THIS WEEK
The University of Mary women's basketball team isn't easing into the 2023-24 season. Instead, the Marauders will face three nationally-ranked teams over the course of three days at the D2CCA Women's Basketball Tip Off Classic at the Trailhead. The eight-team tournament runs Nov. 3-5 and is hosted by Montana State University Billings in Billings. MT. All games will be played at Alterowitz Gym on the MSUB campus.
 
Here's the schedule:
 
Game 1 | University of Mary vs. #19 Angelo State University Rambelles
Friday, November 3
11 am CST / 10 am MT
 
Game 2 | University of Mary vs. #15 Montana State University Billings Yellowjackets
Saturday, November 5
5:45 pm CST / 4:45 pm MT
 
Game 3 | University of Mary vs. #24 Texas Women's University Owls
Saturday, November 6
6:30 pm CST / 5:30 pm MT
 
FOLLOW ONLINE
Links to live audio, webcasts and stats are found at www.goumary.com/coverage
 
D2CCA WOMEN'S BASKETBALL TIP OFF CLASSIC INFORMATION
The tournament features ten teams, representing six different states and five athletic conferences. Five of the teams competing are ranked in the WBCA Preseason Top 25 Coaches Poll with a 6^th squad receiving votes in the poll. The ten teams combined to win a total of 212 games in the 2022-23 season, with six teams qualifying for the NCAA DII Tournament.
 
LAST YEAR
The Marauders finished the 2022-23 season 14-13 overall and 12-10 in the NSIC (3^rd NSIC North, 6^th overall)… The Marauders won an opening game in the NSIC tournament for a second straight season to advance to the conference quarterfinals.
 
MARAUDERS PROJECTED TO PLACE THIRD IN NSIC PRESEASON COACHES POLL
A veteran University of Mary squad is picked to finish third overall in the 2023-24 Northern Sun Women's Basketball Preseason Coaches' Poll. Featuring a lineup that includes a trio of All-NSIC performers and five players who have started in the league, the Marauders earned 162 points in the coaches' poll. Minnesota State earned all but one first place ballot and accumulated 196 points in the poll. Defending league champion Minnesota Duluth was second with 165 points, just ahead of UMary in the 15-team league.
 
ZANDER NAMED MARAUDERS PLAYER TO WATCH IN 2023-24
All-conference guard Megan Zander is the Marauders NSIC Player to Watch. Zander earned 2022-23 1st team All-NSIC honors after leading the Marauders in scoring at 14.7 ppg in her second season at UMary. The senior from Mandan, ND, hauled down 5.4 rebounds, connected for 37 treys and shot 87.8% at the free throw line. She reached double digits in points in 22 games, scored 20+ points five times and had a pair of double doubles.
 
SCHNEIDER BACK TO CENTER ATTACK
After missing last year with an injury, 2022 All-NSIC center Lexie Schneider returns to the court. In 2021-22 Schneider averaged a team-leading 14.2 points per game and shot 54% from the floor. She also had seven double doubles and averaged 8.3 rebounds per game. The 2-time NSIC North Player of the Week led the league in shooting, was second in rebounding and 12th in scoring.
 
WELCOME ABOARD, MATEY
Mariah McKeever joins the Marauders as a graduate transfer after the guard earned NSIC 2nd team honors last season at MSU Moorhead. She averaged 15.5 ppg and 6.8 rpg in 2022-23.
 
WELCOME BACK

• A 2-year starter at guard, Ryleigh Wacha is back for her junior season. Wacha averaged 8.7 ppg and 4.8 rpg and was second in assists with 59 last year.
• Addison Rozell started at forward last season. The junior averaged 8.6 ppg and 5.5 rpg while leading the squad with 21 blocks.
• Junior Moriku Hakim was a key reserve last season in the post. She averaged 9.0 ppg and 4.8 rpg and shot a stellar 54.5% from the field.
• Zoe Velde returns for her junior year at guard. She played all 27 games last year, including a handful of starts. She averaged 2.7 ppg and 2.8 RPG and was 3^rd in steals (28) and 4^th in assists (61).
• Additional returners include senior G Cadee Ryckman, junior G Ellie Hasz and C Cassie Erickson

 
NEW
 In addition to Mariah McKeever, other newcomers include junior G Ashton Kinnebrew and freshmen G Chloe Pfau, G Bergan Kinnebrew, G Anna Lenzen, G Emily Jaenke and C Allison Undlin.
 
NSIC CHANGEUP
With the departure of Upper Iowa University, the NSIC is now a 15-team league. The NSIC regular season championship will be based on the 22-game schedule. Each team will play eight teams twice and another six teams once. An NSIC Champion will be awarded to the team with the highest win percentage in the 22 games played. The 12-team NSIC Women's Basketball Tournament Quarterfinals, Semifinals and Championships are set to take place March 2-5 at the Sanford Health Pentagon in Sioux Falls, SD. The top four seeds will receive a first-round bye. First round games will be played on campus on Wednesday, February 28.
 
NEXT UP
The Marauders travel to Tahlequah, OK, on November 10-11 for the Central Region Challenge. UMary opens against the University of Central Oklahoma on November 10 before facing Northeastern State on Saturday, November 11.
 
HOME OPENER
The Marauders host Black hills State University I for UMary's home opener on Tuesday, November 14. Game time is 6 pm at the McDowell Activity Center.
 
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