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The Augustana women's basketball team was picked to finish second in the Northern Sun
Intercollegiate Conference Preseason Coaches Poll, the NSIC office announced today.
Augustana, which is beginning its first season in the NSIC, earned 3 first-place votes and a total of 169 points to earn the No. 2 spot. Minnesota State received 179 points and 11 first-place votes to gain the No. 1 spot, while Concordia-St. Paul rounded out the top three with 161 points.
Augustana went 22-9 last season and finished third in the North Central Conference. The Vikings return 4 starters and 11 letterwinners from last year's team. Leading the team will be a trio of seniors, including
Amy Puthoff, who earned All-NCC honors in 2007-08,
Whitney Hofer and
Chelsea DeVille, who returns to the lineup after missing most of last season due to injury.
Minnesota State also took home a preseason individual award, as senior guard Heather Johnson was picked by the coaches as the NSIC Preseason Player of the Year.
The Vikings open their season at home against non-conference opponent Chadron State on November 16. The team will begin NSIC play against the University of Mary in Bismarck, N.D. on December 5.
2008-09 NSIC Women's Basketball Coaches Preseason Poll
| 1. Minnesota State (11) |
179
|
| 2. Augustana (3) |
169
|
| 3. Concordia-St. Paul |
161
|
| 4. Winona State |
130
|
| 5. Wayne State |
125
|
| 6. University of Mary |
120
|
| 7. MSU Moorhead |
108
|
| 8. St. Cloud State |
104
|
| 9. SMSU |
91
|
| 10. Minnesota Duluth |
71
|
| 11. Northern State |
68
|
| 12. Bemidji State |
62
|
| 13. Minnesota, Crookston |
36
|
| 14. Upper Iowa |
32
|
| ( ) First Place Votes |
