MINOT, N.D. -- The Minot State women's basketball team opens its 2018-19 season on Thursday (Oct. 25) with an exhibition game at Valley City State at 5:30 p.m. in W.E. Osmon Fieldhouse.

This will mark the first of three exhibition games for the Beavers. Minot State will also face Dickinson State on Saturday (Oct. 27) at 6 p.m. at 4 Bears Casino & Lodge and travel to Black Hills State on Nov. 3.

Minot State was selected seventh in the Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference North Division preseason poll with 12 points and 14^th overall with 42 points.

The Beavers, who were the 10^th-most improved team in Division II last season, posted a 14-13 overall record and an 11-11 mark in the NSIC in 2017-18.

Minot State will feature a talented backcourt in 2018-19 led by senior Madison Wald. Wald is Minot State's leading returning scorer after averaging 10.4 points a game last year, which ranked second on the team. She also was tied for second on the team with 35 three-point baskets and shot 85.7 percent from the free throw line.

Mariah Payne and Kari Clements also return to the Beavers backcourt this season. Payne averaged 8.3 points and led the team with 81 assists, while Clements averaged 7.1 points and 2.8 rebounds per contest.

Whitney Molina (2.6 ppg, 3.1 rpg) and Gabby Wilkinson (1.7 ppg, 1.7 rpg) also return in the backcourt along with transfer Danielle Rizzari.

Minot State will be bolstered by the return of Haley Hildenbrand who missed all of last season due to injury. The sophomore averaged 5.9 points and 3.8 rebounds per game as a freshman in 2016-17.

Sophomore Calli Delsman (2.0 ppg, 1.9 rpg) and junior Reina Strand (1.1 ppg, 1.1 rpg) return to the Minot State frontcourt.

Raegan Sanchez, Azaria Reed, Caitlin Deaton, Mollie Wilson and Anna Counts are new to the Beavers in 2018-19.