With the retirement of St. Thomas from the MIAC, it has been said that the venerable conference has enjoyed greater parity. As it relates to women’s basketball, is this true? Well, it depends on your definition. From 2000 to 2021, when St. Thomas was a member of the MIAC, they won 20 championships total–11 regular season and 9 tournaments. St. Ben’s won 11, Carleton 8, Gustavus 5, Concordia 3, Bethel 2 and St. Mary’s 1. The big 3 of that day–the Tommies, Bennies and Carls–won 39 out of 50 titles, or 78%. Since then, Gustavus has won 7 titles Augsburg 1 and Bethel 1. One team has won 77.7% of all of the titles, including all 4 post-season tournament titles. So, no, I don’t think you can say that there’s more parity. But, of course. it’s only been 4 years. Now, Gustavus has lost 7 of its top 8 contributors from last year. If anybody is going to beat Gustavus ever again, this is the year.
Bethel tied Gustavus for the regular season title a year ago, and one MIAC coach said that if the coaches still conducted a pre-season coaches poll (they don’t, but if they did) that Bethel would be the pick. So here’s my coaches poll, based on a chat with one MIAC coach.
1. Bethel Royals 17-1, 23-6 last year, 1-1 so far this year. Elly Schmitz, 6-0 forward from Hermantown, was MIAC defensive player of the year last year, while guard Anna Garfield, 5-9 guard from Blaine, was all-conference 1st team. Both were seniors. Well, Garfield is gone, the only one of Bethel’s top 8 rotation to depart. But, Schmitz is back, part of the final cohort of athletes to get a 5th year of eligibility due to COVID. So Bethel will still be very good. 6-0 senior Alli Born and 5-10 junior Emily Erickson also return to the front line, as does 5-6 senior Colleen Duininck at the point guard. Much will depend on the ability of a 3-headed monster-5-9 senior Rosalie Penke, 5-8 junior Macey Littlefield and 5-7 soph Kenzie Lundeen–to replace Garfield’s minutes and her prodictivity at the 2-guard. 6-foot junior forward Cally Peterson also returns. So far this year Bethel is shooting just 36%. It might have to shoot better than that to repeat as regular season champion, but I’m pretty confident that they’re going to do that. I’m picking Bethel for 1st place with a record of 16-2. The MIAC long has been blessed with many great coaches, and right now Bethel’s John Herbrechtsmeyer is one of the best.
2. Gustavus Adolphus Gusties 17-1, 29-2 last year, 3-1 so far this year. Well, here it is. I just can’t think of anybody else that’s going to finish ahead of Gustavus, despite the loss of 6 of their top 7 players from last year. They only returnee is 5-3 soph combo guard Anna Goodman from Lakeville South. 5-11 junior forward Whitley Ronn is also off to a good start this year. She is also from Lakeville South. After that, it’s kind of a leap of faith to pick the Gusties for 2nd but, hey, last year’s 2nd string might have been the MIAC’s 2nd best team. I’m seeing the Gusties finishing at 14-4 in the conference.
Oh, yeah. With Bethel and Gustavus looking like #1 and #2, the answer is no. Parity has not arrived at the MIAC.
3. St. Mary’s Cardinals 11-7, 13-12, 3-1 so far this year. St. Mary’s was a huge surprise last year. After several seasons of 1 and 2 wins in the conference, the Cardinals jumped all the way up to 6th place and a playoff berth. Point guard Brianna Nuusbaum was the primary instigator of this turn of fortunes. Her main sidekick is sophomore post Riley Sternquist, with 15 ppg-6 reb-50% shooting. Their team shooting percentage of 47% so far is 2nd b est in the league. Coach Courtney Shelton came to St. Mary’s from UW-Milwaukee and Central Michigan, and improved the Cardinals from 2-23 to 13-12 in her 1st year. I see them improving again to 12-6 in the conference.
4. St. Benedict’s Bennies 11-7, 17-10, 6-2 so far this year. The Bennies will be led by 3 guards–5-8 senior Megan Morgan (12 ppg so far this year), and sophomores Drew Buslee (5-9, 15 ppg) and Lauren Arnold (5-7, 10 ppg). They also boast one of the league’s deepest benches.Their 42$% shooting is in the top tier in the conference. 11-7.
5. St. Scholastica Saints 9-9, 12-13, 4-1 so far. The Saints continue to improve behind sophomore guards Ava Haus (5-9, 18 ppg so far) and Evie Schmitz (5-6, 15). 6-1 junior post Kloey Lind matches up against almost any post in the league. Their 36% shooting so far this year needs to improve, and after the 3 players mentioned, I’m not sure the starting lineup is totally stable yet. 11-7.
6. Concordia (Moorhead) 11-7, 16-10, 4-1 so far. The final playoff spot goes to Concordia. They’re led by a pair of North Dakotans–6-2 sophomore post Maya Metcalf and 5-9 senior wing Molly Musland. Also 11-7.
