BURNSVILLE, Minn. – Winona State University has been selected to finish fifth overall in the 2017-18 NSIC Women's Basketball Preseason Coaches' Poll announced on Wednesday. The Warriors have been tabbed third in the NSIC South Division.
MSU Moorhead received 10 of 16 first-place votes as the overall conference preseason favorite. Northern State was selected second. Augustana and Wayne, out of the South, were voted next ahead of Winona State.
In the South, Augustana garnered five first-place votes and 47 total points followed by Wayne with three first-place votes and 44 points. WSU earned 33 points in the divisional vote.
Winona finished last season with a record of 22-9 (15-7 NSIC, 8-6 South). The Warriors' season ended in the NSIC semifinals to eventual tournament champion, Northern State, in overtime.
Head coach Scott Ballard is at the helm of the Warriors for his 14th season in 2017-18. He's posted a career 232-151 record at Winona.
WSU graduated their three leading scorers from a year ago, but return senior Hannah McGlone this season to a relatively young team with nine underclassmen.
McGlone started in all 31 games last year and averaged 9.2 points per game with a team-leading 7.9 rebounds per contest. Junior Liz Evenocheck started 29 games and averaged 8.0 ppg on 42 percent shooting from three-point range. Gabie Doud also played in all 31 games a year ago as a freshman.
The 2017-18 Warrior roster features seven newcomers, including a pair of transfers – Alyssa Jurges and Rachel Novotny.
Winona led the NSIC in field goal shooting (45.6%) and three-point shooting (37.9%) last season.
The Warriors open their new campaign with a home exhibition against Saint Mary's University on Saturday, November 4 in Winona. The first regular season game is also slated at home for November 11th versus Beloit College.
