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EASTERN WASHINGTON
The Eagles return to the court after going 19-14 overall and 12-6 during conference play last season. Eastern Washington snagged a fourth-place finish in the conference and advanced as far as the semifinals before falling to eventual champion Montana State in last year’s Big Sky Tournament. The Eagles return senior forward and 2017 Big Sky Preseason MVP Delaney Hodgins. During last year’s campaign, Hodgins averaged 17.5 points, 6.2 rebounds and 1.5 steals per game. Hodgins proved her ability to stretch the floor, shooting 36.3 percent from behind the arc, a percentage that ranked 12th in the conference last year. As a team, Eastern Washington was ranked third or better in the conference in several defensive categories, including scoring defense (64.5 points allowed/g) and steals (10.3 steals/g). EWU will begin this year’s edition of Eagle Basketball on the road against Fresno State on Friday.
Eagle Personnel Picture
Starters Returning/Lost: 2/3
Letterwinners Returning/Lost: 9/4
Incoming Freshmen/Transfers: 4/0
IDAHO
Idaho finished the regular season fifth in the conference with a 19-15 overall record and an 11-7 Big Sky mark. The Vandals also made a run in postseason play, advancing to the Final Four of the Women’s Basketball Invitational Tournament (WBI). Junior guard Mikayla Ferenz was the Big Sky’s scoring leader last season as the junior averaged 18.5 points per game. Ferenz, along with teammate Taylor Pierce, look to be one of the best sharp-shooting duos in the Big Sky this season. Both Ferenz and Pierce shot above 36 percent from three and averaged above 12 points per game a year ago. Having two players with that kind of offensive ability makes it easy to understand why Idaho was ranked third in the league in team scoring (72.1 points per game) last year. The Vandals will compete against Colorado State on Friday.
Vandal Personnel Picture
Starters Returning/Lost: 3/2
Letterwinners Returning/Lost: 6/8
Incoming Freshmen/Transfers: 4/1
IDAHO STATE
Idaho State made another deep run in the Big Sky Tournament last season as the Bengals reached the championship game as a sixth seed. Idaho State ended up with 19-14 overall record and a 10-8 conference record. The Bengals return senior guard Brooke Blair who missed the 2016-17 season due to injury. In Blair’s absence, junior guards Grace Kenyon and Saylair Grandon led the team offensively as both averaged 10.8 points per game last year. Idaho State was one of the Big Sky’s top defensive teams last season, allowing opponents to average just 60.8 points per contest. Idaho State also ranked second in the league in 3-point defense, forcing opponents to shoot an average of 29.9 percent from deep. Idaho State will face Seattle and Washington this week.
Bengal Personnel Picture
Starters Returning/Lost: 2/3
Letterwinners Returning/Lost: 5/5
Incoming Freshmen/Transfers: 5/3
MONTANA
After losing senior stand-out Kayliegh Valley to injury, Montana finished 11th in the Big Sky last season with an overall record of 7-23 and a league record of 4-14. With a reoccurrence of injuries this season, The Lady Griz look better prepared to succeed after several young players gained valuable experience a year ago. Sophomore guard Taylor Goligoski led the Griz in points, netting 10.7 points per game last season. The Lady Griz will start the 2017-18 campaign on the road against Wyoming on Monday, Nov. 13.
Lady Griz Personnel Picture
Starters Returning/Lost: 5/0
Letterwinners Returning/Lost: 9/1
Incoming Freshmen/Transfers: 2/1
MONTANA STATE
Montana State completed the repeat and became back-to-back Big Sky Champions after sharing the regular-season title and winning the Big Sky Tournament last march. The Bobcats had an overall record of 25-7 and a conference record of 15-3 last season. Montana State ended up losing in the first round of the NCAA Tournament to Washington. Despite losing Big Sky MVP Peyton Ferris, The Cats return senior floor general Hannah Caudill. Over all of last year’s games, Caudill ranked fourth in the league in assists (4.4 assists/g) and sixth in the Big Sky in 3-point percentage (38.8 percent). Montana State also guarded the three better than any team in the Big Sky last year, allowing opponents to shoot just 27.4 percent from three-point range. The Bobcats will begin the season at USC on Friday and at Long Beach State on Sunday.
