #1 in Scoring Defense, #1 in FG% Defense, and #5 in 3 Pt FG% Defense. During her time at Assumption, Phayre has coached 45 Northeast-10 Conference All-Conference selections, five Academic All-District players, three Academic All-Americans, one Northeast-10 Player of the Year (Katelyn Dwyer), two Northeast-10 Freshmen of the Year (Charde Floyd, Gabrielle Gibson), two Northeast-10 Scholar-Athletes of the Year (Stacy Mattioli, Leslie Lupien), 20 of the top 25 scorers in school history and guided three of her players to professional basketball careers: Kelly Meredith, Morgan O'Donnell and Jordan Hawkins. She has coached one Defensive Player of the Year in her career as well. Many of her players have received the Desautels Award for being the top female senior athlete at Assumption and the Laska Award for being the top female athlete at Assumption overall.   The 2024-25 season was an excellent measure of Coach Phayre's ability to manage a roster. Key players on the Greyhounds sustained injuries staggered throughout the season. Still, the team earned a home court advantage by clinching the No. 6 seed with a three-game winning streak, ending the regular season 16-12 overall with a 9-11 Northeast-10 record. Phayre led the Greyhounds to the Northeast-10 Tournament Championship, where they fell to No. 1 Bentley University 64-54. Assumption's postseason run, featuring a 57-54 overtime upset over No. 3 University of New Haven, serves as a reminder to never count out Coach Phayre's Greyhounds.  In the 2019-20 season, the Hounds finished with an overall record of 14-15 and a 7-12 mark in NE10 play. They earned a spot in the conference tournament and defeated Pace, 59-45 in the first round before falling to Stonehill in the quarterfinals. Brianna Capacchione led the Hounds, averaging 14.6 points per game, and was named to the NE10 All-Conference Third Team. In the 2018-19 season, Phayre led the Hounds to a 14-14 season highlighted by a six-game win streak from November 25 to December 18. During the season, senior Morgan O'Donnell scored her 1,000th career point, making her the 25th player in Assumption history, along with being named to the NE10 First-Team All-Conference for Phayre's 38th player to do so.  In the 2017-18 season, the Hounds went 10-16 but did earn a number of impressive victories, including a 12-point win over nationally ranked St. Thomas Aquinas. Junior Morgan O'Donnell earned Third-Team All-Conference honors after leading the team in points, rebounds, and blocks. Phayre led the Hounds to a breakout 2016-17 campaign, as the team went 19-7 during the regular season, including wins over nationally ranked Adelphi and Queens (N.Y.). Assumption was the No. 2 seed in the NE10 Tournament and also earned its first berth in the NCAA Tournament since 2014. Senior Jo Impellizeri earned Second-Team All-Conference, while Allison Stoddard earned Third-Team honors. In 2015-16, Phayre's team reached the Northeast-10 tournament after finishing the season with an overall record of 15-12 and 11-10 in conference play. After the season, two members of the team were awarded with Northeast-10 Honorable Mention All-Conference honors. During the 2014-2015 season, Phayre's team picked up three home victories over top-10 teams as the squad advanced to the Northeast-10 Tournament. The Hounds finished the season with a 15-12 overall record, including a 10-11 mark in league play as two players earned Northeast-10 Honorable Mention All-Conference honors. The team was also awarded the Thomas Jefferson Award by the Worcester Public Schools for the program's outstanding community service work with the Chandler Elementary School in Worcester. During the 2013-2014 season, under the guidance of Phayre, the team went 18-11 and 13-8 in conference play, advancing to the Northeast-10 Conference semifinals with a roster that featured seven freshmen. In addition, Phayre’s team also received a bid to the NCAA Tournament for the sixth time and third time in a four-year stretch. Phayre earned her 300th win as the head coach at Assumption in a 55-47 home victory on January 25, 2014, against American International College.    