CEDAR RAPIDS, Iowa - Results of the American Rivers Conference's Women's Basketball Preseason Poll (as voted on by the league's head coaches):
| 2018-19 American Rivers Conference Women's Basketball Preseason Coaches' Poll |
| Rank |
School (1st place votes) |
Points |
2017-18 Record |
| 1. |
Luther (7) |
63 |
19-10, 12-4 Conference |
| 2. |
Wartburg (2) |
58 |
31-1, 16-0 Conference (Reg. Season & Conf. Tournament Champion/NCAA Final-Four) |
| 3. |
Loras |
47 |
17-10, 8-8 Conference |
| 4. |
Coe |
39 |
14-12, 11-5 Conference |
| T-5. |
Nebraska Wesleyan |
34 |
14-11, 5-11 Conference |
| T-5. |
Simpson |
34 |
14-13, 7-9 Conference |
| 7. |
Buena Vista |
24 |
13-13, 8-8 Conference |
| 8. |
Dubuque |
16 |
5-20, 3-13 Conference |
| 9. |
Central |
9 |
7-18, 2-14 Conference |
After a runner-up league finish the past two seasons, Luther College is the coaches' pick to win the 2018-19 American Rivers Conference title. The Norse earned 63 points in the poll, recording seven of the nine first-place votes. Luther College last claimed a conference title in 2015-16. Wartburg, the reigning regular season and conference tournament champions were picked second in the poll with 58 points. The Knights received the remaining two first-place votes. Coaches are not permitted to vote for their own teams. Capsules on all nine teams -- follow here:
New Coaches: Dana Christen, Buena Vista University. In 2016-17 Christen moved into the role of associate head coach at Buena Vista and was again promoted at the end of the 2017-18 season to head coach. Christen spent seven years the top BVU assistant before her promotion to head coach. Prior to coming to BVU, Christen served as the head volleyball coach at Newell-Fonda High School in 2009 and was named the Class 1A District Coach of the Year. She also received the E. Wayne Cooley "You Can" Award for demonstrating great character and leadership in her coaching. She also spent time as an assistant basketball coach at South Sioux City High School (2007-08) and Rufus King High School in Milwaukee, Wis. (2008-09).
The Schedule: At the 2018 NCAA convention, Division III membership voted to establish the first permissible contest date as November 8. (When November 8 falls on a Saturday, Sunday or Monday, a member institution may play its first contest on the Friday immediately preceding November 8.)
The 2018-19 season kicks off on Wednesday, November 8 with Central playing at Midwest Conference member, Grinnell. On November 9 Loras will travel north to face WIAC member, UW-Oshkosh. November 10 will see three league schools open their seasons. Buena Vista will play at Iowa Wesleyan, a member of the St. Louis Intercollegiate Athletic Conference. WIAC member, UW-Platteville will travel to Wartburg for the Knights' season opener and Nebraska Wesleyan will play a neutral site game against Mississippi University of Women in Denver, Colorado. Mississippi University for Women is a member of the United States Collegiate Athletic Association. Simpson will play host to Millikin on November 11 for a match-up with the CCIW member. On November 12 Dubuque will travel to Hancock, Michigan for their season opener with Finlandia University. The Lions are members of the American Collegiate Athletic Association. Coe College opens their season on the road against Midwest Conference member, Cornell College. Luther tips off their season at the UW-Stevens Point Tournament on November 16. The Norse will face WIAC member UW-Whitewater in their first game of the season.
The 2018-19 American Rivers Conference schedule begins on Wednesday, November 28 with eight of the nine schools competing. Coe College will travel to Storm Lake for a match-up with Buena Vista University. Wartburg will host Simpson and cross-town rivals Loras and Dubuque will square off at UD. Central will hit the road for a contest with Nebraska Wesleyan in Lincoln, Nebraska. Luther will open conference play on December 1 with a home contest against Simpson.
The American Rivers Conference season is a 16-game double round robin schedule finishing on Saturday February 16. The league's top six teams from the regular season standings qualify for the A-R-C Tournament. The Conference Tournament will be held Tuesday, February 19 (First Round), Thursday, February 21 (Semifinals), and Saturday February 23 (Championship). Game locations for the A-R-C Tournament are at the higher seeded team's venue. The American Rivers Conference Tournament champion receives the leagues' automatic qualifier to the NCAA Division III tournament.
2017-18 Season Review: The 2017-18 regular season concluded with Wartburg earning the No.1 seed in the conference tournament. The Knights became the fourth team in Conference history to finish league play undefeated at 16-0. Luther claimed the No.2 seed as the regular season runner-up followed by Coe, Loras, Buena Vista, and Simpson.
