UMAC Preseason Coaches' Poll | 2016-17 Statistics

ST. PAUL, Minn. (November 9, 2017) – Superior will look for their third title and a return to the top spot in the UMAC again this season under first-year head coach Zach Otto-Fisher; the 'Jackets were unanimously selected as No. 1 in the 2017-18 UMAC Preseason Coaches' Poll.

Last season, the Yellowjackets won 14 of their 16 conference match ups by 10 or more points – their only two wins with a margin less than 10 came against runner-up University of Minnesota Morris and third-place finisher University of Northwestern. Their dominance continued into the postseason as they cruised to a second-straight NCAA appearance before falling to Final Four finisher University of St. Thomas in the opening round.

The Yellowjackets should be in good shape for a three-peat welcoming back five players named to one of the three All-UMAC teams including two-time UMAC Player of the Year Hailey Kontny (Superior, Wis./Superior). On a well-balanced offense, Kontny has been a standout and go-to player for Wisconsin-Superior. Last season, she averaged 14.0 ppg in conference play and shot 41.1 percent from the field. She is joined by first team performer Hannah Norlin (Litchfield, Minn./Litchfield) who is the Yellowjackets' presence down low and was second in shooting (50.3 percent). Justine Larson (Stanchfield, Minn./Cambridge-Isanti) and Rookie of the Year Eva Reinertsen (Duluth, Minn./Homeschooled) also return to add to the Yellowjackets' loaded talent pool that could carry them to another title.

Last season, Superior found itself among the top teams in the country in key areas, ranking No. 12 in the NCAA in rebound margin (+10.7), in the top-20 in points per game (74.7), and top-40 in turnover margin (+5.0).

The Yellowjackets will compete in their first regular season contest Wednesday, Nov. 15 as they battle Augsburg at 7 p.m. in Mertz Mortorelli Gymnasium

Full poll below.
 

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2017-18 UMAC Women's Basketball Preseason Coaches' Poll
1. Wisconsin-Superior - 64 points (8 First Place Votes)
2. Minnesota Morris - 52 points (1 First Place Vote)
3. Northwestern - 51 points 
4. Bethany Lutheran - 40 points
5. St. Scholastica- 38 points
6. Martin Luther - 33 points
7. Northland - 21 points
8. North Central - 15 points
9. Crown - 10 points
 
Team Previews

University of Wisconsin-Superior
Zach Otto-Fisher | 1st season |
 
2016-17 Season
16-0 UMAC, 23-5 overall | 1st|
Postseason: Won UMAC Tournament. Lost to No. 2 St. Thomas is first round of NCAA Tournament
 
Top Returners

• Justine Larson (Stanchfield, Minn./Cambridge-Isanti), Sr., F | All-UMAC second team, UMAC All-Defensive team | UMAC Tournament MVP | 7.0 ppg, 3.1 rpg, 2.5 apg |
• Hailey Kontny (Superior, Wis./Superior), Sr., G | Two-time UMAC Player of the Year, two-time first team All-UMAC | 14.3 ppg, 5.5 rpg, 1.1 steal/pg |
• Hannah Norlin (Litchfield, Minn./Litchfield), Jr., F | All-UMAC first team | 13.1 ppg, 6.3 rpg, shot 52.0 % from the floor |
• Eva Reinertsen (Duluth, Minn./Homeschooled), So., F | UMAC Freshman of the Year, All-UMAC honorable mention | 9.2 ppg, 3.3 rpg, 45.0 % from 3-point|

Need to Know
Since joining the UMAC in 2015-16, Superior is 32-0 in conference play.
 

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Bethany Lutheran College
Lyle Jones | 16th season |
 
2016-17 Season
9-7, 13-14 | 4th |
Postseason: Lost in semifinals of UMAC tournament to UW-Superior.
 
Top Returners

• Haley Sandin, Jr, G |First Team All-Conference | 19.1 PPG, 3.6 Assists, 4.1 Rebounds |
• Brooke Henning, Sr, F |9.1 PPG, 5.3 Rebounds |
• Dakota Ellinghuysen, Sr, F |7.3 PPG, 6.4 Rebounds |

Need to Know
12 incoming first-years
 
The College of St. Scholastica
Stacy Deadrick | 24th Season |
 
2016-17 Season
6-10, 8-16 | 6th |
 
Top Returners

• Michala Walther, Jr., G | 2016-17 Second Team All-UMAC | 14.5 ppg., 53 3-point FGs, 43 steals |
• Sam Brannen, Sr., G | 7.9 ppg., .373 3-point FG pct., 44 free throws made |
• Danielle Cieluch, Jr., F | 7.4 ppg., 60 assists, 22 3-point FGs|

Need to Know
The Saints had four different players named UMAC Players of the Week last year, which was a single-season program record.
 
