BLOOMINGTON, Minn. – The 2016-17 Minnesota Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (MIAC) women's basketball season is about to tip off, and with star players back all around the league, excitement is at an all-time high for the new campaign. Bethel University is looking to make their sixth trip to the MIAC Playoffs in seven seasons, as they return two seniors, two juniors, and five sophomores, while also welcoming ten newcomers. The season tips off at 7:30 p.m. Tuesday, November 15, when the Royals play host to Northland College in the Robertson Center Gym.
2016-17 MIAC Women's Basketball Preseason Coaches' Poll
Coaches voted for every team in the conference except their own team. Points were assigned for each vote (11 for first, 10 for second, etc.) Teams are ranked in order of highest point total to lowest with vote totals listed and first-place votes shown in parentheses.
2016-17 MIAC Women's Basketball
Preseason Coaches' Poll
|
| Rank |
Institution |
Total |
| 1. |
St. Thomas (11) |
121 |
| 2. |
Gustavus (1) |
109 |
| 3. |
Saint Mary's |
89 |
| 4. |
Concordia |
88 |
| 5. |
Bethel |
81 |
| 6. |
Saint Benedict |
77 |
| 7. |
St. Catherine |
66 |
| 8. |
St. Olaf |
47 |
| 9. |
Augsburg |
43 |
| 10. |
Macalester |
27 |
| 11. |
Carleton |
26 |
| 12. |
Hamline |
18 |
2016-17 Bethel University By The Numbers
31
The Royals have amassed a 31-5 record at home over the last three years, which equates to a .861 winning percentage in the Robertson Center Gym. This is the best three-year home record in the history of BU women's basketball.
10
BU finished the 2015-16 campaign ranked No. 10 among all NCAA Division III teams and No. 1 in the MIAC in blocked shots. The Royals totaled 155 blocked shots throughout the season, averaging 6.0 blocks per game. Bethel had a season-high 14 blocks against Carleton on January 20, 2016.
450
Bethel led the league and ranked No. 10 nationwide in free throws made last season. BU, who also finished No. 1 in the MIAC and No. 14 across the country in free throws attempted, ended the 2015-16 season with 450 made free throws.
7
Bethel University was recognized to the Academic Top 25 Team Honor Roll last spring, as the Royals finished No. 7 among all NCAA Division III women's basketball teams (431 total) with a cumulative team GPA of 3.584.
1
Three-time MIAC All-Conference honoree,
Kalli Zimmermann, represented Team USA on the USA Sports and Events 2016 Brazil Tour last summer. Zimmermann was the first player in program history invited to play with this prestigious group of players across the country.
3
Hannah Johnson became the third Bethel University women's basketball player in the last four years honored to the MIAC All-First-Year Team last season. Johnson finished the 2015-16 campaign averaging 5.3 points, 4.3 rebounds, and 1.2 blocks per game.
33
Bethel led the league in field-goal percentage defense last year, as the Royals held opposing teams to 35.8 percent shooting throughout the 2015-16 season. Bethel held opposing teams to under 33 percent shooting in eight of the 25 games played.
4
Rachel Parupsky became the first player in conference history to earn MIAC All-Conference and MIAC All-Defensive Team accolades in all four seasons. Seven others have received All-MIAC honors and one other received All-Defensive Team recognition in every season played, but no other player has been voted to both teams all four years of their career.
2017 MIAC Women's Basketball Playoffs
The 2017 MIAC Playoffs will feature the top six teams in the conference standings playing in a high-seed-host, single-elimination postseason tournament. This year, the women's and men's Playoffs will flip days, with the women playing Wednesday-Friday-Sunday, with Sunday's title game tipping off at 1 p.m.
The two top seeds will receive a bye to the semifinal round, while the No. 3 seed will host the No. 6 seed, and the No. 4 seed will host the No. 5 seeds during the quarterfinals, which will be held Wednesday, Feb. 22. The top remaining seed will play at the No. 2 seed and the lowest remaining seed will play at the No. 1 seed during the semifinals, which are scheduled for Friday, Feb. 24. The championship game is set forSunday, Feb. 26, with the two semifinal winners meeting on home court of the top remaining seed. The winner will receive the MIAC's automatic bid to the 2017 NCAA Division III Women's Basketball Tournament.
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2017 MIAC Women's Basketball Playoffs Home Page |
