OGDEN, Utah- The University of North Dakota women's basketball team was picked to finish fifth by the media and sixth by the coaches in the 2012-13 Big Sky Conference preseason polls. After three seasons in the Great West Conference following its move to NCAA Division I, UND enters its first season in the league.
"We respect the other teams in the conference, but this shows us that we still have work to do," UND head coach Travis Brewster said. "The tradition of this program is a commitment to excellence. We're excited about the challenge."
The top four spots were identical in both polls with Idaho State, the defending Big Sky regular season and tournament champion, grabbing the top position. Northern Colorado was the runner-up with Montana and Montana State slotted third and fourth, respectively, in both polls.
UND returns 10 letterwinners and three starters from a team that finished 21-11 overall as Great West Conference tournament champions a season ago. Leading scorer junior Allyssa Wall was a Great West Conference First Teamer after a season that saw her lead the team in scoring in eight of the final 11 games. Junior Madi Buck averaged 9.7 points per game while the final returning starter, senior Nicole Smart, started all 32 games last season for UND.
North Dakota opens its season in two weeks, hosting Bemidji State for an exhibition at Betty Engelstad Sioux Center on Nov. 1. The regular season gets underway on Nov. 11 when North Dakota welcomes Harvard to the BESC.
2012-13 Big Sky Conference Women's Basketball Preseason Polls
| COACHES POLL | |
| Team | Points |
| 1. Idaho State | 97 (8) |
| 2. Northern Colorado | 88 (1) |
| 3. Montana | 77 (2) |
| 4. Montana State | 72 |
| 5. Portland State | 63 |
| 6. North Dakota | 53 |
| 7. Sacramento State | 50 |
| 8. Eastern Washington | 40 |
| 9. Northern Arizona | 28 |
| 10. Weber State | 17 |
| 11. Southern Utah | 13 |
| MEDIA POLL | |
| Team | Points |
| 1. Idaho State | 154 (8) |
| 2. Northern Colorado | 146 (4) |
| 3. Montana | 135 (3) |
| 4. Montana State | 127 |
| 5. North Dakota | 95 |
| 6. Sacramento State | 83 |
| 7. Portland State | 78 |
| 8. Eastern Washington | 65 |
| 9. Northern Arizona | 53 |
| 10. Southern Utah | 26 |
| 11. Weber State | 25 |
