Minnesotans to watch in the Northern Sun Conference
Minnesota has one of the deepest pools of women's basketball talent in the country. Nowhere is that more obvious than in the Northern Sun Conference, the NCAA Division 2 league that continues to stand out on the national level. When the league opens this weekend, every roster will feature some of the best D2 talent in the nation, the vast majority of it from the state of Minnesota. Earlier in the week, PGH scout Ally McGinnis went through the rosters of every team in the NSIC and came up with a total of 119 players who were ranked by Prep Girls Hoops in high school.
Once again the league's coaches selected Minnesota State Mankato – the 2024 national champions – as favorites to win the South Division with Concordia-St. Paul and the University of Sioux Falls not far behind. In the North it is MSU-Moorhead and the University of Mary at the top followed by the always-competitive University of Minnesota Duluth.
Here are some Minnesotans to watch in the Northern Sun Conference.
THE BIG DOGS
Who are the best players in the league? Anyone who has watched closely over the past couple of years will tell you it is senior Emma Miller of Minnesota Crookston and senior Natalie Bremer of Minnesota State Mankato. Both have had remarkable careers at the collegiate level.
Last season Miller scored the most regular season points in NSIC history with 501 in conference play and 658 on the season. The dynamic 5'1 guard from St. Michael-Albertville finished 4th in the nation among D2 players. She enters the season 10th all-time in NSIC career scoring. She averaged 22.7 points, 5.1 rebounds and 2.8 assists per game. Miller was ranked #33 in the Prep Girls Hoops Class of 2022.
"Emma has consistently been one of the best players in the league throughout her entire career," Crookston coach Natalie Moynihan said at NSIC Media Day. "I am so proud of the growth Emma has shown as both a player and a person and I am so excited to spend one more year together going for it all!"
Bremer, a 5'11 guard from Lake City, averaged 20 points per game with some remarkable shooting percentages: 48.4% from the field, 40% from three-point range and 80.1% from the free throw line. She also recorded 5 rebounds, 1.6 assists and 2.7 steals per game. Her 641 points was 4th-best in program history, the best since the 1980-81 season. Bremer was ranked #22 in the Prep Girls Hoops Class of 2022.
"Natalie has cemented herself as an elite basketball player, collecting All-NSIC, All-Region, and Honorable Mentioin All-American recognitions," said Mankato coach Emilee Thiesse. "Natalie has an incredible work ethic, and her competitive drive carries her in basketball, school and life."
10 MORE MINNESOTANS TO WATCH
- Audrey Swanson – Southwest Minnesota State, Senior, 5'11 Forward, Waconia 2022
- Lydia Haack – Concordia-St. Paul, Senior, 5'3 Guard, Elk River 2020
- Lexi Karge – Minnesota Duluth, Senior, 6'2 Forward, Mankato East 2022
- Hannah Herzig – Minnesota State Mankato, Senior, 6'0 Guard, Totino Grace 2022
- Ayla Brown – Sioux Falls, Junior, 5'6 Guard, Becker 2023
- Vivica Breton – Winona State, Junior, 5'10 forward, Rochester Lourdes 2023
- Alexis Rose – Sioux Falls, Sophomore, 5'9 Guard, Becker 2024
- Nicole Maenke – Southwest Minnesota State, Sophomore, 5'10 Guard, Shakopee 2024
- Jessika Lofstrom – Jamestown, Sophomore, 6'0 Forward, Grand Rapids 2024
- Elayna Boe – Minnesota-Duluth, Freshman, 6'0 Guard, Lakeville North 2025
ALL MINNESOTANS IN THE NSIC
Rostered players listed by team:
Augustana (Sioux Falls, SD)
- Addie Hanna – Freshman, 5'6 Guard, Maple Grove 2025
- Clarissa Sauer – Freshman, 5'9 Guard, Winona Cotter 2025
- Alexis Schaefer – Freshman, 6'0 Forward, Chaska 2025
