LINK TO PRESEASON POLL

MINOT, N.D. – The Minot State women's basketball team heads into season No. 2 under head coach Ryan Clark as a playoff contender, according to the coaches around the NSIC.

The Beavers were picked to finish 9^th in the 2025-26 NSIC Preseason Women's Basketball Coaches' Poll, which the league released today.

Also, Minot State's junior guard Maya Aguilar was highlighted as a Player to Watch for the Beavers.

"I am excited for year No. 2 at Minot," Coach Clark said. "We have a number of returning players on our roster, so it has been great to build off the foundation we laid last year.

"Although we have a relatively young group of players, I am excited and optimistic to see what we can achieve," he added. "The ladies have been working extremely hard all fall, and I look forward to having the opportunity to compete with them in a talented conference."

The Beavers were 9^th with 110 points in the overall preseason poll, and picked 4^th in the NSIC North Division poll with 30 points.

Minot State opens the 2025-26 season on the road on Halloween, Oct. 31, playing in Langley, British Columbia, at the Preseason Classic Tip-off hosted by Simon Fraser, taking on Saint Martin's at 3:15 pm (Minot time) on Friday, Western Washington at 1 pm (Minot time) on Saturday, and host Simon Fraser on Sunday at 6:15 pm (Minot time).

Minnesota State Mankato was the heavy favorite to win the NSIC title with 8 first-place votes and 215 points, and also picked to win the South Division, which dominated the top 5 spots in the overall poll as Concordia, St. Paul and Sioux Falls were tied for the No. 2 spot with 202 points. The Golden Bears received 4 first-place votes and the Cougars 3 first-place votes. Then came Southwest Minnesota State with 172 points in 4^th, and St. Cloud State in 5^th with 1 first-place vote and 155 points.

The University of Mary was picked 6^th overall with 152 points, and Minnesota State Moorhead was 7^th with 140 points, but were flip-flopped in the North Division poll with MSU Moorhead No. 1 by a slim single point with 43 points and 3 first-place votes, and Mary 2^nd with 42 points and 2 first-place votes.

Minnesota Duluth was 3^rd in the North poll with 37 points and 2 first-place voters, and No. 8 in the overall poll, then came Minot State in 9^th overall and 4^th in the North Division with 30 points.

Northern State was 10^th overall with 107 points, and 5^th in the North with 27 points and 1 first-place vote, then Minnesota Crookston, which was 11^th overall with 85 points, and 6^th in the North with 22 points.

South Division's Winona State was 12^th overall and 6^th in the Division with 17 points, and Wayne State was 13^th overall with 64 points, and 7^th in the South with 13 points. Then came Bemidji State, which was 14^th overall with 42 points, and 7^th in the North with 13 points, then Jamestown, which was 15^th overall with 32 points and 8^th in the North with 10 points, and finally Augustana, which was 16^th overall with 28 points and 8^th in the South with 9 points.

The NSIC also named its Preseason Players of the Year and Players to Watch, with Aguilar being honored as the Beavers' Player to Watch.

The junior from Minot High School had career highs in points (301), rebounds (84), assists (45), steals (26), and 3-pointers made (54), which was third most in a single season in Minot State's NCAA Division II history.

"After setting career highs in points, rebounds, assists, field-goal percentage (41.7), and 3-point percentage (37.5) her sophomore year, Maya has set high expectations for herself and is a great example of achieving goals through hard work," Clark said.

While Aguilar was highlighted for the Beavers, Minnesota Crookston's senior guard Emma Miller, a two-time All-NSIC First Team performer, was named the North Division's Preseason Player of the Year, and MSU, Mankato's senior guard Natalie Bremer, an honorable mention All-American last season, was named the South Division's Preseason Player of the Year.
 

NSIC Preseason Women's Basketball Coaches' Poll

RANK	Team	Points
1	Minnesota State, Mankato (8)	215
t2	Concordia, St. Paul (4)	202
t2	Sioux Falls (3)	202
4	SW Minnesota State	172
5	St. Cloud State (1)	155
6	Mary	152
7	Minnesota State Moorhead	140
8	Minnesota Duluth	139
9	Minot State	110
10	Northern State	107
11	Minnesota Crookston	85
12	Winona State	75
13	Wayne State	64
14	Bemidji State	42
15	Jamestown	32
16	Augustana	28

 

NSIC North Division Preseason Coaches' Poll

Rank	Team	Points
1	Minnesota State Moorhead (3)	43
2	Mary (2)	42
3	Minnesota Duluth	37
4	Minot State	30
5	Northern State	27
6	Minnesota Crookston	22
7	Bemidji State	13
8	Jamestown	10

 

NSIC South Division Preseason Coaches' Poll

Rank	Team	Points
1	Minnesota State, Mankato	48
2	Concordia, St. Paul	41
3	Sioux Falls	37
4	St. Cloud State	31
5	SW Minnesota State	28
6	Winona State	17
7	Wayne State	13
8	Augustana	9