Aberdeen, S.D. – The Northern State University women's basketball team kicks off the regular season tomorrow from the Conference Challenge in Kansas City. The Wolves will tip-off with No. 3 Harding University at 4:30 p.m. on Friday and No. 13 Central Missouri at 12 p.m. on Saturday.
 
Northern returns four starters from a season ago (Kusler, Marti, Conrad, and Ristau) and one from 2015-16 (Tappe) this season, after going 24-7 last year. The Wolves won the NSIC Tournament Championship, defeating Sioux Falls 55-52, and advanced to their fourth straight NCAA Regional appearance. NSU was picked second overall in the NSIC and in the NSIC North in the recent Preseason Coaches' Poll. The Wolves went 1-2 in preseason exhibition games against Creighton, South Dakota State, and Dakota Wesleyan. Northern held their own against the Bluejays and Jackrabbits, shooting a combined 40.8 percent from the floor and 77.2 percent from the foul line in the two losses. In the game three win against the Tigers, NSU shot 56.4 percent from the floor, 55.6 percent from the arc, and 80.0 percent from the foul line. Three players scored in double figures in Miranda Ristau, Jill Conrad, and Alexis Tappe. Ristau tallied a triple-double in the win with 26 points, ten assists, and ten rebounds. Jill Conrad and Miranda Ristau led the Wolves in their three exhibition contests to open the season. Ristau shot 57.4 percent from the floor and 83.3 percent from the foul line, averaging 22.0 points, 9.7 rebounds, 4.7 assists, 2.3 blocks, and 2.0 steals per game. Conrad shot 55.8 percent from the floor, 50.0 percent from the arc, and 91.7 percent from the foul line, averaging 21.0 points, 8.6 rebounds, and 1.3 assists per game.
 
About the Bison
• Harding opens the season with a No. 3 ranking in the WBCA Top-25 Poll after a 31-4 record in 2016-17, with a GAC regular season championship and NCAA Elite 8 appearance.
• The Bison were also picked first in the GAC Preseason Poll, returning Newcomer of the Year Caroline Hogue, first all-conference selection Sydney Layrock, and GAC Tournament MVP Sydnie Jones.
• Houge led the team averaging 13.7 points and 8.7 rebounds per game.
• Jones led the team shooting 60.1 percent from the floor, while adding 6.1 rebounds and 11.3 points per game.
• Layrock also notched 11.3 points per game, and added 5.6 rebounds per game.
• The Bison shot 43.8 percent from the floor, 30.9 percent from the arc, and 66.8 percent from the foul line, while averaging 71.8 points, 42.9 rebounds, 17.1 assists, 15.2 rebounds, 7.3 steals, and 5.5 blocks per game in 2016-17.
• HU is led by head coach Tim Kirby in his 12th year with the program, holding a career record of 210- 107 with the Bison.
 
Last Match-Up
• The Wolves and Bison have not faced each other in the history of either program.
 
About the Jennies
• Central Missouri opens the year ranked No. 13 in the WBCA Top-25 Poll and No. 11 in the D2SIDA Top-25 Poll after going 24-7 with a trip to the NCAA Tournament a season ago.
• CMU was picked to top the MIAA, returning three all-conference performers in Paige Redmond, Kayonna Lee, and Megan Skaggs.
• Redmond led the team in 2016-17 averaging 16.2 points per game, while Lee pulled down a team leading 8.8 boards per game.
• The Jennies shot 41.8 percent from the floor, 33.5 percent from the arc, and 75.3 percent from the foul line, while averaging 70.1 points, 35.0 rebounds, 13.1 assists, 11.6 turnovers, 8.5 steals, and 2.5 blocks per game in 2016-17.
• Central Missouri is led by head coach Dave Slifer in his 14th season at the helm, holding a collegiate record of 625-235.
 
Last Match-Up
• The Jennies defeated the Wolves 82-69 in 2014 in the lone match-up between the two teams.
• NSU matched CMU with 41 points in the second half, however could not overcome the 13-point first half deficit.