- Isabella Sanneh – Sophomore, 6'0 Forward, East Ridge 2024
Bemidji State (Bemidji, MN)
- Gabrielle Fineday – Freshman, 5'8 Guard, Cass Lake-Bena 2025
- MaCee Linow – Freshman, 5'7 Guard, Alexandria 2025
- Ava Olson – Freshman, 6'3 Forward, Owatonna 2025
- Evyn Eppinga – Redshirt Freshman, 5'6 Guard, Anoka 2024
- Aubrey Heyer – Sophomore, 5'11 Guard, Chaska 2024
- Kendra Syverson – Redshirt Sophomore, 5'7 Guard, Mahnomen-Waubun 2023
- Ashlynne Guenther – Junior, 5'11 Forward, Duluth East 2023
- Beth Bolte – Senior, 5'10 Guard, Bemidji 2023
- Kassandra Caron – Senior, 6'0 Forward, Academy of Holy Angels 2022
Concordia-St. Paul (St. Paul, MN)
- Cierra Kortan – Freshman, 5'7 Guard, Sauk Centre 2025
- Ella Kuhlman – Freshman, 5'9 Guard, North Branch 2025
- Ava Thompson – Redshirt Freshman, 5'6 Guard, Rosemount 2024
- Cassidy Pitzl – Redshirt Freshman, 6'0 Guard, Forest Lake 2024
- Avery Moeller – Sophomore, 5'10 Guard, Rosemount 2024
- Norah Danielson – Sophomore, 6'0 Guard, Delano 2024
- Ashley Schuelke – Junior, 5'9 Guard, Chaska 2023
- Ella Campbell – Junior, 5'11 Guard, Edina 2022
- Leah Dengerud – Senior, 5'9 Guard, Totino Grace 2022
- Lauren Feddema – Senior, 5'9 Guard, Buffalo 2022
- Lydia Haack – Senior, 5'3 Guard, Elk River 2020
University of Jamestown (Jamestown, ND)
- Allie Berns – Freshman, 6'0 Forward, Wayzata 2025
- Aubrey Beauchamp – Freshman, 5'11 Guard/Forward, Lakeville South 2025
- Caitlin Beauchamp – Freshman, 5'11 Forward, Lakeville South 2025
- Madelyn Malmgren – Freshman, 6'0 Center, St. James 2025
- Daviney Dreckman – Sophomore, 5'8 Guard, New Ulm 2024
- Hali Savela – Sophomore, 5'7 Guard, Mountain Iron-Buhl 2024
- Julia Thoms – Sophomore, 6'0 Forward, Prior Lake 2024
- Jessika Lofstrom – Sophomore, 6'0 Forward, Grand Rapids 2024
- Willow Thiel – Sophomore, 6'0 Forward, Perham 2024
- Samantha Paulsen – Junior, 5'11 Forward, Zimmerman 2023
- Kate Cordes – Senior, 5'8 Guard, Shakopee 2023
Minnesota Crookston (Crookston, MN)
- Taylor Dirkes – Freshman, 5'9 Guard, Osakis 2025
- Anna Westby – Freshman, 5'11 Forward, Rock Ridge 2025
- Brynlea Mahlen – Sophomore, 5'9 Guard, Fosston 2024
- Halle Winjum – Sophomore, 5'6 Guard, Crookston 2024
- Rayna Klesjeski – Junior, 6'0 Forward, Barnum 2023
- Hope Dudycha – Redshirt Junior, 5'5 Guard, Austin 2022
- Emma Miller – Senior, 5'1 Guard, St. Michael-Albertville 2022
- Natalie Mikrot – Senior, 5'6 Guard, Moose Lake-Willow River 2022
Minnesota Duluth (Duluth, MN)
- Elayna Boe – Freshman, 6'0 Guard, Lakeville North 2025
- Keagan McVicker – Freshman, 5'9 Guard, Hastings 2025
- Karly Jusczak – Redshirt Freshman, 6'1 Forward, Pine City 2024
- Gabrielle Kirchner – Sophomore, 6'3 Center, Two Rivers 2024
- Drew Johnston – Junior, 5'8 Guard, Roseville 2023
- Grace Counts – Junior, 6'1 Forward, Providence Academy 2023
- Ashley Fritz – Junior, 5'10 Guard, Eden Prairie 2023
- Lexi Karlen – Junior, 6'0 Guard/Forward, Stillwater 2023
- Maria Counts – Senior, 5'11 Guard/Forward, Providence Academy 2022
- Myra Moorjani – Senior, 5'8 Guard, Eden Prairie 2022
- Lexi Karge – Senior, 6'2 Forward, Mankato East 2022
Minnesota State Mankato (Mankato, MN)
- Addison Hoof – Freshman, 5'5 Guard, Lester Prairie 2025
- Rhyan Holmgren – Sophomore, 5'9 Guard, St. Peter 2024
- Elisabeth Gadient – Sophomore, 5'11 Guard, Goodhue 2024
- Mallory Czinano – Sophomore, 6'0 Forward, Watertown-Mayer 2024
- Shantell Harden – Sophomore, 6'0 Wing, St. Louis Park 2023
- Adeline Kent – Senior, 5'7 Guard, Becker 2022
- Natalie Bremer – Senior, 5'11 Guard, Lake City 2022
- Hannah Herzig – Senior, 6'0 Guard, Totino Grace 2022
- Mackenzie Schweim – Senior, 5'10 Guard, Mankato East 2022
- Lilly Nuytten – Senior, 6'0 Forward, Hastings 2022
- Ava Stier – Senior, 5'11 Forward, Waconia 2022
