FARMINGTON, Utah (Oct. 18, 2023) – Following its second-straight Big Sky Championship game appearance, the Northern Arizona University women's basketball team was picked to finish first by the media and second by the coaches in the conference's preseason polls.
In the media poll, the Lumberjacks received 12 first-place votes and 259 total points. They just edged Eastern Washington who also received 12 first-place votes and 255 total points.
The two squads flipped in the coaches' poll, with NAU selected second with three first-place votes and 73 total points while the Eagles received six first-place votes and 74 total points.
Also receiving a first-place vote in the coaches' poll was Montana who was picked to finish third followed by Montana State who was selected fourth. In the media poll, Montana and Montana State were picked to finish third and fourth as well, with two and three first-place votes, respectively.
The defending Big Sky Conference tournament champions, Sacramento State, were predicted to finish ninth in the coaches' poll but sixth with two first-place votes by the media. The polls in their entirety can be found below.
Northern Arizona is coming off a historic 21-14 season (13-5 Big Sky) that saw it clinch a share of the regular season title along with Montana State and Sacramento State. The Lumberjacks earned the No. 1 seed at the conference tournament and fell to the Hornets in the championship game – the program's second-straight runner-up tournament finish. NAU also advanced to the program's first-ever WNIT appearance, falling to New Mexico in the first round.
The 2022-23 squad set seven single-season school records in points scored, field goals made and attempted, three-pointers made and attempted, three-point field goals per game and total rebounds. It was also the program's first 20-win season since 2006-07.
The Lumberjacks are led by seventh-year head coach,
Loree Payne, the reigning Big Sky Coach of the Year. NAU brings back seven players from last season, including returning starters
Nyah Moran and
Emily Rodabaugh. Northern Arizona welcomes four true freshmen and two Montana State transfers in
Leia Beattie and
Grace Beasley. While with the Bobcats, Beattie was named the conference's Top Reserve a year ago.
The season officially begins on Nov. 6 at Oregon in Eugene, Ore., with the home-opener set for Nov. 15 against Benedictine Mesa at the Rolle Activity Center.
2023-24 Women's Basketball Preseason Coaches' Poll
1 – Eastern Washington (6) – 74
2 – Northern Arizona (3) – 73
3 – Montana – 69 (1)
4 – Montana State – 59
5 – Portland State – 45
6 – Northern Colorado – 36
7 – Idaho State – 32
8 – Idaho – 25
9 – Sacramento State – 24
10 – Weber State – 13
2023-24 Women's Basketball Preseason Media Poll
1 – Northern Arizona (12) – 259
2 – Eastern Washington (12) – 255
3 – Montana (2) – 217
4 – Montana State (3) – 209
5 – Portland State – 169
6 – Sacramento State (2)– 149
7 – Idaho – 104
8 – Idaho State – 99
9 – Northern Colorado – 92
10 – Weber State – 42
