Submitted Photo The 2024-2025 MSU Women’s Basketball Team is ready for new head coach, Ryan Clark’s debut season.

Minot State University’s (MSU) women’s basketball program is starting this season under new head coach Ryan Clark. Beavers fans may remember Coach Clark from 2019-21 when he spent two seasons as the assistant coach for the women’s basketball team.

Clark, an Australia native, has returned to MSU after spending two seasons as the head women’s basketball coach and assistant athletic director at Lake Region State College in Devil’s Lake, North Dakota.

Coach Clark’s transition to head coach at MSU has been great.

“The support that I’ve had here from staff in the athletic department and community has been wonderful, and the ladies on the team have been awesome as well,” said Clark, “I’ve really appreciated their work effort and commitment to the program and trying to be the best version of themselves.”

Coach Clark’s vision for the team this year is to be successful in all areas on the court and in the classroom. Clark hopes for an opportunity to make it to the Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference (NSIC) tournament in Sioux Falls at the end of the season, but he also hopes to prepare his athletes for future success in life by graduating and earning their degrees.

“You know, this is a big development stage in their life,” said Clark. “We want to allow them to have an amazing experience here, an experience that ultimately sets them up for success in the future.”

Last season the women’s basketball team finished 10-11 overall and 7-15 in the NSIC.

Sydney Gustavsson, a 5’7 senior guard from Mandan, North Dakota, was voted a preseason player to watch in the NSIC. Gustavsson averaged 12.1 points per game last season, adding 3.6 rebounds and 1.7 assists per outing.

“Sydney’s a high IQ player. She works hard, she shoots the ball really well, and things are going to fit really good into the system of what we’re doing,” said Clark.

Other players to watch this season are senior Emma Mogen and sophomore Maya Aguilar.

Returning players this season are Cassidy King, Skylar Smith, Amya Gourneau, Emma Mogen, Jaime Skeggs, Ashley Wacha, Mia Aberle, Sydney Gustavsson, Lorelei McIver, Taylor Goss, and Maya Aguilar.

New players for the 2024-25 season are Tiyahna Trottier, Grace Kent, Brenna Stroklund, Lara Dobbins, Taury Hight, Karie Aberle, Natalie Holte, and Jessica Mogen.

When asked about goals for the team this season Coach Clark highlighted how this season is a journey that they are taking as a program. Ultimately the team wants to grow on a daily basis and continue to head in the right direction throughout the season.

Clark is focusing on establishing a core base of principles for what they expect on and off the court to create a positive environment for everyone.

On the court, the team is expected to work fast breaks, get up and down the court, shoot a lot of threes, and play a lot of space. Off the court, they are expected to create good daily habits to get the program going to where they believe it can be.

The women’s basketball team is also getting out into the community as well this offseason. The Beavers are partnering with the Girls Power Program based out of Sunnyside Elementary. They are also helping at a trunk or treat at Washington Elementary.

“Getting into the schools and getting to meet some kiddos, it’s always great,” said Clark. “By getting out to support other events, whether it be in the university or in the community, we try to do our best to show faith as a program as well.”

MSU women’s basketball will play their first game on Friday, November 1, in Billings Montana against Union University (Tenn.). Tip-off is at 11 A.M.