BURNSVILLE, MN – A youthful squad that could feature four underclassmen in starting roles, the University of Mary is picked to finish ninth overall in the 2017-18 NSIC Women's Basketball Preseason Coaches' Poll and third in the North Division. Expected to lead the charge is all-conference sophomore center
Gabbie Bohl, the Marauders NSIC Preseason Player to Watch.
The Marauders picked up 125 points in the overall poll. MSU Moorhead is the preseason favorite to win the league, earning 10 first place votes and 213 points total. Northern State (209) was a close second, followed by Augustana (200), Wayne State (182), Winona State (152), Concordia-St. Paul (140), Minnesota State (132), Minnesota Duluth (126), UMary (125), Sioux Falls (123), St. Cloud State (91), Southwest Minnesota State (58), Minnesota Crookston (51), Bemidji State (43), Upper Iowa (39) and Minot State.
In a flip flop from the overall standings, the Marauders are picked ahead of the Bulldogs in the North division standings. MSU Moorhead is again the favorite, followed by Northern State, UMary, UMD, SCSU, BSU, UMC and Minot State.
In the South, Augustana edged Wayne State, followed by Winona State, CSP, Minnesota State, USF, SMSU and UIU.
UMary finished last season 15-16 overall, 10-12 overall (10
th) and 8-6 in the North (4
th).
As a redshirt freshman last season, Bohl started every game and was a force inside. The Minot, ND, native was named the NSIC Freshman of the Year and also earned a spot on the All-NSIC second team and the NSIC all-freshman team. Bohl averaged 15.3 ppg and 5.9 rpg and twice earned NSIC Player of the Week honors. She scored 20 or more points nine times, had four double doubles and posted double digit points in all but two NSIC games.
The Marauders two other returning starters are senior guard
Dani Williams and sophomore guard
Lauren Rotunda. Making the move to the wing after serving as point guard last season, Williams averaged 8.6 points per game her junior year and made 77 percent of her free throws. Rotunda joined Bohl on the NSIC All-Freshmen team and chipped in 9.1 points, 4,3 rebounds and 2.5 assists per game.
The Marauders open exhibition play on Saturday, Oct. 24, at the University of Jamestown. The regular season commences Nov. 10-11 against the University of Central Missouri and Washburn University in neutral site games played in Kansas City, MO.
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