BURNSVILLE, MN (NorthernSun.org) – The defending NCAA Division II National Champions of Minnesota State University, Mankato were selected by the league coaches as the preseason favorite in the NSIC for the 2024-25 season. The Mavericks received 194 points, garnering 12 first places votes to sit 10 points ahead of second place Northern State. The Wolves, which tied for second in the NSIC standings a year ago, had 184 points and the other three first place votes. Concordia-St. Paul was third with 162 points while Southwest Minnesota State was fourth with 147.
NSIC coaches rank each team from 1 to 14 with a first-place vote receiving 14 points, second place 13, third place 12, etc. Coaches do not rank their own team or vote for their own players in the preseason poll.
The NSIC regular season championship will be based on the 22-game schedule. Each team will play eight teams twice and another six teams once. An NSIC Champion will be awarded to the team with the highest win percentage in the 22 games played.
The 2024-25 women’s basketball season gets underway in early November with non-conference action, while NSIC play begins Thursday, November 21.
The 12-team NSIC Women’s Basketball Tournament Quarterfinals, Semifinals and Championships are set to take place March 1-4 at the Sanford Health Pentagon in Sioux Falls, South Dakota. The top four seeds will receive a first-round bye. First round games will be played on campus on Wednesday, Feb. 26.
Preseason player of the year: Madelyn Bragg.
- All-NSIC First Team selection in 2023-24
- Appeared and started in all 29 games for the Wolves
- Averaged 17.9 points, 6.8 rebounds, and 1.72 blocks per game
- Totaled 520 points, 197 rebounds, 34 assists, and 50 blocks
- Shot 51.5% from the field
- Scored double figures in 25 game including as career-high of 35 points against Minnesota Duluth
- Grabbed a season-high of 13 rebounds in the game against Winona State
Preseason poll:
1st) MSU-Mankato (12) first place votes
2nd) Northern State (3) first place votes
3rd) CSP
4th) SMSU
5th) St. Cloud State
6th) MSU-Moorhead
7th) USF
8th) MN-Duluth
9th) U-Mary
10th) Winona State
11th) Augustana
12th) MN-Crookston
13rd) Wayne State
14th) Minot State
15th) Bemidji State