Minot State (Minot, ND)
- Taryn Hamling – Redshirt Sophomore, 5'9 Guard, Grand Rapids 2023
- Natalie Holte – Redshirt Senior, 5'6 Guard, Shakopee 2021
MSU-Moorhead (Moorhead, MN)
- Julia MacAdams – Freshman, 6'1 Forward/Center, Moorhead 2025
- Abby John – Freshman, 5'9 Guard, Barnesville 2025
- Sydney Dahl – Freshman, 6'0 Forward, Minnewaska 2025
- Mara Holle – Freshman, 5'11 Guard, Blaine 2025
- Aubrey Morrison – Freshman, 5'6 Guard, Walker-Hackensack-Akeley 2025
- Ayelishka Teko-Folly – Sophomore, 6'0 Forward/Center, Rosemount 2024
- Karlee Fisher – Junior, 5'8 Guard, Robbinsdale Armstrong 2023
- Abby Berge – Junior, 5'11 Guard/Forward, Belgrade-Brooten-Elrosa 2023
- Katelyn Maciej – Junior, 6'1 Forward/Center, Rogers 2023
- Grace Massaquoi – Junior, 5'10 Guard, Academy of Holy Angels 2022
- Greta Hillukka – Junior, 5'7 Guard, Perham 2022
Northern State (Aberdeen, SD)
- Makenzie Carrier – Freshman, 5'7 Guard, Kasson-Mantorville 2025
- Brooklyn Holmberg – Freshman, 5'10 Guard, Prior Lake 2025
- Taylor Tool – Sophomore, 6'1 Forward/Center, Delano 2024
- Telia Graham – Junior, 5'11 Forward, Minnehaha Academy 2022
University of Sioux Falls (Sioux Falls, SD)
- Dani Coleman – Freshman, 6'0 Forward, Lakeville South 2025
- Alexis Rose – Sophomore, 5'9 Guard, Becker 2024
- Anna Vaaler – Sophomore, 5'10 Guard, Andover 2024
- Ayla Brown – Junior, 5'6 Guard, Becker 2023
- Olivia Hayenga – Senior, 5'10 Guard, Worthington 2022
Southwest Minnesota State (Marshall, MN)
- Allie Haabala – Freshman, 5'6 Guard, Alexandria 2025
- Kylan Gerads – Sophomore, 5'11 Forward, Albany 2024
- Nicole Maenke – Sophomore, 5'10 Guard, Shakopee 2024
- Elizabeth Wagner – Redshirt Sophomore, 6'0 Forward, Luverne 2023
- Christina Wagner – Redshirt Sophomore, 6'1 Forward, Luverne 2023
- Allison Milbrandt – Redshirt Sophomore, 5'11 Guard, Buffalo Lake-Hector-Stewart 2023
- Brylee Iverson – Redshirt Sophomore, 6'0 Forward, Triton 2023
- Brynn Busse – Junior, 5'6 Guard, Gibbon-Fairfax-Winthrop 2023
- Zoie Centers – Senior, 5'5 Guard, Mahtomedi 2022
- Audrey Swanson – Senior, 5'11 Forward, Waconia 2022
- Maddie Thorfinnson – Senior, 6'0 Forward, Minnewaska 2022
St. Cloud State (St. Cloud, MN)
- Elise Groppoli – Freshman, 5'4 Guard, Hill Murray 2025
- Annika Peper – Freshman, 5'8 Guard, Stillwater 2025
- Laynie Meister – Freshman, 6'2 Center, Rochester John Marshall 2025
- Rachel Kottke – Sophomore, 5'8 Guard, Buffalo Lake-Hector-Stewart 2024
- Kristi Kottke – Sophomore, 5'8 Guard, Buffalo Lake-Hector-Stewart 2024
- Abigail O'Reilly – Junior, 6'1 Forward, Plainview-Elgin-Milville 2023
- Grace Roesch – Junior, 5'10 Guard, Sauk Rapids-Rice 2023
- CJ Adamson – Senior, 5'9 Guard, Rochester Lourdes 2022
University of Mary (Bismarck, ND)
- Tory Jennissen – Freshman, 6'3 Center, Sauk Centre 2025
- Chloe Netzinger – Freshman, 5'11 Guard, Rogers 2025
- Chloe Nuss – Freshman, 5'10 Guard, Totino Grace 2025
- Anna Lenzen – Redshirt Sophomore, 5'10 Guard, Chaska 2023
Wayne State College (Wayne, NE)
- Macy Birkholz – Redshirt Freshman, 5'5 Guard, Mankato East 2024
- Emma Frost – Sophomore, 5'11 Guard, Andover 2024
- Kelsey Willems – Redshirt Junior, 5'8 Guard, Chaska 2021
- Katelyn Diegnau – Graduate, 6'1 Forward, GHEC-Truman 2022
Winona State (Winona, MN)
- Rylie Cother – Freshman, 5'10 Guard, Jackson County Central 2025
- Myah Maul – Freshman, 5'9 Guard, Eastview 2025
- Lydia Lakanen – Sophomore, 5'10 Forward, Anoka, 2024
- Bria Stenstrom – Sophomore, 5'4 guard, Mounds View 2024
- Vivica Breton – Junior, 5'10 forward, Rochester Lourdes 2023
For more information on the Northern Sun Conference,a nd how to watch games this season on the NSIC Network, visit the league's website at northernsun.org/sports/wbball.
