Contact: Lou Groce, Director of Media and Information, 920-229-8157

GRINNELL, Iowa – Cornell College was picked to win back-to-back Midwest Conference (MWC) titles last week in the league’s preseason coaches’ poll.  Also expected to make the four-team MWC Tournament are St. Norbert College, Ripon College and Illinois College. 

It will be a close race at the top of the league as the Rams and the Green Knights both earned four first-place votes in the preseason rankings, while the Red Hawks earned the remaining two.  St. Norbert earned national recognition last week when it received votes in the preseason D3hoops.com national rankings.  The conference’s top player, Diamond Boyd of Cornell, and the league’s Newcomer of the Year, Anne Visser of Cornell, are back to lead the Rams in their title defense.  All-MWC performers Kayla Morrissey of Grinnell, Maggie Oimoen of Ripon, Bridge Bilek of Lake Forest College, Brielle Greenleaf of Illinois College and Jarrelyn McCall of Knox College all return. 

The 2017-18 season tips off tomorrow night as seven MWC programs open the year.  The conference season starts on Tuesday, November 21 when Lake Forest travels to Beloit College at 7:30 p.m. The rest of the league slate gets underway on Friday, December 1. 

Below is a team-by-team preview of all 10 MWC programs. 

Beloit College Buccaneers
Head Coach: Gloria Bradley (2^nd season) 6-17, 4-14 MWC
2016-17: 6-17, 4-14 MWC
Projected 2017-18 Finish: 9^th
Letterwinners Returning: 7
Starters Returning: Jaylan Dunn, Shelby Kline, Tegan Rock
 
The Buccaneers finish tied for eighth in the conference last season, but return three starters as head coach Gloria Bradley begins her second season at the helm.  Shelby Kline is Beloit’s top returning scorer at 8.2 per game. Kline also led the squad with 33 steals and 37 made three-pointers.  Jaylan Dunn was Beloit’s top rebounder last season after averaging 5.2 per game in 2016-17 and senior Tegan Rock also returns to the starting lineup. Bradley welcomes three freshman to the team this year including some much needed size in 6’1” center Nichelle Brown. 
 
Cornell College Rams
Head Coach: Brent Brase (13^th season) 154-145, 77-13 MWC
2016-17: 20-5, 17-1 MWC
Projected 2017-18 Finish: 1^st  
Letterwinners Returning: 12
Starters Returning: Diamond Boyd, Haley Grana, Renee Poulos
 
Cornell is attempting to win back-to-back MWC titles for the just the second time in school history this season.  That effort should be boosted by the return of MWC Player of the Year Diamond Boyd and MWC Newcomer of the Year Anne Visser.  Boyd was also a Second Team All-Central Region pick by D3hoops.com.  Last season, Boyd led the league in rebounding (9.0 rpg) and steals (3.1 spg), while also ranking third in the league with a 14.6 points per game average.  Visser started 10 games last season, averaged 8.5 ppg and drilled 42 three-pointers.  Haley Grana is a steady hand at the guard position and passed out 72 assists last year to just 23 turnovers.  Also returning to the lineup is starter Renee Poulos. 
 
Grinnell College Pioneers
Head Coach: Dana Harrold (5^th season) 45-52, 34-38 MWC
2016-17: 14-10, 12-6 MWC
Projected 2017-18 Finish: 6^th
Letterwinners Returning: 5
Starters Returning: Kayla Morrissey
 
The driving force behind Grinnell’s back-to-back MWC Tournament Appearances, Kayla Morrissey, returns to the lineup this winter for the Pioneers.  The conference’s top scorer last season may shoulder even more of the load this year as she is the only returning starter.  Morrissey also pulled down 7.1 rpg and blocked 24 shots.  Daria Guzzo will pair with Morrissey down on the block.  The 5’11” junior center played 13.7 minutes per game last season and averaged 2.3 ppg and 2.5 rpg.  Margaret Giles also returns for a young Pioneer team that welcomes five freshman to the squad. 
 
Illinois College Lady Blues
Head Coach: Jennifer McCormick (2^nd season) 11-12, 8-10 MWC
2016-17: 11-12, 8-10 MWC
Projected 2017-18 Finish: 6^th
Letterwinners Returning: 10
Starters Returning: Carly Cameron, Brielle Greenleaf, Sydney Lett, Grace Yaunches
 
The Lady Blues started off 7-2 last season, including a win over NCAA Tournament team St. Norbert, before injuries derailed the Lady Blues’ season.  With the return of four starters, including All-MWC selection Brielle Greenleaf, Illinois College is poised to return to the four-team MWC Tournament.  Greenleaf averaged 15.9 points per game last season to lead the team, while also topping the squad with 48 steals.   The junior is also a capable outside shooter as she shot 39.8 percent from long range last season and drilled 49 behind the three-point arc.  The squads’ leading rebounder, Carly Cameron is also back after pulling down an average of 7.4 per game.  Cameron was also second on the team with a 13.3 points per game average.  Melissa Solorio returns to the low block for IC. Solorio played in just 12 games last winter, but averaged double figures in points (11.3 ppg) and was an effective rebounder (5.2 rpg).  Sydney Lett will set the table for the offense again this year after leading the team with 80 assists in 22 games. 
 