In the 2012-2013 season, Phayre guided the Hounds to a 22-8 record and the program’s first-ever appearance in the Northeast-10 Championship Game after a thrilling home semifinal win over Merrimack. Earning a spot in the NCAA Tournament, Phayre also recorded her 300th overall career victory as a head coach with a 78-69 road victory over the University of New Haven on February 13, 2013. In 2011-12, Phayre’s team posted a 17-10 record overall, a 14-8 mark in the Northeast-10 and advanced to the Northeast-10 Tournament. COACHING CAREER Head Coach at Columbia University (1991-1996) Assistant Coach at Boston College (1986-1991) Assistant Coach at St. John's University (1984-1986) Assistant Coach at University of Vermont (1983-1984) PLAYING CAREER Transferred to Providence College to finish her college career (1980-83) A standout point guard for the Friars, Phayre scored 1,269 points and posted 432 career assists while serving as a two-time team captain She was a finalist for the Margaret Wade Trophy in 1982, given to the National Player of the Year, and was a Kodak All-American as she helped her team to a 66-27 record during her career Played her first college season at Southern Connecticut State College (1979-80) Phayre was one of Rhode Island’s outstanding female high school basketball players; while at Saint Xavier in Providence, RI, she led her team to three Rhode Island state championships She finished her career with 1,174 career points, a 76-4 overall four-year record, and was a two-time All-State selection PERSONAL LIFE She graduated with a Bachelor of Arts degree from Providence in 1983 A native of Cranston, R.I., Phayre is a member of the Women’s Basketball Coaches Association (WBCA) and is one of the leading clinicians in the Northeast She was inducted into the New England Basketball Hall of Fame in the fall of 2006 and resides in Worcester, Massachusetts   HEAD COACHING RECORD Season School Overall Pct. Conf. Pct. Regular Season Conference Tournament Postseason 2023-24 Assumption 25-6 .806 18-4 .818 23-4 Northeast-10 Semifinals | NCAA Second Round 2-2 2022-23 Assumption 27-6 .818 16-4 .800 23-4 Northeast-10 Semifinals | NCAA Elite Eight 4-2 2021-22 Assumption 12-13 .480 9-10 .474 12-12 Northeast-10 First Round 0-1 2020-21 Assumption COVID 2019-20 Assumption 14-15 .483 7-12 .368 13-14 Northeast-10 Quarterfinals 1-1 2018-19 Assumption 14-14 .500 9-12 .429 14-14 DNQ 2017-18 Assumption 10-16 .385 7-14 .333 10-16 DNQ 2016-17 Assumption 19-9 .679 14-7 .667 19-7 Northeast-10 Quarterfinals 0-1 2015-16 Assumption 15-12 .556 11-10 .524 15-11 Northeast-10 Quarterfinals 0-1 2014-15 Assumption 15-12 .556 10-11 .476 15-11 Northeast-10 Quarterfinals 0-1 2013-14 Assumption 18-11 .621 13-8 .619 17-9 Northeast-10 Semifinals 1-1 2012-13 Assumption 22-8 .733 17-5 .773 20-6 Northeast-10 Championship | NCAA First Round 2-2 2011-12 Assumption 17-10 .630 14-8 .636 17-9 Northeast-10 Quarterfinals 0-1 2010-11 Assumption 22-8 .733 18-4 .818 20-6 Northeast-10 Semifinals | NCAA Second Round 2-2 2009-10 Assumption 16-13 .552 12-10 .545 15-12 Northeast-10 Quarterfinals 1-1 2008-09 Assumption 15-13 .536 13-9 .591 15-12 Northeast-10 First Round 0-1 2007-08 Assumption 22-10 .688 12-10 .545 22-8 Northeast-10 Quarterfinals | NCAA First Round 0-2 2006-07 Assumption 13-16 .448 9-13 .409 12-15 Northeast-10 Quarterfinals 1-1 2005-06 Assumption 15-14 .517 11-11 .500 15-12 Northeast-10 Quarterfinals 1-1 2004-05 Assumption 13-15 .464 9-13 .692 13-14 Northeast-10 First Round 0-1 2003-04 Assumption 21-9 .700 15-7 .681 19-8 Northeast-10 Semifinals 2-1 2002-03 Assumption 14-15 .483 8-14 .364 12-14 Northeast-10 Semifinals 2-1 2001-02 Assumption 20-9 .690 17-5 .773 19-7 Northeast-10 Semifinals | NCAA First Round 1-2 2000-01 Assumption 18-10 .643 13-9 .591 17-9 Northeast-10 Quarterfinals 1-1 1999-00 Assumption 20-9 .690 12-6 .667 19-7 Northeast-10 Quarterfinals | NCAA Second Round 1-2 1998-99 Assumption 13-14 .481 9-9 .500 13-13 Northeast-10 Quarterfinals 0-1 1997-98 Assumption 14-14 .500 9-11 .818 13-13 Northeast-10 Semifinals 1-1 1996-97 Assumption 13-14 .481 8-10 .444 13-13 Northeast-10 Quarterfinals 0-1 1995-96 Columbia 2-24 .077 1-13 .071 2-24 DNQ 1994-95 Columbia 0-26 .000 0-14 .000 0-26 DNQ 1993-94 Columbia 4-22 .154 2-12 .143 4-22 DNQ 1992-93 Columbia 7-19 .269 1-13 .071 7-19 DNQ 1991-92 Columbia 4-22 .154 1-13 .071 4-22 DNQ  34 Seasons Career 474-428 .525 296-307 .491 451-396 Postseason Record: 23-32

