Plenty of CMass. talent ready to contribute for area college women's basketball squads

After putting the finishing touches on brilliant high school careers, these local athletes have taken their talents to the gyms of the local colleges around Worcester County.

With the college basketball season getting underway, Jennifer Toland took a look at some of the those former local high school standouts that hope to make an impact for area college teams.

Arianna Saladini (Fitchburg/Monty Tech)

Fitchburg State

Graduate, Forward

Saladini averaged 5.3 points and 2.9 rebounds last season at Anna Maria. She transferred to Fitchburg State following AMC’s closure.

“She is an unbelievable person, most importantly, and she brings a veteran approach,” FSU coach Jonathan Mandeldove said. “Every day she is working to get better. She’s been an amazing addition to our program.”

Saladani can play both forward positions and Mandeldove expects that she will start some games.

Mandeldove is hopeful Saladani’s versatility can help the Falcons improve on last year’s four-win season.

“I call her a triple threat,” Mandeldove said. “She can pass, shoot and handle the ball. We’ll be using her in a unique way and I love it. She’s going to be important to us turning our program over to being a competitive program.”

Rylee Barrieault (Ashburnham/Winchendon School)

Nichols

Senior, Guard

Riley Bassett (Gilbertville/Quabbin Regional)

Nichols

Junior, Center

Kiara Gauthier (Hardwick/Quaboag Regional)

Nichols

Senior, Guard/Forward

First-year coach Jacque Rivera, who was a Nichols assistant last season, expects the trio of Barrieault, Bassett and Gauthier to play major roles for the Bison in 2026-27.

Barrieault, the team’s top 3-point threat, started 24 of 25 games last season and averaged 6.6 points and 3 rebounds. She scored a career-high 27 points at Colby-Sawyer while sinking seven 3s.

“Her ability to stretch the defense is second to none,” Rivera said.

In addition to experience and leadership, Barrieault is one of Nichols’ top defenders, who usually guards the opponent’s best player.

“She is our heart and soul,” Rivera said, “our toughness.”

Bassett played in just six games as a sophomore, but she will have an expanded role this season.

“Her growth over the last year has been tremendous,” Rivera said. “She committed to fitness and she is scoring with both hands. I think it’s going to be a breakout year for her.”

Gauthier transferred to Nichols from Anna Maria following AMC’s closure.

Like Barrieault, Gauthier can shoot from long range and she can play multiple positions.

“She’s long and athletic and she will have a lot of impact,” Rivera said. “She gives us the opportunity to play a lot of different ways. We’re excited for her. She’s a major addition for us.”

Emmy Allyn (Rutland/Wachusett Regional)

WPI

Senior, Guard

Allyn has started every game of her WPI career. In high school, she was known as a tenacious point guard and “a coach on the floor,” and she has continued to blossom in that role in college.

“Having Emmy play college ball here in Worcester has been a big win for us and our program since the day she stepped on campus,” WPI coach Cherise Galasso said. “She brought that Central Mass. grit and toughness. She has definitely represented Worcester well and the way we thought she would.”

Last season, Allyn averaged 9.7 points, 3.2 rebounds and 1.7 assists.

“She’s evolved into a multi-dimensional, two-way player,” Galasso said. “She is not just a scorer or a playmaker, she is also our best defender.”

WPI’s 2026-27 roster includes 12 freshmen.

“What I’m proudest of this year is how Emmy stepped into a leadership role,” Galasso said. “She has always been a great role model, but this year she is leading with her voice, having the hard conversations and doing things you would want a leader to do. The kids respect everything she is about.”

Arianna Gonzalez (Worcester/South High)

Senior, Guard

Worcester State

Tiffany Salazar (Webster/Bartlett)

Senior, Guard

Worcester State

Gonzalez and Salazar transferred to Worcester State following the closure of Anna Maria. The both logged meaningful minutes for the AmCats.

“They’ve made a great transition to Worcester State as students and student-athletes,” Lancer coach Karen Tessmer said.

Last season at Anna Maria, Gonzalez earned All-MASCAC honors after averaging 12.2 points, 6.2 rebounds and a conference-best 3.8 assists per game.

“Ari is an excellent shooter,” Tessmer said, “and she has really good court sense. You would have thought Ari played here for four years.”

Salazar, a point guard, averaged 9.5 points and 3.1 assists last year at AMC.

“Tiffany is an excellent ball handler one on one,” Tessmer said. “She has really good offensive skills and she is a tough defender.”

Tessmer expects Gonzalez and Salazar to be impactful players for the Lancers this season.

“They are both hard workers and they fit right in with our culture,” Tessmer said. “We’re happy to have them.”

—Contact Jennifer Toland at jennifer.toland@telegram.com. Follow her on X, formerly known as Twitter, @JenTolandTG.

This article originally appeared on Telegram & Gazette: Plenty of CMass. talent ready to contribute for area college women’s basketball squads