Rochester, MN-
On January 3, 2025, the Minnesota College Athletic Conference (MCAC) Women's Basketball conference season will begin with 11 member colleges participating this year. The top four teams in the nation play in the MCAC and will be looking to claim one of the two automatic qualifying spots in the NJCAA National Tournament.
Rochester Community and Technical College, the 2022-2023 national champions and 2023-2024 runners-up, are ranked #1 in the latest NJCAA DIII Women's Basketball poll. Northland Community and Technical College, the 2023-2024 third-place finisher, is ranked #2 in the nation, and Anoka-Ramsey Community College, the 4th place finisher in the 2023-2024 national tournament, is ranked #3. Last season's NJCAA DIII Women's Basketball National Champion was Minnesota West Community and Technical College, now ranked 4th nationally.
MCAC Women's Basketball has only two coaches who have coached at their current college for ten years or more. Shannon Nelson is in her 14th season at Northland Community & Technical College and has compiled a 292-85 coaching record. Rosalie Hayenga is in her 10th season at Minnesota West Community & Technical College. She has a 160-87 record with back-to-back appearances in the national championship game and the 2024 championship title.
Ryan Zyla, head coach at Minnesota North College - Vermilion, is the lone first-year coach in the MCAC this season. Ryan Schultz, head coach at Ridgewater College, begins his second season as the Warriors head coach; however, the program didn't have enough players to compete during the 2023-24 season, so Coach Schultz will be on the sidelines for the first time this season.
Please read on for a brief preview of the 2024-25 MCAC Women's Basketball teams. Follow @MCACSports and @NJCAABasketball on Twitter for the latest MCAC and NJCAA two-year college basketball news, rankings, and season information.
For the MCAC Women's Basketball home page, click here or go to: https://mcacsports.org/sports/wbkb/index
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Minnesota College Athletic ConferenceSouth Division Women's Basketball Preview
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Anoka-Ramsey Community College
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Head Coach: Samantha Doucette, 3rd year as the coach at ARCC Overall Coaching Record at ARCC: 47-17 Assistant Coaching Staff: N/A 2023-24 Record: 24-7 overall, 8-4 in the MCAC, 3rd in the MCAC South, 4th place at Nationals Top returning players: No one mentioned. Top incoming/new players: No one mentioned.
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Minnesota State Community and Technical College
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Head Coach: Jodi Holleman, 5th year as head coach at M State Overall Coaching Record at M State: 44-44 Assistant Coaching Staff: Abby Oberg and Marvin Perkins 2023-24 Record: 12-11 overall, 6-5 in the MCAC, 4th in the MCAC South Top returning players: Madison Foss, Fergus Falls, MN, Forward Top incoming/new players: Tenley Epema, Guard Kharmon Wells, Guard Felicity LeBlanc, Guard Coach Holleman on her team: "We will be very young this year, so we will need the incoming freshmen to step up and become impact players right away."
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Minnesota West Community & Technical College
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Head Coach: Rosalie Hayenga, 10th year as head coach at Minnesota West Overall Coaching Record at MN West: 160-87 Assistant Coaching Staff: Avery Van Roekel 2023-24 Record: 26-7 overall, 10-2 in the MCAC, 2nd in the MCAC South, National Champions Top returning players: Ava Parrish, Altomonte Spring, FL, Guard Casey Miller, Balaton, MN, Guard Top incoming/new players: Rhea Tucker, White River, SD, Forward Katrina Schutz, Richmond, MN, Forward Maddie Kamm, St. Peter, MN, Guard Sadie Krahling, Adrian, MN, Forward Coach Hayenga on her team: "We have to replace our entire starting lineup from last year's team and will need to replace about 95% of our scoring from a season ago. We hope to compete in the ever-tough MCAC this season but will need some freshmen to really step up and fill some big roles in order to do so." Noteworthy Information: Minnesota West won the school's first-ever team National Championship last season.
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Ridgewater College
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Head Coach: Ryan Schultz, 2nd year as head coach at Riverland Overall Coaching Record at Ridgewater: 0-0 Assistant Coaching Staff: Chris Bangasser 2023-24 Record: Did not compete. Top returning players: Did not compete. Top incoming/new players: Kaydence Bertram, Melrose, MN, Guard Nevaeh Rahm, Fairmont, MN, Center Lily Dean, Hector, MN, Guard Coach Schultz on his team: "Our expectations for the season are to improve every day."
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Rochester Community & Technical College
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Head Coach: Jason Bonde, 5th year as head coach at RCTC Overall Coaching Record at Rochester: 90-13 Assistant Coaching Staff: Kassidy Broadwater 2023-24 Record: 23-5 overall, 11-1 in the MCAC, MCAC South Champions, National Tournament Runner-up Top returning players: Macaya Copeland, Minnetonka, MN Kara Goetzinger, Chatfield, MN Aniyah Reuben, Brooklyn Park, MN Cassidy Shute, Austin, MN Top incoming/new players: Nyomi Crushshon, Champlain Park, MN Allana Bates, Champlain Park, MN Makadyn Gust, St. Charles, MN Coach Bonde on his team: "We have 5 returners who are experienced players who have played in big games. The Southern Conference is loaded with talent. The MCAC has been the top conference in the country for the past 4 years, and it is no different this year. We have the top 4 spots in the national rankings from our conference. There are no nights off when you play in our league."