With the league's automatic qualifier on the line Wartburg and Luther squared off in the Conference Tournament title game. Wartburg took an early first-quarter lead and maintained that lead until Luther tied it up at 17 all with 3:03 remaining in the quarter. From there the Norse controlled the second quarter until Wartburg went on a late 5-2 run and tied it up at 41 all going into the half.
The lead changed hands six times in the first five minutes of the third quarter. Wartburg then put together a 13-0 run over the next three minutes to regain the lead for good at 67-53. Luther made it an eight-point game with 3:41 remaining, but the Knights quickly answered with a 5-0 run to seal the win 86-74.
Wartburg made run through the post-season that led them to the NCAA Division III Final-Four. The Knights earned hosting rights for the four rounds where they defeated Webster 86-45 and No.12/14 George Fox 82-58. In the Sweet-Sixteen Wartburg downed No.7/11 Trine University 78-54 and punched their ticket to the Final-Four with a 65-61 Elite-Eight win over East Texas Baptist. The Knights' season came to an end when they were defeated by Bowdoin College in the Final-Four.
| 1st |
|
Luther College
Head Coach: Amanda Bailey (8th Season)
2017-18 Record: 19-10, 12-4 Conference
2017-18 Conference Finish: 2nd
Returning All-Conference: Laura Hamilton (First-Team, Defensive MVP), Claire Marburger (First-Team), Madison Spence (Honorable Mention)
Starters Returning: 3
Starters Lost: 2
Amanda Bailey - “We are excited for a competitive race in the American Rivers Conference this season. This is a year where anything can happen, so each night will be a battle and our team is ready for the challenge." |
| Players to Watch: |
|
| Laura Hamilton - G (Jr.) |
10.3-ppg // 5.6-rpg // 4.2-apg |
| Sarah Holtz - F (Jr.) |
9.4-ppg // 4.2-rpg |
| Claire Marburger - F (Sr.) |
16.8-ppg // 6.9-rgp // 1.1-bpg // 1.3-spg |
| Madison Spence - F (Sr.) |
9.6-ppg // 6.1-rpg |
| 2nd |
|
Wartburg College
Head Coach: Bob Amsberry (13th Season)
2017-18 Record: 31-1, 16-0 Conference (Regular Season & Conference Tournament Champion / NCAA Final-Four)
2017-18 Conference Finish: 1st
Returning All-Conference: Emma Gerdes (Honorable Mention)
Starters Returning: 0
Starters Lost: 5
Bob Amsberry - “We will certainly have a new look this season. We have some quality pieces in place to have another successful season, but it is yet to be seen how those pieces fit together. We look forward to building our team in the next several weeks." |
| Players to Watch: |
| Adrienne Boettger - F (Sr.) |
5.1-ppg // 3.5-rpg |
| Emma Gerdes - G (Jr.) |
8.2-ppg // 3.9-rpg // 2.0-apg // 1.25-spg |
| 3rd |
|
Loras College
Head Coach: Justin Heinzen (12th Season)
2017-18 Record: 17-10, 8-8 Conference
2017-18 Conference Finish: T-4th
Returning All-Conference: Marissa Schroeder (First-Team)
Starters Returning: 2
Starters Lost: 3
Justin Heinzen - “We’re excited for this inaugural year in the American Rivers Conference! Our team will be very different with the loss of a large senior class, but we’re excited about what that could look like and seeing how this group comes together and plays together. We will have to build things quickly this year but expect to compete within the league and will certainly be tested early in non-conference play. Good luck to all!" |
| Players to Watch: |
|
| Kari Fitzpatrick - G (Jr.) |
6.3-ppg // 2.7-rpg |
| Macenzie Kraemer - G (Jr.) |
5.9-ppg // 2.2-rpg // 1.6-apg |
| Marissa Schroeder - F (So.) |
12.4-ppg // 6.2-rpg // 1.22-spg |
| Hanna Stokes - F (Sr.) |
6.7-ppg // 3.1-rpg // 1.1-apg |
| 4th |
|
Coe College
Head Coach: Kayla Waskow (2nd Season)
2017-18 Record: 14-12, 11-5 Conference
2017-18 Conference Finish: 3rd
Returning All-Conference: None
Starters Returning: 1
Starters Lost: 4