Sue Cahill will be entering her 27th year on Kerry Phayre's staff in the 2025-26 season.  Cahill, whose duties include coordinating and implementing all aspects of recruiting student-athletes, pre- and post-season workouts, scouting of opponents and practice preparation, also earned the prestigious Thomas Jefferson Award for outstanding contributions to the staff and students at Chandler Elementary School recently.    During her career at Assumption, the Hounds have posted over 300 wins. The team has qualified for 20 conference playoffs with three straight trips to the Northeast-10 final four (2001-04). The Hounds have also notched six 20-win seasons, four NCAA regional appearances, and eight NCAA tournament appearances. Cahill additionally helped Head Coach Kerry Phayre lead the Hounds to their record-breaking season in 2022-23, where they posted 27 wins and won their first-ever NCAA East Regional Championship and NE10 regular season title.  Cahill has helped recruit and coach two Northeast-10 Freshmen of the Year (Charde Floyd 2005, Gabrielle Gibson 2010), one Defensive Player of the Year (Floyd 2008), and 30 All-Conference players, including 12 1,000-point scorers. She also has coached two Northeast-10 Scholar Athletes of the Year (Stacy Mattioli 2001 and Leslie Lupien 2010).     COACHING CAREER Assistant Coach at Hartford (1996-1999) Cahill recruited seven freshmen in 1998, including Janeka Lopp, who went on to be eighth all-time in scoring in Hartford Hawk history, and Kenitra Johnson, who went on to be the 12th leading scorer and fifth all-time in rebounding in the history of the Hartford program. Cahill also assisted in the guidance of one of her players to an overseas career in professional basketball (Heather Weindorfer) Assistant Coach at Columbia University (1990-1996) PLAYING CAREER Cahill was a standout at Saint Michael’s College in Colchester, Vt. where she starred on the women’s basketball team from 1986-1990 for Coach Sue Duprat. She was a team captain during her senior year, led the team to an ECAC tournament berth, and was a Northeast-10 All-Conference Honorable Mention recipient. Historically she remains one of the best players to ever play for Saint Michael’s, where she ranks in the top 10 in three different all-time career categories in the school’s history. Cahill is ninth all-time in three-point shots made (101), third in three-point field goal percentage (37.3%), and eighth all-time in free-throw percentage (77.1%). PERSONAL LIFE She currently resides in Worcester, Mass. Cahill graduated from St. Michael’s College and earned her business administration bachelor’s degree in 1990. Cahill was also a skilled tennis player before her collegiate basketball career. She was named Player of the Year on the Cape during her senior year of high school at Dennis Yarmouth Regional in South Yarmouth, Mass.

Molly Stokes returns to Assumption’s midcourt, this time as a member of the Greyhounds’ women’s basketball coaching staff. A standout former player, she brings both elite on-court credentials and deep institutional loyalty to her new role. During her collegiate playing career at Assumption, Stokes emerged as one of the program’s most dynamic scorers and playmakers. In the 2023-24 season, she averaged 15.4 points per game, shot 50.7% overall from the field, and knocked down 43.7% from three. She scored in double figures in 26 of 31 games and posted 20+ points in 10 outings, including a career-high 28 vs. College of Saint Rose. That season, she earned Northeast-10 First Team honors, Division II East Regional All-Tournament recognition, and a WBCA All-America Honorable Mention—becoming just the seventh in program history to make a WBCA All-American list.