Bobcats Personnel Picture
Starters Returning/Lost: 3/2
Letterwinners Returning/Lost: 7/4
Incoming Freshmen/Transfers: 5/2
NORTH DAKOTA
North Dakota posted and overall record of 20-11 and a league record of 15-3 to earn a share of the Big Sky regular-season championship last season. UND was invited to the Women’s National Invitation Tournament (WNIT) and lost its first contest to South Dakota. Junior forwards Lexi Klabo and Fallyn Freije give the Fighting Hawks two post players that rebound and score efficiently. Klabo averaged 11.8 points and pulled down 8.3 rebounds a game, while Freije scored 9.6 points and recorded 6.4 rebounds per game in 2016-17. Because of Klabo and Freije, North Dakota often won the rebounding battle and posted an average +3.9 rebounding advantage against all opponents last season. The Fighting Hawks will get the season started at Oregon State on Friday.
Fighting Hawk Personnel Picture
Starters Returning/Lost: 4/1
Letterwinners Returning/Lost: 7/4
Incoming Freshmen/Transfers: 4/3
NORTHERN ARIZONA
Northern Arizona finished 10th in the conference with a 9-21 overall record and a 5-13 Big Sky record last season. The Lumberjacks have a host of newcomers this year, but they do return senior guard Olivia Lucero who averaged 14.8 points per game last season. The ‘Jacks also welcome new head coach Loree Payne to help guide NAU’s 10 newcomers. Northern Arizona will get started at home this season against UC Santa Barbara on Friday followed by a home contest versus Rice on Sunday.
Lumberjack Personnel Picture
Starters Returning/Lost: 2/3
Letterwinners Returning/Lost: 3/6
Incoming Freshmen/Transfers:5/4
NORTHERN COLORADO
Northern Colorado finished third in the Big Sky last year after they posted an overall record of 22-8 and a league record of 14-4. The Bears look poised to break out this year as they return all five starters, including junior guard Savannah Smith and senior guard Savannah Scott. Smith and Scott both provide 3-point shooting ability as Scott led the conference in three-point percentage (45.0 percent) and Smith ranked fourth in 3-point field goals made (80) last year. As a team, Northern Colorado was ranked at the top of the conference in several categories, including first in 3-point percentage (.350), Assists (18.5 assists/g) and second in scoring defense (62.4 points allowed/g). The Bears will begin the season on the road against DePaul on Friday and Denver on Sunday.
Bears Personnel Picture
Starters Returning/Lost: 5/0
Letterwinners Returning/Lost: 9/2
Incoming Freshmen/Transfers: 2/0
PORTLAND STATE
Portland State ended last year as a seventh Seed in the Big Sky Tournament, but that didn’t stop them from knocking off No. 2 Seed North Dakota in the quarterfinals last year. The Vikings logged a 16-17 overall record, while they recorded an 8-10 conference mark. The Viks are led by junior guard Ashley Bolston who was fifth in scoring (15.8 points/g) and third in assists (4.6 assists/g) last season. As a team, Portland State shot and shared the ball well last year as they led the conference in field-goal percentage (45.0 percent) and ranked second in the league in assists (15.8 assists/game). The Vikings will start the season against UNLV on Friday and Nevada on Sunday.
Vikings Personnel Picture
Starters Returning/Lost: 4/1
Letterwinners Returning/Lost: 8/7
Incoming Freshmen/Transfers: 4/1
NORTHERN ARIZONA
Northern Arizona finished 10th in the conference with a 9-21 overall record and a 5-13 Big Sky record last season. The Lumberjacks have a host of newcomers this year, but they do return senior guard Olivia Lucero who averaged 14.8 points per game last season. The ‘Jacks also welcome new head coach Loree Payne to help guide NAU’s 10 newcomers. Northern Arizona will get started at home this season against UC Santa Barbara on Friday followed by a home contest versus Rice on Sunday.