Kayla Waskow - "We are really excited to kick off the 2018-2019 season. With a heavy senior class graduating last year and a lot of new, young talent across the board in the league, it looks to be another fun and competitive year in the conference. |
| Players to Watch: |
|
| Rylee Claussen - C (Jr.) |
2.0-ppg // 1.7-rpg |
| Destiny Smith - G (Jr.) |
2.0-ppg // 2.0-rpg // 1.04-apg |
| Madeline Wilkins - G (So.) |
9.9-ppg // 2.5-rpg // 60-3FG |
| T-5th |
|
Nebraska Wesleyan University
Head Coach: Sam Dixon (2nd Season)
2017-18 Record: 14-11, 5-11 Conference
2017-18 Conference Finish: 7th
Returning All-Conference: Caitlin Navratil (First-Team)
Starters Returning: 2
Starters Lost: 3
Sam Dixon - “The American Rivers Conference is very balanced which provides for great completive games every night. We are excited to get started and grow and develop this year." |
| Players to Watch: |
|
| Carly Bostock - F (Sr.) |
5.2-ppg // 3.7-rpg // 52-3FG |
| Caitlin Navratil - G (Jr.) |
18.5-ppg // 1.8-rpg // 3.08-apg // 42-3FG |
| Klaire Phillips - G (Sr.) |
6.7-ppg // 3.4-rpg // 1.52-apg |
| T-5th |
|
Simpson College
Head Coach: Brian Niemuth (32nd Season)
2017-18 Record: 14-13, 7-9 Conference
2017-18 Conference Finish: 6th
Returning All-Conference: Jenna Taylor (Honorable Mention)
Starters Returning: 2
Starters Lost: 3
Brian Niemuth - “Balance in the league will be the key this year. Several teams will be able to get wins each night." |
| Players to Watch: |
|
| Janey Botkins - G (Jr.) |
8.1-ppg // 1.2-rpg // 1.2-spg // 59-3FG |
| Claire Johnson - G (Jr.) |
5.3-ppg // 3.8-rpg // 3.4-apg // 1.2-spg |
| Jenna Taylor - F (Jr.) |
10.3-ppg // 5.0-rpg // 1.33-apg // 1.0-spg |
| 7th |
|
Buena Vista University
Head Coach: Dana Christen (1st Season)
2017-18 Record: 13-13, 8-8 Conference
2017-18 Conference Finish: T-4th
Returning All-Conference: Morgan Muhlbauer (Honorable Mention)
Starters Returning: 3
Starters Lost: 2
Dana Christen- “The American Rivers Conference is a very competitive conference and I see nothing changing in that regards this season. I am excited to start my 1st season! We have lots of new faces but also have experienced players back to help guide the incomers. I think this season will be very exciting to watch as a fan and even more exciting to be part of as a coach. Good luck to all!" |
| Players to Watch: |
| Hannah Appleseth - G (Sr.) |
1.2-ppg // 2.0-rpg // 1.0-apg |
| Morgan Muhlbauer - G/F (Sr.) |
13.3-ppg // 5.5-rpg // 1.9-apg // 1.4-spg // 55-3FG |
| Holly Schneider - G (Jr.) |
10.7-ppg // 3.5-rpg // 2.1-apg // 1.2-spg |
| McKenna Whitehill - PG (Sr.) |
5.5-ppg // 2.2-rpg // 1.3-apg |
| 8th |
|
University of Dubuque
Head Coach: Mark Noll (12th Season)
2017-18 Record: 5-20, 3-13 Conference
2017-18 Conference Finish: 8th
Returning All-Conference: None
Starters Returning: 1
Starters Lost: 4
Mark Noll - “We are looking forward to the 2018-19 season as we will play a very good non-conference schedule again. We have a good blend of returners and new comers. Looking forward to molding this team into a competitive team. We are excited about our team and look forward to the rigors of playing in one of the best NCAA Division III women's basketball conferences in the nation, the American Rivers Conference." |
| Players to Watch: |
| Lexi Daniels - G (Jr.) |
5.3-ppg // 1.3-rpg |
| Kia Dwight - G (Jr.) |
3.3-ppg // 2.8-rpg // 1.2-apg |
| CeCe Pope - F (Jr.) |
7.3-ppg // 5.4-rpg |
| Allison Roach - F (Jr.) |
6.0-ppg // 2.4-rpg |
| Josie Thomas - G (Jr.) |
3.2-ppg // 1.1-rpg |
| 9th |
|
Central College
Head Coach: Joe Steinkamp (2nd Season)
2017-18 Record: 7-18, 2-14 Conference
2017-18 Conference Finish: 9th
Returning All-Conference: None
Starters Returning: 1
Starters Lost: 4
Joe Steinkamp - “We look forward to competing in the competitive American Rivers Conference. Top to bottom the league is very strong, and we look forward to the challenge. |
| Players to Watch: |
|
| Kendall Brown - F (Jr.) |
7.8-ppg // 5.4-rpg // 1.9-bpg |
| Kristin Hubert - G (Sr.) |
4.4-ppg // 1.8-rpg // 1.2-apg |
