Photo by: Zachary Lucy
NDSU Women’s Basketball Ranked No. 1 in Summit League Preseason Poll
10/6/2026 9:24:00 AM | Women's Basketball
SIOUX FALLS, S.D. – For the first time in program history, the North Dakota State women's basketball team has been picked No. 1 in the Summit League Preseason Poll, the league office announced on Tuesday morning.
The Bison totaled 456 points and 24 first-place votes to earn the top spot. South Dakota State was slotted second with 429 points and eight first-place votes, while South Dakota was positioned in third place with 359 points. NDSU posted its third straight 20-win season with a 29-5 overall record last season and won its first-ever Summit League regular season title in program history.
Avery Koenen highlighted the preseason honors and was named the Preseason Player of the Year and to the All-Summit League Preseason First Team. Marisa Frost and Jocelyn Schiller were also tabbed to the first team. Karrington Asp was named to the All-Summit League Preseason Second Team to round out the group. The Bison led the Summit League with four preseason All-League selections.
Koenen led NDSU averaging 19.4 points and 10.8 rebounds per game last season. She was the only player in the country to average at least 19.0 points and 10.0 rebounds per game, while shooting 63.0 percent or better from the field. The Montevideo, Minn., native was named the Summit League Defensive Player of the Year and Player of the Year last season. Koenen went on to become the first player in the NDSU Division I era to be named an Associated Press All-America Honorable Mention.
Frost averaged a team-high 30.4 minutes per game and totaled a team-best 52 steals last season. She was slotted second on the team in total points (433), points per game (12.7), three-pointers made (41) and blocks (20) to earn a spot on the All-Summit League Second Team.
Schiller passed out a team-high 89 total assists and averaged 2.8 per game in her first season with the Bison. She averaged 10.2 points with 3.1 rebounds and was selected to the All-Summit League Second Team.
Asp became the first player in Summit League history to be named both the Freshman of the Year and Sixth Woman of the Year in the same season after averaging 10.9 points with 4.8 rebounds last year. The Epworth, Iowa native was slotted second on the team in field goals made (152), total rebounds (162), defensive rebounds (114) and rebounds per game (4.8) to earn a spot on the Summit League All-Freshman Team.
The full Summit League release can be viewed here.
NDSU will open the 2026-27 season at Gonzaga on Nov. 2.
2026-27 All-Summit League Women's Basketball
Preseason First Team
Elauni Bennett, Kansas City
Marisa Frost, North Dakota State
Molly Joyce, South Dakota
Avery Koenen, North Dakota State
Alyssa Sand, St. Thomas
Jocelyn Schiller, North Dakota State
Preseason Second Team
Karrington Asp, North Dakota State
Katie Vasecka, South Dakota State
Emilee Fox, South Dakota State
Emani Bennett, Kansas City
Hadley Thul, South Dakota State
Preseason Player of the Year
Avery Koenen, North Dakota State
Poll
The Bison totaled 456 points and 24 first-place votes to earn the top spot. South Dakota State was slotted second with 429 points and eight first-place votes, while South Dakota was positioned in third place with 359 points. NDSU posted its third straight 20-win season with a 29-5 overall record last season and won its first-ever Summit League regular season title in program history.
Avery Koenen highlighted the preseason honors and was named the Preseason Player of the Year and to the All-Summit League Preseason First Team. Marisa Frost and Jocelyn Schiller were also tabbed to the first team. Karrington Asp was named to the All-Summit League Preseason Second Team to round out the group. The Bison led the Summit League with four preseason All-League selections.
Koenen led NDSU averaging 19.4 points and 10.8 rebounds per game last season. She was the only player in the country to average at least 19.0 points and 10.0 rebounds per game, while shooting 63.0 percent or better from the field. The Montevideo, Minn., native was named the Summit League Defensive Player of the Year and Player of the Year last season. Koenen went on to become the first player in the NDSU Division I era to be named an Associated Press All-America Honorable Mention.
Frost averaged a team-high 30.4 minutes per game and totaled a team-best 52 steals last season. She was slotted second on the team in total points (433), points per game (12.7), three-pointers made (41) and blocks (20) to earn a spot on the All-Summit League Second Team.
Schiller passed out a team-high 89 total assists and averaged 2.8 per game in her first season with the Bison. She averaged 10.2 points with 3.1 rebounds and was selected to the All-Summit League Second Team.
Asp became the first player in Summit League history to be named both the Freshman of the Year and Sixth Woman of the Year in the same season after averaging 10.9 points with 4.8 rebounds last year. The Epworth, Iowa native was slotted second on the team in field goals made (152), total rebounds (162), defensive rebounds (114) and rebounds per game (4.8) to earn a spot on the Summit League All-Freshman Team.
The full Summit League release can be viewed here.
NDSU will open the 2026-27 season at Gonzaga on Nov. 2.
2026-27 All-Summit League Women's Basketball
Preseason First Team
Elauni Bennett, Kansas City
Marisa Frost, North Dakota State
Molly Joyce, South Dakota
Avery Koenen, North Dakota State
Alyssa Sand, St. Thomas
Jocelyn Schiller, North Dakota State
Preseason Second Team
Karrington Asp, North Dakota State
Katie Vasecka, South Dakota State
Emilee Fox, South Dakota State
Emani Bennett, Kansas City
Hadley Thul, South Dakota State
Preseason Player of the Year
Avery Koenen, North Dakota State
Poll
- North Dakota State, 456 points (24 first place votes)
- South Dakota State, 429 (8)
- South Dakota, 359
- St. Thomas, 283
- Oral Roberts, 253
- Kansas City, 212
- Omaha, 151
- North Dakota, 121
Players Mentioned
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/ Women's Basketball
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/ Women's Basketball
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/ Women's Basketball
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