SIOUX FALLS, S.D. -- The University of Sioux Falls Women's Basketball Team is kicking off the regular season this weekend at the Tip Off Classic in St. Joseph, Missouri with games against Missouri Western State University (Friday, Nov. 12 at 7:30 pm) and Fort Hays State University (Saturday, Nov. 13 at 1:30 pm).
Last year, MWSU finished the season at 6-16 overall and 6-16 in their conference, while FHSU finished 22-4 overall and 20-2 in their conference.
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The Cougars, led by NSIC Preseason South Division Player of the Year
Anna Brecht, have been picked fifth overall in the Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference Preseason Women's Basketball Coaches Poll. 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 5th 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.
Led by Brecht (18.0 ppg, 3rd NSIC – 47th, DII; 5.6 rpg), USF will look to improve on its 8-6 finish 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 – 4th 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 other returnees and newcomers.
"What excites me about this team is our closeness and ability to put the ball in the basket. Coming off 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 I'm 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 and 47th in DII in scoring with 18.0 points per game and added 5.46 rebounds per game. She recorded double-digit point 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.
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 (5th, NSIC), 7.4 made threes per game (4th, NSIC), 78.6 percent in free throw shooting (5th, NSIC), 41.1 rebounds (3rd, NSIC) 14.0 assists (6th, NSIC), 0.98 assist/turnover ratio (4th, NSIC) and 7.6 steals (6th, NSIC).
The Cougars return to the Stewart Center for their 2021-2022 season home opener on Tuesday, November 16 to host Presentation College at 5:30 pm.