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St. Cloud Technical and Community College
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Head Coach: Abby Notch, 3rd year as head coach at SCTCC Overall Coaching Record at St. Cloud Tech: 15-33 Assistant Coaching Staff: Leland Harris and Jaden Newson 2023-24 Record: 7-19 overall, 3-9 in the MCAC, 6th in the MCAC South Top returning players: Jenna Boos, Cold Spring, MN, Guard Lily Manning, Monticello, MN, Guard Top incoming/new players: No one mentioned. Coach Notch on her team: "We're excited about our returning sophomore group, along with the incoming freshmen. Looking forward to another competitive season in the MCAC."
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Minnesota College Athletic ConferenceNorth Division Women's Basketball Preview
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Central Lakes College
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Head Coach: Krystal Brodeen, 3rd year as head coach at CLC Overall Coaching Record at Central Lakes: 31-16 Assistant Coaching Staff: Mark Lindquist 2023-24 Record: 17-8 overall, 12-8 in the MCAC, 2nd in the MCAC North Top returning players: Chesney Phillipp, Jacksonville, NC, Center Antavia Bowstring, Deer River, MN, Guard Natalie Eckhoff, Henning, MN, Guard Top incoming/new players: Constance Bowstring, Deer River, MN, Guard Bobbie Rowland, Cincinnati, OH, Guard Cate Travis, Pine River, MN, Guard Reese Hartl, Hinckley, MN, Guard Coach Brodeen on her team: "With a small returning core and a deep bench of talented freshmen, I expect that we will have a period of adjustment to a new style of offense and defense compared to years prior. We have lots of versatile players that will be tough to compete against once conference play begins." Noteworthy Information: Central Lakes will have newly renovated athletics and student services areas on campus, with completion planned for Fall 2025.
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Minnesota North College - Itasca
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Head Coach: Henry Hellmann, 3rd year as head coach at Itasca Overall Coaching Record at Itasca: 2-41 Assistant Coaching Staff: N/A 2023-24 Record: 0-18 overall, 0-0 in the MCAC, played the season as a club team Top returning players: Zion Forseen, Forward Desiree Tarpeh, Forward Top incoming/new players: Nakaiyah Nimene, Floodwood, MN Klara Finke, Greenway High School Lilia Pemberton, Red Lake High School Claire Clusiau, Nashwauk High School Coach Hellmann on his team: "We have a lot of new faces, but we have a great group of ladies who love to play basketball with a lot of heart. We have high-character players with great attitudes and the skill to compete at a high level as well. It will be a fun season."
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Minnesota North College - Mesabi Range
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Head Coach: Brad Matuszak, 7th year as the head coach at MNC-MR Overall Coaching Record at Mesabi Range: 23-80 Assistant Coaching Staff: Earl Otis 2023-24 Record: 5-17 overall, 4-6 in the MCAC, 4th in the MCAC North Top returning players: Katie Peck, Grand Marais, MN, Guard Top incoming/new players: Gabby Lira, Mt. Iron, MN, Guard Suzy Aubrey, Mt. Iron, MN, Guard Tiffany Davis, Hibbing, MN, Guard Ali Brown, St. Paul, MN, Forward Coach Matuszak on his team: "With having a small roster size, we will have to be in conditioning shape. We have great ball handlers and shooters. Hopefully, we will improve on the defensive end as well."
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Minnesota North College - Vermilion
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Head Coach: Ryan Zyla, 1st year as the head coach at MNC - Vermilion Overall Coaching Record at Vermilion: 0-0 Assistant Coaching Staff: Dominic Lynch 2023-24 Record: 3-17 overall, 0-7 in the MCAC, 5th in the MCAC North Top returning players: CeCe Bradford, California, Guard Destiny Gonzalez, Texas, Forward Top incoming/new players: Angie Schuchardt, Texas, Forward Nyjai Wright, Michigan, Guard Lyric Hull Chiplin, Mississippi, Guard Amyia Yunker, Florida, Guard Tamia Cahee, Louisiana, Guard Coach Zyla on his team: "We know it's going to be an uphill battle as we are a very young roster with not much depth or college experience. We hope to be playing our best ball once league play comes around. The goal is to get better each and every day." Noteworthy Information: The Ironhawks' entire team is from out of state.
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Northland Community and Technical College
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Head Coach: Shannon Nelson, 14th year as the head coach at NCTC Overall Coaching Record at Northland: 292-85 Assistant Coaching Staff: Beth Tvedt and Alicia Backer 2023-24 Record: 25-6 overall, 8-0 in the MCAC, MCAC North Division Champions Top returning players: Tiyana Schwinghammer, Brooten, MI, Guard Josie Iverson, Winger, MN, Guard Hannah Halvorson, Park River, ND, Forward Top incoming/new players: Jade Reese, Greenbush, MI, Guard Rylie Klopp, Karlstad, MN, Forward Teagyn Fitzsimonds, Cavalier, ND, Guard Kinsley Hanson, Greenbush, MN, Forward Coach Nelson on her team: "We have a lot of newcomers so we will experience some growing pains this season. We are returning key players off our 2023-24 team, though, and we have some more depth and athleticism on our roster this year. Hoping to compete for an MCAC Northern Division Schedule." Noteworthy Information: On January 25th, Northland will celebrate 50 years of women's athletics at the college for the NCTC Alumni Day. Coach Nelson is also closing in on 300 wins this season.
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About the Minnesota College Athletic Conference
The Minnesota College Athletic Conference is the organizational body for NJCAA-affiliated two-year technical and community college athletic programs in the Minnesota State system. The mission of the Minnesota College Athletic Conference is to advance intercollegiate athletics by providing an engaging and supportive environment for success of our student athletes and competition among member institutions. The MCAC is committed to the guiding principles of encouraging the development and success of student athletes, promoting the integrity, honesty and loyalty to member schools as well as upholding the sustainability of conference athletic programs.