Anoka-Ramsey Community College 

Coon Rapids, Minnesota  

10-2 MCAC / 20-10 Overall / 1st Place

Region XIIIA Champions / NJCAA National Tournament 

 Jessica Pelzel

The Golden Rams had the best overall season of any MCAC Southern Division team in 2016-17, winning the MCAC Southern Division regular season title, the NJCAA Region XIIIA crown and earning a bid to the 2017-18 NJCAA Division III National Championships. Anoka-Ramsey went 1-2 on the NJCAA national stage, losing to Mohawk Valley CC to conclude the season. 

Key Returners: Amanda Lindsay, Guard, Becker, MN; Maegan McKernon, forward, Coon Rapids, MN

New Faces: Kaylee Porisch, Foraward, Coon Rapids, MN; Demie Bond, guard, Zimmerman, MN

Central Lakes College 

Brainerd, Minnesota 

 Chelsea Ornelas, Assistant Coach; Christian Ornelas, Volunteer Assistant Coach;

Tanner Kortlever, Student Assistant Coach; Emily Gorman, Student Manager  

New Faces:  Naomi Lane, Center, Aitkin, MN; Sam Schimpp, Guard/Forward, Staples, MN; Amber Robben, Guard, Staples, MN; Liz Anderson, Guard/Forward, Brainerd, MN  

Leech Lake Tribal College, Saturday, Nov. 11th, 5pm. 

Fond du Lac Tribal and Community College

Cloquet, Mn 

First-year head coach Coach Kami Diver on the Fond du Lac Tribal & Community College team this fall: "With the help of two returners we are excited to create a new team dynamic this season."

The Thunder will be the last MCAC women's team to tip-off the regular season, opening with Western Technical College on December 1st in La Crosse, Wisconsin. Fond du Lac's home opener will be on Friday December 8th, against St. Cloud Technical & Community College.

Returning Players: Tia Moore, Forward, Steven Point WI; Lyric Johnson, Forward,Silver Bay MN

New Faces: Tanisha Fox, Guard, Bagley MN; Naazhe LaPrairie, Guard, Fond du Lac MN; Gloria Kingbird, Guard, Carlton MN; Ashlee Antell White, Guard, Cloquet MN

Hibbing Community College 

Hibbing, MN

Coach Brau on Expectations for the Cardinals in 2017-18:  "With 5 returners, 1 transfer, and a solid freshman class, we expect experience and energy on the floor."

Key Returners: Lexi Kudis, Guard, Zim, MN; April Hudelson, Center, Hibbing, MN; Diana Clement, Center, Iron, MN; Allison Gordon, Guard, Bayfield, WI

New Faces: Alison Huber, Guard, Washburn, WI; Shauna Kavajecz, Guard, Port Wing, WI; Hannah Morris, Guard, Grand Rapids, MN; Stacie Lokken, Guard, Hibbing, MN

 Itasca Community College 

Grand Rapids, Mn

Mesabi Range College 

Virginia, Mn

Coach Lamppa on the Mesabi Range women's basketball team in 2017-18: "Our team must replace 5 sophomore starters who graduated. We will be young and inexperienced. Our players will need to adapt to college game asap."

Key Returners: Cora Peteron, forward, Mountian Iron, MN; Makayla Goerdt, guard/forward, Cherry, MN; Faith Howell, Center, Biwabik, MN

New Faces: Megan Aho, Guard, Floodwood MN; Shawna Wiese, Guard, Amery WI, Patty Overvye, Guard, Mountain Iron MN, Makenzey Goerdt, Forward, Cherry MN

Notable about the Norse: The 2017-18 women's basketball team will face Gogegic Community College twice this season, as well as a pair of games against the JV squad of UW-Superior.  Saturday, November 11th, will feature an Alumni scrimmage at Mesabi Range.

M State  

Fergus Falls, Mn

Coach Hendrickson on expectations for the M State squad in 2017-18:  "As always, we expect to compete in the region tournament. We will be relying on freshman to fill some key roles. We should have a quick, balanced offensive attack." 

