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SMSU WOMEN’S BASKETBALL: Mustangs picked to finish 12th in NSIC preseason poll

Independent file photo SMSU’s Sarah Buysse dribbles past a Waldorf defender during their Nov. 18, 2017 non-conference matchup.

BURNSVILLE – The Southwest Minnesota State University women’s basketball team was picked to finish 12th overall and seventh in the South Division in the annual Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference Preseason Coaches’ Poll released on Thursday from the NSIC office.

Sioux Falls was chosen as the preseason overall favorite with 208 points and nine first-place votes (coaches can’t vote for their own team). MSU Moorhead was picked to finish second with 185 points (three first place votes), followed by Concordia-St. Paul (178, two votes), Augustana (175) and Minnesota Duluth (174) rounding out the top five.

The University of Mary (164, one vote) was picked to finish sixth overall, placing ahead of Winona State (163), Northern State (133), Minnesota State (114) Wayne State (98). St. Cloud State was selected 11th overall (97), followed by SMSU (73), Minnesota Crookston (63), Minot State (42), Bemidji State (30), and Upper Iowa (23).

Sioux Falls earned 47 points to top the NSIC South Division poll, followed by Concordia-St. Paul (40), Augustana (38), Winona State (34), Minnesota State (22), Wayne State (21), SMSU (15) and Upper Iowa (7).

Minnesota Duluth was chosen as the favorite to win the NSIC North Division with 44 points.

Concordia-St. Paul senior guard, Anna Schmitt, was named the NSIC South Division Preseason Player of the Year. UMary senior post, Gabbie Bohl, was named the NSIC North Division Preseason Player of the Year.

SMSU junior forward, Caleigh Rodning, was named an NSIC “Player to Watch” in 2018-19. Rodning has appeared in 51 games with 38 starts in her two-year career. She shot 85 percent from the free throw line in 2017-18, ranking third in team history. She also ranks fourth in team history with 82.5 free throw percentage. Rodning averages 7.6 rebounds per game, which earns her the sixth spot in team history. She was named second team All-NSIC in 2017-18 season after leading SMSU in scoring (12.9) and rebounding (7.5). She scored a season-high 26 points against Bemidji State on Jan. 13, 2018.

SMSU will officially begin its third season under head coach, Tom Webb, on Nov. 9 versus Fort Hays State (Kan.) in the MIAA/NSIC Challenge in Hays, Kan.

SMSU will open its home schedule against Wisconsin-Parkside on Nov. 16 at 6 p.m., before opening NSIC play on Dec. 1 versus Sioux Falls in the R/A Facility.

Content courtesy

of SMSU Athletic

Communications

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