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With the start of a new season on the hardwood just a few weeks away, the NSIC tipped things off by announcing that Minot State has been picked to finish 5th in the North Division in the 2026-27 NSIC Women's Basketball Preseason Coaches' Poll released Thursday.
The Beavers earned 24 points in the coaches' poll in the North Division standings, and were picked 12th overall in the entire NSIC with 80 points.
"I'm excited and optimistic about our team," Minot State's third-year head coach Ryan Clark said. "I have been really proud of the way they have committed to working each day throughout the fall. We have a good mix of experience and incoming players; I'm looking forward to seeing how they continue to grow and come together as a team."
The Beavers get an early glimpse, playing an exhibition against Brandon University at the Rough Rider Center in Watford City, North Dakota, this Saturday at noon.
Minot State continues its preseason schedule with an exhibition at the University of North Dakota on Sunday, November 8, at 1 p.m., then the Beavers tip off the season in earnest on Friday and Saturday, November 13 and 14, at the Puerto Rico Classic.
The Beavers make their home debut at the MSU Dome on Wednesday, November 18, hosting Mayville State at 5:30 p.m.
Reigning regular-season champion Minnesota State was picked to top the NSIC once again, along with the South Division. The Mavericks earned 215 total points and 6 first-place votes in the overall poll, and 44 points and 2 first-place votes in the South Division poll.
The University of Mary was picked to win the North Division with 45 points and 4 first-place votes, a slight favorite over last season's division champ Minnesota Duluth, which picked up 43 points and 3 first-place votes.
Overall, the Marauders were picked No. 4 in the NSIC standings with 174 points and 1 first-place vote behind No. 1 Minnesota State, No. 2 Concordia-St. Paul, which received 194 points and 4 first-place votes, and Sioux Falls, which collected 185 points and 5 first-place votes.
Minnesota State Moorhead was picked third in the North Division with 40 points and 1 first-place vote, then came Northern State in fourth with 30 points, Minot State in fifth with 24 points, Jamestown in sixth with 17 points, Minnesota Crookston in seventh with 15 points, and Bemidji State in eighth with 10 points.
Overall, Minnesota Duluth was picked fifth in the NSIC with 166 points, followed by Southwest Minnesota State in sixth with 158 points, MSU Moorhead in seventh with 146 points, St. Cloud State in eighth with 138 points, Winona State in ninth with 112 points, Northern State in 10th with 108 points, Augustana in 11th with 82 points, Minot State in 12th with 80 points, Jamestown in 13th with 61 points, Wayne State in 14th with 41 points, Minnesota Crookston in 15th with 38 points, and Bemidji State in 16th with 22 points.
The NSIC also announced its Preseason Players of the Year, along with Players to Watch for each team, and senior guard Taryn Hamling led the way for the Beavers as Minot State's Player to Watch this season.
Hamling, a 5-foot-9 guard from Grand Rapids, Minnesota, who earned 2nd Team All-NSIC honors last season, led the Beavers, averaging 15.9 points per game, hitting 83 total 3-pointers, and making 55 steals while adding 3.9 rebounds per game, 32 assists, and 11 blocked shots.
"Taryn is a returning NSIC All-Conference player who averaged 15.9 points per game while shooting 37 percent from the 3-point line," Clark said. "On top of being a great athlete, Taryn is an all-around awesome person. She has been great for us throughout the fall, and I look forward to seeing the year she is capable of having!"
While Hamling was highlighted for the Beavers, Mary's 6-3 senior center Allison Undlin was named the NSIC's North Division Preseason Player of the Year. A returning 1st Team All-NSIC performer, Undlin averaged 15.4 points, 8.2 rebounds, and 2.1 blocks per game last season while shooting 60.9 percent from the field.
Concordia-St. Paul's Lauren Wilson, a 6-0, 5th-year senior forward, was named the NSIC's South Division Preseason Player of the Year. Also a 1st Team All-NSIC player and the NSIC Tournament MVP, Wilson led the NSIC in rebounds with 288 and averaged 16.9 points, 3.1 assists, and 1.6 steals per game.