Key Retuners:  Lydia Klemetson, Guard, Ulen MN; Samantha Lupkes, Post, Wheaton MN; Claire Mathiesen, Guard, Battle Lake MN

New Faces:  Macky Warne, Guard, Park Rapids MN; Kassandra Algarate Forward, Hancock MN; Taylin Schliecher, Forward, Barrett MN
 

Coach Hayenga on the Minnesota West CTC Lady Jays this season: "With 4 starters returning from last year's team, we are very excited about the 2017-18 season. The addition of quality freshman will make us strong team, but we will have to stay healthy to contend in the Southern Division."

Key Returners: Andrea Hinkeldey/ Forward/ Heron Lake, MN ; Katherin Ihnen/ Forward/Round Lake, MN; Emily Haubrich/Guard/Carroll, IA; Ashlynn Wabeke/Guard/Ruthton, MN

New Faces: M'Kayla Mike/ Guard/ Charlotte Amalie, St. Thomas US Virgin Islands; Avery Van Roekel/ Forward/ Hills, MN; Emma Woelber/Guard/ Westbrook, MN/ Alex Stanley/Guard/Luverne, MN

Minnesota West CTC heads into the 2017-18 season under third year head coach, Rosalie Hayenga at the wheel.  The Lady Jays are looking to build off of their Region XIIIA appearance last fall.  Minnesota West will tackle four non-MCAC opponents to prepare for league play; Iowa Lakes, Northeastern, Northeast CC and Dakota County Technical College.

Moving On: Taylor Noid, Mount Marty College

Northland Technical & Community College 

Thief River Falls, MN

 11-1 MCAC / 25-5 Overall / 1st Place North  

Region XIIIB Champion, NJCAA National Tournament 

Coach Nelson on NCTC in 2017-18: "We have six returners this year so we will rely on experience and depth. A couple newcomers will be big contributors, especially once the division games begin."

Key Returners:  Megan Swedberg, Center, Ogema, MN; Emily Anderson, Guard, Middle River, MN; Madison Stenzel, Forward, Gonvick, MN  

New Faces: Janie Wunderlich, Guard, Perham, MN; Brooke Heggie, Center, Crookston, MN; Ashley Moe, Guard, Grygla, MN  

Northland will travel to compete in the Holiday Inn Express Tournament in Devil's Lake, North Dakota to open up 2017-18. 

Northland standout ShaRon Miller is competing this fall for NCAA Division program Grand Canyon University. Miller will suit up for former WNBA star Nicole Powell at Grand Canyon. 

Rainy River Community College 

International Falls, MN

Things are looking up for the Rainy River Community College women's basketball squad as they look to return to the top half of the MCAC North in 2017-18. Coach Humbert notes: "I am optimistic about the season ahead! Staying healthy will play a major role as we are not deep! Very excited about this team's work ethic!  "

Key Returners: Vilawn Mobley, Orlando FL  

New Faces: Devanae Gross, Chicago IL; Meoshia Peterson, Orlando FL; Daeja Monroe,  Cypress Falls TX; Tykayla Degrate, Waco TX.  

Ridgewater College 

Wilmar, MN

Ridgewater Head Coach, Jodi Holleman, heads into her second year at the helm of the Warrior program.  She formerly served as the head coach at Hancock High School where she complied a record of 277 - 107 losses, including ten Conference Titles, 3 Section Titles, and 3 trips to the State Tournament.  Coach Holleman was selected Coach of the Year nine times and Section 6A Coach of the Year in 2011 after a fourth place finish at the State Tournament.

The Warriors will host Leech Lake Tribal College on November 18th and Central Lakes College on November 21st to open up the 2017-18 campaign.

