ST. PAUL, Minn.---The excitement of the return of Upper Midwest Athletic Conference (UMAC) women’s basketball for a unique 2021 season has even greater allure after the thrilling ending to an incredible season nearly a year ago before an extended pause due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Last March, Bethany Lutheran College became the first UMAC women’s hoops squad to win a NCAA tournament opening round game upsetting No. 6 Bethel University before nearly knocking of the University of Wisconsin-Oshkosh in the second round.
As an uncertain but hopeful future lies ahead, the reigning regular and postseason champion Vikings are hopeful for another repeat of success as they unanimously topped the 2020-21 UMAC Preseason Coaches’ Poll with 64 points and eight first-place votes, it was announced Tuesday.
The Vikings’ historic year saw them finish 14-2 in UMAC play before ending 24-4 overall. Going into this season, the Vikings return two of the league’s top players in Hanna Geistfeld and Abby Olson who should help carry the team as it looks for another title. Geistfeld was named the UMAC Player of the Year averaging a double-double in 2019-20 with 20.8 points per game (ppg) and 10.4 rebounds per game (rpg). Fellow senior Olson repeated as a All-UMAC First Team selection scoring 18.9 ppg.
Just eight points separate the next four teams in the standings – all four of which were postseason performers a year ago. The University of Minnesota Morris took second in the coaches’ ranks with 50 points and one first-place vote while the University of Wisconsin-Superior was third with 49 points. The University of Northwestern tallied 44 points for fourth with North Central University back just two points in fifth with 42.
Minnesota Morris was fourth last season but could look to challenge the Vikings at the top with a core of returning players led by UMAC Rookie of the Year Haley Wollschlager who averaged 5.3 ppg in her debut season. Junior Lexus Eagle Chasing was a Second Team selection with 12.5 ppg as a sophomore. Jadyn Sondrol is also expected to contribute after a strong rookie season.
Wisconsin-Superior had won four-straight regular season conference titles prior to the 2019-20. Despite that, the Yellowjackets still compiled a solid season finishing 13-3 in the UMAC and appearing in the championship game for the fifth-straight season. The ‘Jackets lose a core of senior players and will rely heavily on Ellie Leadstrom (6.4 ppg) to lead a young squad.
Northwestern was third a season ago going 12-4 in conference games. The Eagles will continue to push for one of the top spot with the return of junior All-UMAC First Team guard Kelsea Lund who averaged 16.4 ppg during her impressive sophomore campaign. Brooklyn DeKam was an Honorable Mention player last season pouring in 13.1 ppg to help fuel the Eagle offense.
North Central made its second-straight postseason appearance and hopes to make it three in a row this year with the return of impressive junior duo Emily DiGiorgio and Naomi Hagstrom. As a sophomore, DiGiorgio scored 15.7 ppg and averaged 8.9 rpg to earn All-UMAC Second Team honors. Hagstrom was an Honorable Mention honoree with 15.0 ppg and 6.3 rpg.
The other half of the poll rounded out with the College of St. Scholastica in sixth (30), Northland College in seventh (18), Martin Luther College in eighth (15) and Crown College ninth (12).
The Saints missed out on the postseason last winter after making an appearance in 2018-19. Senior Morgan Anderson will look to lead the Saints back into the tournament following her junior campaign with a 7.3 ppg average.
Northland will look for continued improvement thanks to young sophomore talent in Miranda Wagner and Bailey Wynn – both players averaged over 11.0 ppg as rookies.
The Knights will rely on back-to-back Honorable Mention Emily Witkowski who scored 13.3 ppg last year, while the Storm hopes junior Shauna Thompson will lead the team to success following her 8.4 ppg a year ago.
Several UMAC teams have scheduled non-conference competition that continues this week, but league play begins this Saturday, Jan. 30. At the time of publication, the NCAA Division III Championship is on as scheduled, meaning the winner of the UMAC tournament in March would earn the conference’s automatic bid to the national tournament.
| Pl. | School | Pts. |
| 1. | Bethany Lutheran | 64 (8) |
| 2. | Minnesota Morris | 50 (1) |
| 3. | Wisconsin-Superior | 49 |
| 4. | Northwestern | 44 |
| 5. | North Central | 42 |
| 6. | St. Scholastica | 30 |
| 7. | Northland | 18 |
| 8. | Martin Luther | 15 |
| 9. | Crown | 12 |