Women's Basketball Preseason Rankings Announced
Oct 11, 2022 | Women's Basketball
SIOUX FALLS, S.D. - The Omaha women's basketball team was ranked 10th in the 2022-23 Summit League Preseason Poll, the league announced Tuesday afternoon. The preseason poll and awards were tallied in a vote of the league's head coaches, sports information staff, and media.
Last year's Summit League runner up South Dakota State is the preseason favorite collecting 36 of the 40 first-place votes. Meanwhile, reigning league champion South Dakota slots into second place with four first-place votes. Oral Roberts, North Dakota, amd North Dakota State round out the top five.
The Mavericks finished 7-19 last year with a 3-14 record in Summit League competition. Key returners include Katie Keitges, who led all returners in minutes played last season (580), and totaled 100 points, 25 assists and 19 steals. Elena Pilakouta is the top returning scorer after putting up 236 points and 9.8 ppg in 2021-22, while also recording 110 rebounds and 14 blocks. Last season's breakout rookie Grace Cave is also back. She put up 171 points, 65 rebounds, 44 assists, and 30 steals in her debut season.
Joining Omaha this season are seven newcomers: Aaliyah Stanley, Deanay Watson, Polina Nikulochkina, Ana Nikulochkina, Jaylen Townsend, Eviyon Richardson, and Brooklyn Smith.
Head coach Carrie Banks enters her third season at the helm, carrying a 14-32 record into the campaign, while assistant coaches Darryl Hudson and Tania Davis enter their third and second seasons with the team, respectively.
Last year's Summit League runner up South Dakota State is the preseason favorite collecting 36 of the 40 first-place votes. Meanwhile, reigning league champion South Dakota slots into second place with four first-place votes. Oral Roberts, North Dakota, amd North Dakota State round out the top five.
The Mavericks finished 7-19 last year with a 3-14 record in Summit League competition. Key returners include Katie Keitges, who led all returners in minutes played last season (580), and totaled 100 points, 25 assists and 19 steals. Elena Pilakouta is the top returning scorer after putting up 236 points and 9.8 ppg in 2021-22, while also recording 110 rebounds and 14 blocks. Last season's breakout rookie Grace Cave is also back. She put up 171 points, 65 rebounds, 44 assists, and 30 steals in her debut season.
Joining Omaha this season are seven newcomers: Aaliyah Stanley, Deanay Watson, Polina Nikulochkina, Ana Nikulochkina, Jaylen Townsend, Eviyon Richardson, and Brooklyn Smith.
Head coach Carrie Banks enters her third season at the helm, carrying a 14-32 record into the campaign, while assistant coaches Darryl Hudson and Tania Davis enter their third and second seasons with the team, respectively.
Preseason Player of the Year Myah Selland, South Dakota State First Team Kacie Borowicz, North Dakota Paiton Burckhard, South Dakota State Heaven Hamling, North Dakota State Tirzah Moore, Oral Roberts Paige Meyer, South Dakota State Myah Selland, South Dakota State
Second Team
Jade Hill, St. Thomas
Grace Larkins, South Dakota
Elizabeth Lutz, Western Illinois
Tori Nelson, South Dakota State
RaVon Nero, Kansas City
Poll (1st) | Total Points
1. South Dakota State (36) | 746
2. South Dakota (4) | 676
3. Oral Roberts | 602
4. North Dakota | 522
5. North Dakota State | 475
6. Kansas City | 388
7. Western Illinois | 308
8. Denver | 227
9. St. Thomas | 211
10. Omaha | 199
Players Mentioned
G
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G
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G
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C
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F
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C
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G
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G
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G
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