Knox College Prairie Fire
Head Coach: Emily Cline (10^th season) 77-130, 54-104 MWC
2016-17: 13-10, 10-8 MWC
Projected 2017-18 Finish: 5^th
Letterwinners Returning: 14
Starters Returning: Kyra Huffman, Jarrelyn McCall, Morgan Potter, Karlie Thorn, Naja Woods
 
Knox returns all five starters and 14 letterwinners from a team that finished with double digit wins in conference action and finished two games out of the conference tournament.  Kyra Huffman and Jarrelyn McCall will lead the way for the Prairie Fire.  Huffman averaged a team-leading 11.4 ppg last season and set a new school record with a 58.1 field goal percentage.  McCall was a Second Team All-MWC pick last year as she averaged 9.8 ppg, 6.2 rpg and 2.3 apg.  McCall was also the conference’s best free throw shooter at an 87.7 percent clip.  Naja Woods and Morgan Potter excel on the defensive end as Woods led the team with 49 steals and Potter blocked 25 shots.  Karlie Thorn should also be part of the offensive attack after averaging just over double digits in points per game last season (10.2).  Thorn and Hailey Leinart are the team’s top shooters as they combined to make 89 from long range.
 
Lake Forest College Foresters
Head Coach: Tamlyn Tills (10^th season) 100-109, 84-74 MWC
2016-17: 6-17, 5-13 MWC
Projected 2017-18 Finish: 7^th
Letterwinners Returning: 10
Starters Returning: Bridget Bilek, Kara Norvet, Kelsey Schmitt
 
All-MWC Performer Bridge Bilek leads the Foresters into the 2017-2018 season.  Bilek led the team with a 12.2 points per game average, while also passing out an average of 2.1 assists per game.  Norvet was a solid all-around player last season, averaging 4.3 points per game, producing 2.2 assists and pulling down 3.7 rebounds per game.  Norvet also led the team with 33 steals.  Kelsey Schmitt should also return to the lineup after starting 15 of 22 games in 2016-17.  Head coach Tamlyn Tills welcomes a big class this winter as five women join the roster.   
 
Lawrence University Vikings
Head Coach: Ashley Wellman (5^th season) 6-86, 1-71 MWC
2016-17: 2-21, 0-18 MWC
Projected 2017-18 Finish: 10^th
Letterwinners Returning: 9
Starters Returning: Nicole Cummins, Olivia Hoesley, Natalie Kramer, Leah Reeves, Aubrey Scott
 
The Vikings return all five starters this season and welcome six newcomers to the team this season and they seek continued improvement under head coach Ashley Wellman.  Leah Reeves led Lawrence in scoring at 8.6 ppg, while Olivia Hoesley was second on the team in scoring (8.5 ppg) and rebounding (5.1 rpg).  Natalie Kramer led the squad with 39 assists last season, while Aubrey Scott hit 17 three-pointers and averaged 6.4 ppg.  Kenya Earl is one of the six newcomers this winter and is the daughter of former NBA player Acie Earl, who also starred at the University of Iowa.  Grace Minogue should also have a significant impact this season after suffering a season-ending injury just 11 games into her first season. 
 
Monmouth College Fighting Scots
Head Coach: Kyle Wilson (3^rd season) 9-37, 8-28 MWC
2016-17: 4-19, 4-14 MWC
Projected 2017-18 Finish: 8^th
Letterwinners Returning: 8
Starters Returning: Jeni Crain, Keri Dodson, Maddie Dohleman, Rebecca Gallis, Yvonne Ornelas
 
Rebecca Gallis and Keri Dodson both averaged double figures last season for the Fighting Scots and will lead the club again this season.  Galls topped the team in scoring at 11.6 ppg, while Dodson was right behind her at 10.9.  Dodson was also the team’s top rebounder last season at 5.7 per game and led the Scots in assists (57).  Maddie Dohleman provides a solid presence inside as she blocked 14 shots and pulled down 123 rebounds in 2016-17.  Yvonne Ornelas and Jeni Crain also should return to the starting lineup for the Scots. 
 
Ripon College Red Hawks
Head Coach: Lauren Johnson (4^th season) 43-51, 37-35 MWC
2016-17: 17-7, 15-3 MWC
Projected 2017-18 Finish: 3^rd
Letterwinners Returning: 10
Starters Returning: Emma McDonald, Maggie Oimoen
 
The Red Hawks have high expectations this season after appearing in back-to-back MWC Tournaments.  Ripon earned two first-place votes in the preseason coaches’ poll and finished third in the rankings.  Junior Maggie Oimoen was a First Team All-MWC selection and already ranks sixth in program history career blocks with 56.  Oimoen was a force in conference play last season, averaging 15.4 ppg, 7.7 rpg, while shooting 57.1 percent from the field.  Emma McDonald is the team’s best shooter after she canned 37 from long range last season and averaged 7.8 ppg.  Forward Jonalee Elliott and center Eleanore Mueller will team with Oimoen to provide the team with plenty of size.  Elliott is 6’1”, while Mueller and Oimoeon top out at 6’2”.  Elliot ranks second in school history in career blocks (88) and needs just five more to break the school record. 
 
St. Norbert College Green Knights
Head Coach: Connie Tilley (41^st season) 672-292, 382-104 MWC
2016-17: 20-6, 15-3 MWC
Projected 2017-18 Finish: 2^nd
Letterwinners Returning: 12
Starters Returning: Regan Carmichael, Sarah Ratajczyk, Jelena Ostojic
 
Two-time First Team All-MWC guard Regan Carmichael returns to lead the Green Knights in Connie Tilley’s 41^st season at the helm.  Carmichael led St. Norbert in points per game (12.2), steals (61) and three-point field goals made (57) a season ago.  The graduation of all-conference guards Jill Kleiman and Brianna Byrne as well as post player Mallory Nickerson opens the door for a lot of minutes for the young squad. Sophomore Jelena Ostojic and junior Sarah Ratajczyk will need to step up if the Green Knights want to live up to their lofty expectations.  The pair combined for 38 starts last season and they were the top-two rebounders on the team.  St. Norbert’s roster includes nine sophomores out of the 14 players.