BURNSVILLE, MINN. – The University of Sioux Falls Women's Basketball, led by NSIC Preseason South Division Player of the Year Anna Brecht, has been picked fifth overall in the Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference Preseason Women's Basketball Coaches Poll, according to an announcement today by the league office.
 
USF, which finished 8-6 a year ago and lost in the first round to top seed Minnesota Duluth, returns four starters as they again look to contend for the top of the league. The Cougars were picked to finish 5^th overall with 159 points and received a first place vote. In the NSIC South, the Cougars, directed by all-time wins leader Travis Traphagen (251 wins), received 32 ballot points and a first-place vote to finish fourth in the poll.

Minnesota Duluth was selected by the league coaches as the overall and NSIC North division preseason favorite in the NSIC for the 2021-22 season. The Bulldogs received 12 first place votes and amassed 222 points. St. Cloud State received a first-place vote to rank second with 203 points while Augustana was third with 187 points and two place votes.  The Vikings were the coaches' choice to win the South Division. Minnesota State was fourth with 168 points while Sioux Falls rounded out the top five with 159 points and the final first-place vote. NSIC coaches rank each team in the NSIC in the overall poll and teams from their division in the divisional poll. In the overall poll coaches rank from 1 to 15 with a first-place vote receiving 15 points, second place 14, third place 13, etc. Coaches do not rank their own team or vote for their own players.

PREVIEW – USF Women's Basketball returns 64 percent of its scoring
 
Led by Brecht (18.0 ppg, 3^rd NSIC – 47^th, DII; 5.6 rpg), USF will look to improve on its 8-6 finished in a COVID-19 impacted season a year ago. The Cougars, which has recorded the second-most wins in the NSIC over the past six seasons with 122, return 64 percent of its scoring and 50 percent of its rebounding from a year ago. In 2021-22, USF will be led by four players who started a year ago and six letter winners. Returning for the Cougars is Krystal Carlson (9.2 ppg, 3.9 rpg), Dallie Hoskinson (7.9 ppg, 7.6 rpg – 4^th in the NSIC), Megan Fannin (5.4 ppg and 1.8 rpg) and Kiara James (3.7 ppg, 2.6 rpg) as well as a talented group of returnees and newcomers.
 
"What excites me about this team is our closeness and ability to put the ball in the basket. Coming on such a unique year when we couldn't be together much and such an inconsistency in terms of practice/playing," said Traphagen. "We graduated a number of great players, and not sure how high we will be ranked, but I think we could be that team that could sneak up on some of the top teams in our league."
 
Brecht, a media studies major, is USF's second preseason pick as South Division Player of the Year in the past three years as Kaely Hummel was named in 2019-20. Brecht ranked third in the NSIC at 47^th in DII in scoring with 18.0 points per game and added 5.46 rebounds per game. She recorded double-digit points games in 12-of-13 outings in 2020-21, scoring 20 points or more a league-high seven times. In addition, the Sioux Falls native knocked down 23-of-59 three points for 39.0 percent and was third in the NSIC in free throw percentage at 90 percent (63-of-70) with a streak of 29 straight made foul shots to end the season. In her career, recorded 15 double-digit games at USF and Wisconsin-Green-Bay with a double of 15 points and 12 rebounds against Augustana on 2/13/21.
 
"Anna is a natural scorer and leader for our team. She provides match up problems for teams because of her ability to play inside and outside. A transfer from UW-Green Bay, she is used to playing at a high level and is ready to take another step after having a great year last year for the Coo," said Traphagen.
 
In its DII era, USF has had six 20-win campaigns, two NCAA DII regional berths and, a South Division title. A year ago, USF averaged 71.6 ppg (5^th, NSIC), 7.4 made threes per game (4^th, NSIC), 78.6 percent in free throw shooting (5^th, NSIC), 41.1 rebounds (3^rd, NSIC) 14.0 assists (6^th, NSIC), 0.98 assist/turnover ratio (4^th, NSIC) and 7.6 steals (6^th, NSIC). USF opens the season at Tip Off Classic in St. Joseph, Mo., with an opener against host Missouri Western State at 7:30 pm on Nov. 12.   
 
The regular season champion will be based on the 22-game NSIC schedule. Each team will play teams in their division twice (14) and teams in the other division once (8). An NSIC North and South Division Champion will also be awarded. Divisional standings will also be based on all 22 NSIC contests played. In the case of a tie, co-champions will be awarded. The 12-team NSIC / Sanford Health Women's Basketball Tournament Quarterfinals, Semifinals and Championships are set to take place February 26 to March 1 at the Sanford Health Pentagon in Sioux Falls, S.D. The top two seeds in each division will receive a first-round bye. First round games will be played on campus on Wednesday, Feb. 23.