THIS WEEK
The University of Mary women's basketball team officially opens their season this week with two home games. The Marauders will start their season against Yellowstone Christian College on Wednesday, November 14 at 6 PM. They will follow that up with a game against Rhema Bible on Saturday, November 17 at 4 PM. Both of these games will be played on the Marauders home court, the McDowell Activity Center.
 
OPPO RESEARCH: Yellowstone Christian
Yellowstone Christian comes to Bismarck with a 2-2 record. The Centurions are on a two game winning streak, dominating their last two opponents. In their last game YCC took down Dickinson College by a score of 79-53. The Marauders took on the Centurions during to 17-18 season. UMary would win by a score of 53-30. Jordyn Jossart led the way for the Marauders scoring 17 points, going 5-12 from behind the arc.
 
OPPO RESEARCH: Rhema Bible
The Rhema Bible Eagles will be making the long trek from Broken Arrow, Oklahoma to take on the Marauders this Saturday at 4 PM.
 
LOOK BACK AT THE PRESEASON
UMary participated in two exhibition games to kick off the season. The Marauders took on division I South Dakota State for their first exhibition game of the season. The Marauders would fall to the Jackrabbits 77-46. Bohl led UMary with 13 points and 7 rebounds during the game. The Marauders dominated Concordia College in their second exhibition game of the season downing them 64-27. Bohl once again led the way posting a double-double with 19 points and 11 rebounds. Cassie Askvig pitched in another 16 points. 
 
LAST SEASON
UMary finished last season with a 13-16 overall record, going 9-13 in overall NSIC play (11th) and 4-10 in the North (6th)
 
NSIC PRESEASON PLAYER OF THE YEAR
Gabbie Bohl is the NSIC North Preseason Player of the Year. As a sophomore, the Minot, ND, native averaged a team-high 18 points per game and hauled down 7.3 rebounds per game while blocking 1.4 shots/game and shooting 50.1 percent from the floor. She had six double doubles and reached double figures in points in 27 of 28 games. The UMary post player ranked third in the NSIC in scoring, 3^rd in field goal percentage, 9^th in blocks and 11^th in rebounding. Her 182 free throw attempts was first in the NSIC and 12^th in NCAA Division II and the 125 makes was fourth in the league.
 
Bohl has earned conference honors her first two years with UMary. She earned All-NSIC first team honors in 2018. In 2017, she was named NSIC Freshman of the Year, earned All-NSIC second team honors and was named to the All-Freshman team.
 
After two seasons Bohl has 978 career points, 19^th all-time at UMary
 
PRESEASON RANKINGS
The Marauders are picked to finish sixth overall in the 2018-19 NSIC Women's Basketball Preseason Coaches' Poll and third in the North Division.
 
UMary picked up 164 points in the overall poll and one first place vote. Sioux Falls is the preseason favorite to win the league, earning nine first place votes and 208 points total. MSU Moorhead (185) was picked second, followed by Concordia-St. Paul (178), Augustana (175), Minnesota Duluth (174), UMary (164), Winona State (163), Northern State (133), Minnesota State (114), Wayne State (98), St. Cloud State (97), Southwest Minnesota State (73), Minnesota Crookston (63), Minot State (42), Bemidji State (30), and Upper Iowa (23).
 
In the North division, Minnesota Duluth is the favorite to finish first, followed by MSU Moorhead, UMary, Northern State, St. Cloud State, Minnesota Crookston, Minot State and Bemidji State.
 
RETURNERS
The Marauders return four of their five starters from the 2017-18 season. The list of returners includes All-NSIC second team honoree junior forward Cassie Askvig who averaged 14.3 points/game and a team high 8.8 rebounds/game. UMary also returns junior guard Lauren Rotunda the team leader in assists (3.3) and steals (1.5) to go along with her 10.3 PPG. Sharp shooter sophomore guard Macy Williams will also be back for the 2018-19 season. Williams knocked down 43 three pointers for the Marauders last season to average 7.3 PPG and 2.5 assists/game. Preseason Player of the Year, Bohl is the fourth returning starter for the Marauders.
 
ALL CONFERENCE
The Marauders had two athletes receive all conference honors during the 2017-18 season. Bohl received first team All-Conference Honors while Cassie Askvig received second team honors. 

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