Story by Shawn Smith (UMC Sports Information Director)
The University of Minnesota Crookston women’s basketball team was picked to finish eighth in the NSIC North Division in the NSIC Preseason Women’s Basketball Coaches’ Poll. Minnesota State University was selected to finish first in the south division, while the University of Minnesota Duluth was the unanimous choice in the north.
The NSIC schedule will be 16-games played over eight weeks with the teams playing the same opponent at one site on back-to-back days. For this season, the NSIC will only crown a North Division and South Division Champion.
In the preseason voting, Minnesota Duluth picked up all seven first-place votes for 49 points. St. Cloud State was second with 41 points while MSU Moorhead was third with 37 points and the other first-place vote (coaches cannot vote for their own team). In the south, Minnesota State amassed 43 points and three first-place votes. Augustana and Winona State tied for second with 35 points and two first-place votes each. Sioux Falls was fourth with 27 points and the final first-place vote.
The Golden Eagles are entering their 15th season under Head Coach Mike Roysland. UMC went 5-22 last season with a young squad, but they competed in several games with seven losses by 10 or less points. “I am excited that we will have players coming back with the experience that we need in order to be successful,” Roysland said. “I believe we have players that have improved their game and are looking forward to the season. We did have one injury that will impact us but I feel we have good depth with players that have improved. I also like our freshman class!”
Mary Burke (Soph. Virginia) was selected as the NSIC Player to Watch for the Golden Eagles. In addition to her 9.2 points and 4.3 rebounds per game, she shot 32.4 percent from beyond the arc as a redshirt freshman. Burke tallied a season-high 21 points against University of Mary.
“I believe Mary has put in the time in the offseason to improve her game in a very positive direction,” Rosyland said. “As a staff, we are excited about her improvements and are looking for her to help lead the team in a great way! She will do all she can to help the team improve and be successful.”
The Golden Eagles will start the season on January 2 and 3 at Concordia-St. Paul.
North Division
1. Minnesota Duluth (7) – 49 points
2. St. Cloud State – 41 points
3. MSU Moorhead (1) – 37 points
4. University of Mary – 32 points
5. Northern State – 23 points
6. Bemidji State – 22 points
7. Minot State – 11 points
8. Minnesota Crookston – 9 points
South Division
1. Minnesota State (3) – 43 points
T2. Augustana (2) – 35 points
T2. Winona State (2) – 35 points
4. SIoux Falls (1) – 27 points
T5. Southwest Minnesota State – 26 points
T5. Wayne State – 26 points
7. Concordia-St. Paul – 25 points
8. Upper Iowa – 7 points
