My ballot in the Big Sky women's poll, with underlying logic:
1.Northern Colorado: Bears return "Big Three" from 14-4 team of last year: Savanah Smith, Courtney Smith and Savannah Scott.
2. Idaho: All-conference guard Mikayla Ferenz, post Geraldine McCorkell and wing Taylor Pierce all averaged 12 points or more last season and Brooke Reilly was a productive rebounder.
3. North Dakota: the Hawks lost star Makailah Dyer from their co/championship team, but return Lexi Klabo and Fallen Freije, and as usual, will be the tallest team in the league with 8 players listed over 6 feet.
4. Montana: the Grizz return two injured stars in Kayleigh Valley and Alysha Harris, and a lot of good, young players who were baptized by fire last year.
5. Montana State: The Bobcats lost a lot of firepower from last year's co-champions, but still return productive players Hannah Caudill and Delaney Junkermier.
6. Idaho State: The Bengals won 19 games overall largely on the strength of defense and rebounding. They lost their best post player, Lindsey Brown to graduation and they will start out the season rather inexperienced upfront. But they return three experienced and productive players in Brooke Blair, Saylor Grandon and Grace Kenyon and for once (knock on wood) appear completely healthy going into the season.
7. Portland State: If the Vikings can tighten up their D, they could be a top tier team this season, led by double figure scorers Ashley Bolton (15.8), Sidney Reilly (15.7) and Courtney West (10.8).
8. Eastern Washington: The Eagles return one of the best players in the league in Delaney Hodgins, (17.5 ppg), but they have nobody else who scored in double figures coming back.
9. Weber State: the Wildcats have an experienced and productive back court in Emily Drake and Kallie Quinn returning, but not much firepower upfront.
10. Sac State: the Hornets will remain the "style of play outlier" in the conference with their frenetic approach, but other teams seem to have adjusted and the Hornets don't return any stars.
11. Southern Utah: the T-birds don't return any double figure scorers from last year's last place team. Any improvement will have to be developmental.
12. Lorre Payne is the latest addition to the NAU coaching carousel, joining the Axers from D-2 Puget Sound. She at least has an experienced guard in Olivia Lucero (14.8 ppg) to fall back on as she rebuilds the Axer program.
1.Northern Colorado: Bears return "Big Three" from 14-4 team of last year: Savanah Smith, Courtney Smith and Savannah Scott.
2. Idaho: All-conference guard Mikayla Ferenz, post Geraldine McCorkell and wing Taylor Pierce all averaged 12 points or more last season and Brooke Reilly was a productive rebounder.
3. North Dakota: the Hawks lost star Makailah Dyer from their co/championship team, but return Lexi Klabo and Fallen Freije, and as usual, will be the tallest team in the league with 8 players listed over 6 feet.
4. Montana: the Grizz return two injured stars in Kayleigh Valley and Alysha Harris, and a lot of good, young players who were baptized by fire last year.
5. Montana State: The Bobcats lost a lot of firepower from last year's co-champions, but still return productive players Hannah Caudill and Delaney Junkermier.
6. Idaho State: The Bengals won 19 games overall largely on the strength of defense and rebounding. They lost their best post player, Lindsey Brown to graduation and they will start out the season rather inexperienced upfront. But they return three experienced and productive players in Brooke Blair, Saylor Grandon and Grace Kenyon and for once (knock on wood) appear completely healthy going into the season.
7. Portland State: If the Vikings can tighten up their D, they could be a top tier team this season, led by double figure scorers Ashley Bolton (15.8), Sidney Reilly (15.7) and Courtney West (10.8).
8. Eastern Washington: The Eagles return one of the best players in the league in Delaney Hodgins, (17.5 ppg), but they have nobody else who scored in double figures coming back.
9. Weber State: the Wildcats have an experienced and productive back court in Emily Drake and Kallie Quinn returning, but not much firepower upfront.
10. Sac State: the Hornets will remain the "style of play outlier" in the conference with their frenetic approach, but other teams seem to have adjusted and the Hornets don't return any stars.
11. Southern Utah: the T-birds don't return any double figure scorers from last year's last place team. Any improvement will have to be developmental.
12. Lorre Payne is the latest addition to the NAU coaching carousel, joining the Axers from D-2 Puget Sound. She at least has an experienced guard in Olivia Lucero (14.8 ppg) to fall back on as she rebuilds the Axer program.