Women's team enjoys best season

By David Nathan

You could say the 2025–26 Lasell women’s basketball team “rebounded” from a difficult season in a spectacular way.

Led by NCAA Division III rebounding leader Laura Johnson ’26 (above right) and Lasell No. 3 career scorer Shirle Major ’26 (above left), new coach Matthew Reid’s Lasers surpassed their 2024–25 win total by mid-January on their way to a program-best 19–7 record (8–4 in the Great Northeast Athletic Conference). The 19 victories tied the 2000–01 team for the most in school history.

Reid, formerly the associate head coach at the University of New England, installed a fast-paced, read-and-react offense and aggressive defense. More importantly, he quickly earned the trust of his veteran team.

“Coach took the time to get to know us as people,” says Major, who totaled 1,228 points in her Lasell career, 37 behind all-time leader Katie Stopera ’16. “From the beginning of the season, he focused on how we could improve as players so we could be there for our team.”

Led by the 5-foot-8 Johnson, who collected more than 19 rebounds a game, Lasell finished third nationally in rebounding among more than 430 Division III teams.

Four Lasers averaged double figures in scoring: Johnson (12.6 points a game), Major (12.4), Blaize Mack ’27 (11.4), and Abigail Duclos ’28 (10.7).

Photo by Joseph Sullivan