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S.D. (PlayNorthStar.com) – Jamestown (N.D.) is the coaches’ favorite to win the 2017-18 North Star Athletic Association Women’s Basketball league title, the preseason poll was announced Monday by the conference office. The Jimmies received eight (8) first-place votes and 80 points to top the preseason poll.
Jamestown (N.D.) won the North Star regular-season and tournament title last season. UJ was 27-6 overall record and 15-1 record in the NSAA conference games. Jamestown advanced to the NAIA Division II Women’s Basketball National Tournament quarterfinals last March. The Jimmies were ranked No. 10 in the final national poll.
Mayville State (N.D.) picked up the final first-place vote and tallied 68 points to finish second in the preseason poll.
Bellevue (Neb.) edged out Valley City State (N.D.) 60-59 to finish third in the poll. Dakota State (S.D.) was picked to finish fifth after recording 44 points. Presentation (S.D.) finished sixth with 32 points, followed by Dickinson State (N.D.) seventh with 27 points, Viterbo (Wis.) eighth with 23 points and Waldorf (Iowa) ninth with 12 points.
Points are awarded on a 9-1 basis and coaches could vote for their own team.
Each NSAA members will be playing a total of 16 conference games this season, with each team playing home and away games during the conference season.
The NSAA conference season gets underway on Dec. 1 with three games on schedule. Jamestown travels to Dakota State; Mayville State hosts Presentation and Dickinson State welcomes Valley City State. Viterbo will play at Bellevue for their first North Star conference game on Dec. 2.
The North Star Women’s Basketball Postseason Tournament Champion will receive an automatic bid to the NAIA Division II National Tournament to be held in Sioux City, Iowa. The national tournament takes place on March 7 through March 13.
Here is the complete 2017-18 NSAA Women’s Basketball Coaches’ Preseason Poll:
| 2017-18 North Star Athletic Association Women’s Basketball Preseason Poll | ||
| Rank | School | Points |
| 1 | Jamestown (N.D.) (8) | 80 |
| 2 | Mayville State (N.D.) (1) | 68 |
| 3 | Bellevue (Neb.) | 60 |
| 4 | Valley City State (N.D.) | 59 |
| 5 | Dakota State (S.D.) | 44 |
| 6 | Presentation (S.D.) | 32 |
| 7 | Dickinson State (N.D.) | 27 |
| 8 | Viterbo (Wis.) | 23 |
| 9 | Waldorf (Iowa) | 12 |
| *First-place votes in parenthesis | ||