NORTHAMPTON, Mass. – The New England Women Basketball Association announced their 2023-2024 Postseason all-region teams and major award winners today, and for the first time in program history, the Keene State College women's basketball team saw a member of their program win the NEWBA Rookie of the Year Award. After a record setting freshman year for the Owls, Brynn Rautiola was voted the NEWBA Rookie of the Year, by coaches from around the region for her impact on the hardwood during the regular season.
 
Rautiola had a dominant first year, as her 19.6 points per game not only placed her first in the conference but tied for 27th in the entire country for Division III women's basketball scoring average, the third most out of all freshmen. Rautiola's 491 points across her 25 games in the 2023-2024 season puts her at second in program history for the most points in a season (Patty Rauch is in first with 492 points in 26 games in '86-'87), along with her 19.6 points per game ranking her third place in points per game in a season, in only her first collegiate year. Rautiola also took advantage of getting to the free throw line, as her 127 free throws made ranked her tied for 22nd in the country, along with third place in program history for free throws made in a single season. Her efficiency was key at the free throw line as she shot 127-for-148 on the season, an .858 free throw percentage, the best in a single season in program history for the Owls (min. 50 made) and ranked her 21st in the country for free throw percentage in the 2023-2024 season. Rautiola was lethal from beyond the arc on the season, as she led the conference with 68 three-pointers made, for an average of 2.7 per game. Her seven three-pointers against Vermont State University Castleton (1/3/24) was tied for the most in a game in the conference on the season, while she also logged six in a game on two more occasions (at Vermont State University Johnson 11/28/23, and vs. Western Connecticut State University 2/10/24). Rautiola had a season-high of 30 points in a contest against Vermont State Castleton (1/3/24), as she rang in the new year by scoring the most points by an Owl since Sandi Purcell scored 30 back on February 18, 2017.
 
Throughout the season, Rautiola has earned other accolades, as she was named NEWBA Rookie of the Week on three occasions, coming on the week ending January 7, January 21, and February 18. Rautiola also picked up two Little East Conference honors for her standout freshman season, as she was named to the First Team All-LEC, and she became the fourth member of the Keene State women's basketball program to be named Little East Conference Rookie of the Year joining Margot Fleming (1997-1998), Kristin Degou (2006-2007), and Rylee Burgess (2020-2021).