BURNSVILLE, Minn. – The Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference (NSIC) has announced its 2019-20 women's basketball preseason coaches' poll, selecting Winona State University to finish eighth overall and fourth in the NSIC South standings.
MSU Moorhead was tabbed first overall from the North Division while Sioux Falls was voted second overall and first in the South.
Winona State posted a 15-13 (12-10 NSIC) record a year ago, finishing with an overall record above .500 for the sixth straight season under head coach Scott Ballard. The Warriors reached the Pentagon for the second round of the NSIC Tournament for the fifth straight season in 2018-19.
Winona State's roster was overhauled in the offseason, and will be without any seniors this year, but features plenty of experience. Allie Pickrain leads the junior class which consists of five players. Pickrain is a two-time All-NSIC performer and led the team in scoring last year (10.8 ppg) while appearing in all 28 games. Her 2.3 three-pointers per game ranked third in the NSIC last season.
Junior guard Emily Kieck led the team in assists (65) and steals (25) last year, and forward Taylor Hustad had a breakout sophomore season, shooting 46% from the field while ranking second on the team in total rebounds (140). Redshirt junior Taylor Klug, named to the 2016-17 NSIC All-Freshman Team at Mankato, will be a big contributor in her first season on the court at WSU.
Sophomores Jenna Bruss and Sydney Lodermeier were a big part of the Warriors' success during their freshman campaigns and are joined by sophomore transfer Katie Sowa. Six new freshmen have also joined Winona State for the 2019-20 season.
The Warriors open the season on the road with a pair of exhibition games against Division I opponents in Marquette University (Oct. 26) and the University of Iowa (Nov. 3). Winona State's first official game is slated for Saturday, November 9 in McCown Gymnasium against cross-town Saint Mary's University.
Winona State begins NSIC play at Upper Iowa on November 30th. The first round of the NSIC Tournament is set for February 26th with the remaining rounds held at the Sanford Pentagon again this season on February 29-March 4.
