ELMHURST, Ill. – The North Dakota State University women's basketball team was picked to finish sixth in The Summit League preseason poll released Wednesday, Oct. 4, by the league office.
The Bison tallied 150 points in the poll.
Senior guard
Taylor Thunstedt was voted to the preseason all-league second team for the second straight season after averaging a team-high 14.5 points per game and tallying an NDSU single-season record 92 three-pointers last season. A native of Spicer, Minn., Thunstedt enters the 2017-18 season as the North Dakota State career leader in three-pointers made with 229 treys.
South Dakota State was tabbed the preseason favorite to win the league with 380 points and 16 first-place votes, while defending Summit League regular season and tournament champion Western Illinois was picked second with 372 points and 12 first-place votes. South Dakota was voted third with 307 points, rounding out the top-three.
Oral Roberts was fourth, followed by Omaha and NDSU in fifth and sixth.
Denver and Fort Wayne rounded out the poll in seventh and eighth.
North Dakota State is slated to host Minnesota-Morris in an exhibition game to tip-off the 2017-18 season Thursday, Nov. 2, inside the Scheels Center at the Sanford Health Athletic Complex. The Bison will host Mayville State in the regular season opener Friday, Nov. 10.
SUMMIT LEAGUE WOMEN'S BASKETBALL
2017-18 PRESEASON POLL |
| Place |
Team |
Points (1st) |
| 1. |
South Dakota State |
380 (16) |
| 2. |
Western Illinois |
372 (12) |
| 3. |
South Dakota |
307 |
| 4. |
Oral Roberts |
238 |
| 5. |
Omaha |
185 |
| 6. |
North Dakota State |
150 |
| 7. |
Denver |
143 |
| 8. |
Fort Wayne |
60 |
| Preseason Player of the Year: Emily Clemens, Western Illinois |
|
| First Team |
| Name |
School |
Pos. |
Year |
'16-17 Stats
(ppg / rpg / apg) |
| Allison Arens |
South Dakota |
G |
Jr. |
17.1 / 5.3 / 3.8 |
| Morgan Blumer |
Western Illinois |
G |
Sr. |
16.8 / 6.1 / 1.4 |
| Emily Clemens |
Western Illinois |
G |
Sr. |
18.9 / 4.0 / 7.3 |
| Madison Guebert |
South Dakota State |
G |
Jr. |
15.3 / 2.4 / 1.9 |
| Macy Miller |
South Dakota State |
G |
RJr. |
14.9 / 5.0 / 2.1 |
| Ellie Thompson |
South Dakota State |
F |
Sr. |
13.5 / 7.0 / 1.8 |
|
|
| Second Team |
|
| Name |
School |
Pos. |
Year |
'16-17 Stats |
| Ciara Duffy |
South Dakota |
G |
So. |
11.2 / 4.6 / 2.8 |
| Taylor Higginbotham |
Western Illinois |
G |
Jr. |
14.3 / 5.6 / 2.7 |
| Faith Ihim |
Oral Roberts |
F |
Sr. |
13.1 / 7.8 / 0.7 |
| Maria Martianez |
Oral Roberts |
F |
Jr. |
12.3 / 7.2 / 1.8 |
| Taylor Thunstedt |
North Dakota State |
G |
Sr. |
14.5 / 3.3 / 1.8 |