Lumberjack Personnel Picture
Starters Returning/Lost: 2/3
Letterwinners Returning/Lost: 3/6
Incoming Freshmen/Transfers:5/4
NORTHERN COLORADO
Northern Colorado finished third in the Big Sky last year after they posted an overall record of 22-8 and a league record of 14-4. The Bears look poised to break out this year as they return all five starters, including junior guard Savannah Smith and senior guard Savannah Scott. Smith and Scott both provide 3-point shooting ability as Scott led the conference in three-point percentage (45.0 percent) and Smith ranked fourth in 3-point field goals made (80) last year. As a team, Northern Colorado was ranked at the top of the conference in several categories, including first in 3-point percentage (.350), Assists (18.5 assists/g) and second in scoring defense (62.4 points allowed/g). The Bears will begin the season on the road against DePaul on Friday and Denver on Sunday.
Bears Personnel Picture
Starters Returning/Lost: 5/0
Letterwinners Returning/Lost: 9/2
Incoming Freshmen/Transfers: 2/0
PORTLAND STATE
Portland State ended last year as a seventh seed in the Big Sky Tournament, but that didn’t stop them from knocking off No. 2 Seed North Dakota in the quarterfinals last year. The Vikings logged a 16-17 overall record, while they recorded an 8-10 conference mark. The Viks are led by junior guard Ashley Bolston who was fifth in scoring (15.8 points/g) and third in assists (4.6 assists/g) last season. As a team, Portland State shot and shared the ball well last year as they led the conference in field-goal percentage (45.0 percent) and ranked second in the league in assists (15.8 assists/game). The Vikings will start the season against UNLV on Friday and Nevada on Sunday.
Vikings Personnel Picture
Starters Returning/Lost: 4/1
Letterwinners Returning/Lost: 8/7
Incoming Freshmen/Transfers: 4/1
SACRAMENTO STATE
Sacramento State went 10-20 overall and 6-12 in the Big Sky last season. The Hornets are led by senior Maranne Johnson. The guard stuffed the stat sheet on both sides of the ball, recording 15.0 points and a league-leading 2.9 steals per game last year. Sacramento State’s fast-pace offense scored a Big Sky best 82.4 points per game as a team last season. The Hornets will kick off the 2017-18 campaign at Kentucky on Friday and Morehead State on Saturday.
Hornet Personnel Picture
Starters Returning/Lost: 2/4
Letterwinners Returning/Lost: 4/4
Incoming Freshmen/Transfers: 4/1
SOUTHERN UTAH
Southern Utah finished 12th in the Big Sky last year and recorded a 7-23 overall record with a 2-16 league record. The T-Birds return to the court with plenty of newcomers, but return sophomore guard Rebecca Cardenas who led the league in assists (5.0/g) and ranked second in the Big Sky in steals (2.8) as a freshman last year. A bright spot for the Thunderbirds last season were their steal numbers as they averaged 9.9 steals per game as a team, which ranked third in the conference. Southern Utah will start the season against in-state foe BYU on Friday.
Thunderbird Personnel Picture
Starters Returning/Lost: 3/2
Letterwinners Returning: 5
Incoming Freshman/Transfers: 4/3
WEBER STATE
Weber State finished eighth in 2016-17 with a 13-18 overall mark and a conference record of 6-12. Junior Emily Drake averaged 13.2 points per game last season and is Weber State’s top returning scorer. Drake scored in double figures 21 times and dropped a career-high 27 points against Northern Colorado last season. Weber State returns to the hardwood at home against Utah Valley on Friday.
Wildcat Personnel Picture
Starters Returning/Lost: 3/2
Letterwinners Returning/Lost: 8/2
Incoming Freshmen/Transfers: 3/2