Riverland Community College 

Austin, MN 

The Riverland Blue Devils return to the court after a two year hiatus from MCAC competition.  Riverland will open up 2017-18 with a scrimmage held in conjunction with a Hall-of-Fame Induction Ceremony, before taking on Minnesota West later that week.  The Blue Devils will also compete against the JV programs at Gustavus, Luther and Saint Mary's of Minnesota.  Coach Waldner and his squad will face NJCAA opponent Northern Iowa Area Community College in late November.  

Former RCC Athletic Director David Lillemon noted: "I am very excited we were able to hire Doug.  He will bring us a new philosophy and energy to bring the women's basketball program back for the 2016-2017 season. He will be focused on building an entire team with a lot of optimism."

New and returning athletes for Riverland include, Anna Carmody of Mobridge, SD (Mobridge-Pollock HS); Karina Vasquez-Agulilar, Austin, MN (Southland HS); Katelyn Oakland,  Dodge Center, MN (Triton HS); Sophia Waldner, Hayfield, MN (Hayfield HS); Jauntanay Prado Minneapolis, MN (Patrick Henry HS); Kionna Lasley,  Macy, NE (Omaha Nation HS); Mahsima Alkemooneh of Lewiston, MN (Lewiston-Altura HS), Elizabeth Leger of Austin, MN, Rylee Stickrod of Grand Meadow, MN (Grand Meadow HS) and Samantha Siskow of LeRoy, MN (LeRoy-Ostrander HS.); Shania Jamerson, McLaughlin, SD  (McLaughlin HS) and Angel Williams of Minneapolis, MN (Minneapolis Transitions HS).

Rochester Community & Technical College 

Rochester, MN 

Coach Hucke on Yellowjacket Expectations for 2017-18:  "We should be competitive in the Southern Division, we have good outside shooting and decent inside presence."

Key Returners:  Jalysa Cutting, Guard, Anika Gardner, G , Nautika Kotero, G

New Faces:  Grace Riley, F/G, Olivia Haug, P, Abby Bauer, F

St. Cloud Technical & Community College 

St. Cloud, MN

Coach Fassett on the 2017-18 SCTCC women's squad:   "We are looking forward to seeing the growth in our team and our program each and every day."

Key Returners:  Rian Lee, Post, Paynesville, MN; Ashley Cassens, Guard, Milaca, MN  

New Faces:  Makayla Paggen, Guard, Milaca, MN; Abbie Wuertz, Guard, Paynesville, MN; Amaya Murray, Guard, St. Cloud, MN; Rachel Vreeland, Guard, Mora, MN  

Vermilion Community College 

Ely, MN

Coach Brodeen on VCC in 2017-18: "With only one returner this year and coming off of last year's winless season, we look at having a solid defensive team with some strong shooters."

Key Returners:  Wynter George, Guard, St. Paul MN

New Faces:  Kira Abernathy, Center, Cleveland OH; Zarea Richards, Guard, St. Paul MN; Daysha Davis, Guard, St. Paul MN

First Year Coach: Krystal Brodeen enters her first year as head basketball coach for Vermilion Community College for the 2017 season. Coach Brodeen is from Cook, Minnesota, where she lettered in both volleyball and basketball. Krystal was senior at North Woods High School's during its inaugural year (2011-12). She attended and graduated from Vermilion Community College in the 2014-15 school year, earning All-Academic Honors in volleyball and captain for basketball. Coach Brodeen graduated from Bemidji State University in the spring of 2016 and is looking forward to being back in the area and working with women's athletics.

Moving On: Greta Saulic, UW-Lacrosse

The Vermilion campus community is abuzz with the opening of the new, Timber Ridge residence halls on campus in Ely.   State-of-the-art, on-campus living for VCC students allows for a full college experience- and a great opportunity for student-athletes at Vermilion to get a feel for college sports on, and off, the court.   Vermilion was recognized as the 3rd best community college in the state of Minnesota, as listed by the website, http://www.bestcolleges.com.   With more than 20 available associates degrees, and a true residential campus feel, VCC's niche as the Boundary Waters College allows it to offer student-athletes a unique and positive experience.