Crown College
Kevin Boozikee | 5th Season |
 
2016-17 Season
0-16 UMAC, 1-24 | 9th |
 
Top Returners

• Andrea Besa, SR, G | 6.4 PPG, 2.2 APG, 1.4 SPG |
• Kayla Carter, JR, P | 7.0 PPG, 4.3 RPG, 49% FG % |
• Damonyka Roberts, SO, F | 1 SPG, 2.9 PPG, 2.3 RPG |

 
Martin Luther College
Dan Gawrisch | 4th season |
 
2016-17 Season
8-8 UMAC, 10-16 overall | 5^th place |
Postseason: Lost 72-67 at No. 4 seed Bethany Lutheran in UMAC quarterfinal
 
Top Returners

• Jade St. Germaine, Sr., F | Honorable Mention All-UMAC 2017 | 14.2 PPG, 9.7 RPG, 1.1 BPG |
• Grace Schultz, Sr., G | UMAC All-Defense Team 2017; Honorable Mention All-UMAC 2015, 2016 | 12.0 PPG, 2.7 APG, 6.5 RPG |
• Hailey Johnson, Sr., G | 3.8 PPG, 3.7 RPG, 25 starts |

Need to Know
MLC has made the UMAC Postseason Tournament each of the last nine seasons.
 
North Central University
Paul Brunner | 3rd season |
 
2016-17 Season
3-13 UMAC, 6-19 overall | 8th |
 
Top Returners

• Lizzy Swanson, Sr., G | UMAC Honorable Mention | NCCAA All-Region | 19.6 Points Per Game, 5.3 Rebounds Per Game, 2.1 Assists Per Game |
• Annabel Morrisroe, So., F | NCCAA All-Region | 15.5 Points Per Game, 10.8 Rebounds Per Game, .510 Field Goal Percentage |

 
Northland College
Daryle Tucker | 4th season |
 
2016-17 Season
8-17, 4-12 UMAC | 7th |
 
Top Returners

• Emily Wagner, Jr. | 6 ppg, 4 rpg |
• Katie Taylor, Jr. | 5 ppg |
• Ashton Meadows, Jr.,  | 43% 3FG |

Need to Know
This is the first time in Coach Tucker's tenure that team is upperclassmen heavy. For the past three years coach has had a team majority filled with underclassmen.

 
University of Minnesota Morris
Tim Grove | 12th season |
 
2016-17 Season
14-2 UMAC, 20-7 Overall | 2nd |
Postseason:  defeated Northwestern in UMAC semis, lost to UW-Superior in championship
 
Top Returners

• Elli Stevenson, Jr., G | '16 All-UMAC Second Team, '17 All-UMAC First Team | 14.0 ppg, 4.6 rpg, 3.8 apg, 38 steals |
• Kendra Raths, Jr., F | '17 All-UMAC Second Team | 11.8 ppg, 7.4 rpg, 45 blocks, .500 FG % |
• Mauren Thiesen, Jr., G | '17 All-UMAC Second Team | 11.4 ppg, 2.3 rpg, 2.5 apg, .377 3-PT % 

 
University of Northwestern
Aaron Kahl | 8th Season |
 
2016-17 Season
18-10, 12-4 UMAC | 3rd |
Postseason: Eagles fell short, 55-70, to Greenville in NCCAA North Central Regional Final
 
Top Returners

• Amy Berglund, Sr., G | 2016-17 UMAC All-Conference 1^st Team, 2017 All-Defensive Team, 2016-17 UMAC Player of the Week [5x],  2015-16 UMAC All-Defensive Team, 2015-16 UMAC All-conference 1^st Team, 2014-15 UMAC Academic All-Conference| 2016-17 2nd Team All-American, 2015-16 NCCAA 2nd Team All-American, 2015-16 NCCAA All-North Central Region Team, 2015-16 North Central Region's Player of the Year,  | Career-high 25pts vs. Whittier College (Dec. 21, 2016), Averaged 14.5 ppg in last season, Averaged 7 rebounds pg last season |
• Taryn Tumbleson, Jr., G | 2017 UMAC Academic All-Conference | Career-high 19pts vs. Northland (Dec. 17, 2016), Career-high 9 rebounds vs. Crown (Feb. 11, 2017), Averaged 8.9ppg last season|
• Andrea Zimpel, Sr., G | 2015-16 UMAC Academic All-Conference, 2014-15 UMAC Academic All-Conference | Career-high 16pts vs. Crown (Feb. 11, 2017), Career-high 7 rebounds vs. Superior (Jan. 21, 2017), Averaged 5.5ppg last season |

Need to Know

• Northwestern beat Judson (Ill.), 67-56, in a first-round NCCAA Tournament contest
• UNW fell to Greenville (Ill.), 55-70, to Greenville in NCCAA North Central Regional Final