The Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference released their 2021-22 Preseason Coaches Poll on Thursday and the Upper Iowa women's basketball team was selected fourteenth overall and eighth in the NSIC South Division.
 
The University of Minnesota Duluth was selected by the league coaches as the overall and north division preseason favorite in the NSIC for the 2021-22 season. The Bulldogs received 12 first place votes and amassed 222 points. St. Cloud State received a first-place vote to rank second with 203 points while Augustana was third with 187 points and two place votes.  The Vikings were the coaches' choice to win the south division. Minnesota State was fourth with 168 points while Sioux Falls rounded out the top five with 159 points and the final first place vote. 
 
The Peacocks are chomping at the bit to get onto the court in 2021-22. The Peacocks return both Lydia Haack, 2020-21 NSIC All-Freshman Team, and Jessica Musgrave, 2019-20 NSIC Freshman of the Year, along with several other experienced, but young players.
 
"We are excited about the competitiveness of our group," said Head Coach Nate Oakland. "They have started to learn about the work and desire it takes to compete at this level and in the NSIC. We have a group that is hungry and determined to start competing - and we look forward to the challenge which the NSIC brings every night."
 
Haack, this year's NSIC Player to Watch for UIU, averaged a team-high 14.5 points and 3.3 assists per game last season.
 
"We are excited to see where Lydia takes this team," said Oakland. "As a true freshman last season and with some key injuries, she proved to be one of top point guards in our league. Her toughness and determination, both on and off the floor, really excite us about this season."
 
Musgrave was sidelined with a season-ending injury in just the second game of the season. In her two games, Musgrave averaged 15.5 points and 9.5 rebounds following her freshman campaign that saw the Toledo, Iowa product average 14.7 points and 6.7 rebounds in 29 games.
 
In addition to Haack and Musgrave, UIU returns Brooke Evenson, Katie Tornstrom, Calista Rochon-Baker, Lexie Lodermeier, Savannah Domeyer and Alaina Brenning. Evenson scored 9.1 points and pulled down 6.2 rebounds per game as a sophomore, while Tornstrom averaged 7.3 points and 4.3 rebounds per contest. In addition to the experienced returners, the Peacocks have added several new faces including freshman Mia Huberty and University of North Dakota-transfer Emma Anderson.
 
The regular season champion will be based on the 22-game NSIC schedule. Each team will play teams in their division twice (14) and teams in the other division once (8). An NSIC North and South Division Champion will also be awarded. Divisional standings will also be based on all 22 NSIC contests played. In the case of a tie, co-champions will be awarded. The 12-team NSIC / Sanford Health Women's Basketball Tournament Quarterfinals, Semifinals and Championships are set to take place February 26 to March 1 at the Sanford Health Pentagon in Sioux Falls, S.D. The top two seeds in each division will receive a first-round bye. First round games will be played on campus on Wednesday, Feb. 23.
 
The Peacocks will tip their season in Jefferson City, Mo. on Nov. 12 and 13. Upper Iowa will challenge the University of Arkansas at Monticello and Southern Arkansas University. After the opening tournament, UIU will line up against NCAA Division I Bradley University in an exhibition game on Nov. 15. UIU's home openers will be on Nov. 19 and 20 against Rockhurst University and Waldorf University.