MARLBORO - Junior point guard
Hannah Martin (North Andover, MA/North Andover) has been named the New England Women's and Men's Athletic Conference Women's Basketball Defensive Player of the Year in conference awards announced on Wednesday morning.
Martin headlines a banner day for the Bears, as head coach
Lynn Hersey, along with assistant coaches
Jen MacAulay,
Kat Puda, and
Ally Yamada, were recognized as the NEWMAC Co-Coaching Staff of the Year with Clark University. Martin was tabbed as a First Team All-Conference selection, while junior
Virginia Johnson (Minneapolis, MN/Southwest) also landed on the First Team. Junior guard
Felicia Fongemie (Ashford, CT/Marianapolis Prep) was named a Second Team All-NEWMAC honoree.
Hannah Martin (North Andover, MA/North Andover)
- NEWMAC Defensive Player of the Year
- NEWMAC All-Conference First Team
- NEWMAC Tournament Most Outstanding Player
- Averaged 11.2 points, 4.4 rebounds, 2.9 assists
- Totaled 31 steals
- Shot 46% from the floor and 39% from three-point range
- Scored in double-figures 12 times this season
Virginia Johnson (Minneapolis, MN/Southwest)
- NEWMAC All-Conference First Team
- Led Smith in scoring (12.5ppg) and rebounding (6.6rpg)
- Ranked first on the team in 46 steals
- Shot 44.4% from long distance and totaled 72 three-pointers (both led the NEWMAC)
- Scored in double-figures in 18 games this year
Felicia Fongemie (Ashford, CT/Marianapolis Prep)
- NEWMAC All-Conference Second Team
- Averaging 9.4 points with 30 assists and 28 steals
- Tied for second in the NEWMAC in free throw percentage (85.1%)
- Shot 47.3% from the floor
- 14 games in double-figures
Hersey and her staff led Smith (27-1) to its sixth-consecutive NEWMAC Championship this past Sunday, an accomplishment no other NEWMAC school has done. The Bears claimed the regular season championship with an undefeated 11-0 conference record for the second-straight season. This is her sixth NEWMAC Coach of the Year honor after previously winning the award in 2012, 2013, 2018, 2022, and 2023.
Smith is set to travel to Lewiston, Maine for the opening weekend of the 2026 NCAA Women's Basketball Championship in Alumni Gym March 6-7. The Bears will square off with Liberty League Champion Union (NY) on Friday at 4:45pm. The other matchup features hosts and NESCAC Champion Bates against Merchant Marine Academy at 7:15pm.
About Smith Athletics: Smith College is a NCAA Division III member of the New England Women's and Men's Athletic Conference that sponsors 11 intercollegiate sports. For more information log on to smithpioneers.com and follow us on Facebook, and Instagram.
