Wayne State was picked 13
th in the 2024-25 NSIC Women's Basketball Preseason Coaches' Poll announced Thursday morning by the league office in Burnsville, Minnesota. Wildcat senior forward
Maya Fitzpatrick was listed as the Wildcat Player to Watch this season.
The Wildcats return four starters from last year's team that was 7-18 overall and 4-18 in the NSIC. Wayne State received 45 points in voting by league coaches.
Defending NSIC and NCAA Division II national champion Minnesota State is listed as the team to beat this season collecting 12 first-place votes and 194 points. Northern State was second with the remaining three first-place votes and 184 points. Concordia-St. Paul (162), Southwest Minnesota State (147) and St. Cloud State (131) close out the top five teams.
Fitzpatrick, a 5-10 senior from Brooklyn Park, Minnesota (Champlin Park HS), is Wayne State's top returning scorer at 9.5 points per game. She led the Wildcats last season in steals (59), assists (58) and blocked shots (19), ranking third in the NSIC in steals per game and 12
th in blocked shots. Fitzpatrick shot 37.9 percent (81-214) from the field and 84.8 percent (56-66) at the free throw line.
Wayne State opens the 2024-25 season on Saturday, November 9
th playing at Chadron State in a 1 p.m. contest. The first home game for the Wildcats is Wednesday, November 20
th vs. Nebraska-Kearney at 5:30 p.m.
2024-25 Preseason NSIC Women's Basketball Coaches Poll
1. Minnesota State (12) 194 pts.
2. Northern State (3) 184 pts.
3. Concordia-St. Paul 162 pts.
4. Southwest Minnesota State 147 pts.
5. St. Cloud State 131 pts.
6. MSU Moorhead 125 pts.
7. Sioux Falls 122 pts.
8. Minnesota Duluth 119 pts.
9. University of Mary 96 pts.
10. Winona State 76 pts.
11. Augustana 70 pts.
12. Minnesota Crookston 48 pts.
13. Wayne State 45 pts.
14. Minot State 33 pts.
15. Bemidji State 23 pts.
first place votes in ( )