7. Hamline Pipers 13-5, 19-8, 3-1 so far. Hamline finished 3rd last year and returns 8-of-10 contributors, so this is a hard choice. Not only that but right now their 51% shooting is the league’s best. It just seems that some other teams have improved quite a bit in recent years, principally St. Mary’s and St. Scholastica. Guards Lauren Cooper (5-8 junior 14 ppg so far) and Camille Cummings (5-8 senior 13 ppg) lead the way. 9-9.
8. St. Catherine’s Wildcats 8-10, 13-12, 5-3 so far. St. Cate’s is another team that is improving, but might move down in the standings. They’re led by point guard Haley Fox, a 5-8 junior from St. Michael-Albertville who is scoring 26 ppg so far this year. 5-11 sophomore forward Elle Covey is also much improved at 15 ppg and 8 rebounds so far this season. Otherwise, the front line is a bit thin, however. 8-10.
9. Carleton Knights 2-16, 3-22, 3-2 so far. Carleton was unable to field a team 3 years ago due to a rash of injuries. Another of the MIAC’s greatest coaches, Tammy Metcalf Filzen, won 8 conference titles in the 2000s. Now, coach Filzen and Carleton have already matched last year’s win total. They’re starting 5 sophomores led by 5-8 Addy Huss who is scoring 22 ppg with 12 rebounds so far this year. Point guard Audrey Whitmey is adding 15 ppg to the cause. 6-12.
10. St. Olaf Oles (sometimes Lions) 1-17, 7-18, 3-2 so far. The Oles return only 2 of 8 contributors from last year but in their case, that might be a good thing. Among their top 7 players right now are 3 freshmen and 2 sophomores. The top freshmen are 5-9 forwards Erin Schauer (14 ppg so far) and Hallie Koltz (11 ppg, 4 rebounds), while sophomore post Elsie Holm is averaging 13 ppg and 15 rebounds. 5-13.
11. Augsubrg Auggies 1-17, 3-22, 3-1 so far. Like Carleton, the Auggies have already matched last year’s win total, though I don’t see their upside as high as Carleton’s. 5-6 senior point guard Wakinyela Bear leads the way. 3-15.
12. Macalester Scots 7-11, 12-13, 1-5 so far. The Scots lost offensive player of the year Peyton Starks and 2 other starters. 5-9 junior forward Syd Smith, who comes off the bench (so far), is the only double figure scorer (so far). Point guard Mary Daley is probably their best player at 9 ppg, 6 rebounds and 5 assists. 2-16.
All-Conference
Center–Elly Schmitz, Bethel, 6-0, senior, 14 ppg-7 reb-2 asts-2 stls-49% last year. MIAC defensive player of the year.
Power Forward–Alli Born, Bethel, 6-0, senior, 16 ppg-7 reb-54% this year
Small Forward–Megan Morgan, St. Ben’s, 5-8, senior, 12 ppg-5 reb-46% this year
Point Guard–Brianna Nussbaum, St. Mary’s, 5-8, soph, 18 ppg-4 reb-3 ast-46% this year
Shooting Guard–Lauren Cooper, Hamline, 5-8, junior, 14 ppg-2 reb-3 ast-52% this year
Second Team
Center–Riley Sternquist, St. Mary’s, 6-0, soph, 15 ppg-6 reb-50% this year
Power Forward–Whitley Ronn, Gustavus, 5-11, junior, 11 ppg-6 reb-4 ast-44% this year
Small Forward–Emily Erickson, Bethel, 5-10, senior, 11 ppg-4 reb-53% last year
Point Guard–Haley Fox, St. ate’s, 5-8, junior, 26 ppg-9 reb-2 stls-30% this year
Shooting Guard–Anna Goodman, Gustavus, 5-8, soph, 10 ppg-5 reb-4 ast-47% this year
Newcomers/Most Improved
Center–Elsie Hahn, St. Olaf, 6-0, soph, 13 ppg-15 reb-2 ast-44% this year
Power Forward–Elle Covey, St. Cate’s, 5-11, soph, 15 ppg-8 reb-2 ast-3 stl-40% this year
Small Forward–Erin Schauer, St. Olaf, 5-8, fresh, 14 ppg-3 reb-42% this year
Point Guard–Ava Haus, St. Scholastica, 5-9, soph, 18 ppg-5 reb-2 ast-35% this year
Shooting Guard–Drew Buslee, St. Ben;sm 5-9, soph, 15 ppg-4 reb-2 ast-38%, transfer from Sioux Falls
Playoffs
St. Mary’s 74 Concordia 69
St. Ben’s 69 St. Scholastica 64
Bethel 59 St. Ben’s 51
St. Mary’s 63 Gustavus 58
Bethel 57 St. Mary’s 53