MADISON, S.D. -- Coming off a successful debut season in 2016/17 the Bellevue University women's basketball team has been picked to finish third in the nine-team North Star Athletic Association in the annual Preseason Coaches' Poll as announced by the league office.
After posting a winning record both overall (16-15) and in NSAA play (9-7) last season the Bruins return 11 of 12 letter-winners.
Bellevue earned 60 points in the poll to edge out fourth place Valley City State. Three-time defending NSAA Champion Jamestown was the overall favorite, earning 80 points and eight first place votes. Mayville State was second in the poll with 68 points and picked up the other first place vote.
Rounding out the Preseason Poll were Dakota State (5th place, 44 points), Presentation (6th, 32), Dickinson State (7th, 27), Viterbo (8th, 23), and Waldorf (9th, 12).
Points are awarded on a 9-1 basis (9 for first, 8 for second, etc.) and coaches could vote for their own team.
Each NSAA member will be playing a total of 16 conference games this season, with each team playing home and away against every school during the conference slate.
The conference season gets underway on Saturday, Dec. 2 when Bellevue hosts Viterbo University at 3 p.m. in their conference-opener.
The North Star Women's Basketball Postseason Tournament Champion will receive an automatic bid to the NAIA Division II National Tournament to be held in Sioux City, Iowa. The National Tournament takes place from Mar. 7-13.
Coach Dave Denly returns for his second season as the Bruins head coach – and his 19th overall as a collegiate head coach (364-186) – where he'll be in charge of leading his group of 16 players.
BU returns each of their top six scorers from last season including all-NSAA selection and leading scorer senior forward Caletria Curtis (11.2 PPG, 8.5 RPG). She'll be supported by all-NSAA Honorable Mention senior guard Ryleigh McCartney (8.6 PPG, 59 three-pointers), sophomore guard Angeliece Tucker (7.4 PPG, 3.4 RPG), graduate-senior forward Beth Walker (7.2 PPG, 5.4 RPG), senior guard Taylor Cormier (7.0 PPG, 82 assists), and senior center Cassidy Hubbs (5.3 PPG, 45 blocked shots).
Redshirt freshman Elexis Martinez is back healthy and should be one of the top players in the NSAA. She got off to a strong start last season averaging 15.5 points per game on 45.5 percent shooting through the first four games before suffering a season-ending injury.
Also returning are senior guards Christen Voyles (4.4 PPG), Alexandra Bader (3.8 PPG), Shanae Collins (3.4 PPG), and senior forward Bailey Petzoldt (1.4 PPG).
New to the team for the 2017/18 season are junior forward Marylyn Mozena (5-11, Weeping Water, Neb.) from the BU volleyball team, freshman guard Jamie Winkler (5-4, Louisville, Neb.), junior guard Shayla Dean (5-4, Zearing, Iowa/Des Moines Area CC), junior guard (5-8, Cresco, Iowa/North Iowa Area CC), and junior forward Morgan Cuffe (5-11, Lakeville, Minn./North Iowa Area CC).
The Bruins open their season at the Oklahoma Wesleyan Classic on Friday-Saturday, Oct. 27-28 with games against Central Christian College of the Bible and St. Gregory's University.
Bellevue fans can catch their first glimpse of the team on Tuesday, Nov. 7 when BU hosts Morningside College at 5 p.m. in their home-opener.
