Lady Griz third, fifth in preseason polls

In results that must now be read -- at least as far as the Lady Griz' standing -- with enough skepticism to fill a shaker of salt, Montana was picked third in the Big Sky Conference preseason women's basketball coaches' poll, fifth in the media poll, receiving a pair of first-place votes in each.

The voting for both polls was conducted before Wednesday's announcement that Kayleigh Valley, selected at the same time as the preseason Big Sky MVP, had her season cut short for the second straight year with a knee injury.

The Lady Griz were picked third in the media poll last October, fourth in the coaches' poll. Without Valley and Alycia Sims, both of whom were lost for the season by early November to knee injuries, Montana finished 11th.

Topping both of this season's polls by a healthy margin was Northern Colorado and for good reason. The Bears return all five starters from a team that won 22 games last season and finished 14-4 in league, one game behind co-champions Montana State and North Dakota.

The Bears, regular-season co-champions with Portland State in 2010-11, are seeking their first outright championship since joining the Big Sky in 2006-07 and their first tournament title. Northern Colorado lost in the championship game at the 2012, '13 and '15 tournaments.

The Bears collected nine of 12 first-place votes in the coaches' poll, eight of 16 in the media poll.

North Dakota, co-champion with Southern Utah in 2013-14 and Montana State last year, was picked second in both polls in what will be the Fighting Hawks' swan song. UND moves to the Summit League next season.

North Dakota picked up one first-place vote in the coaches' poll, two in the media poll.

The next three teams were the same in both polls but in different order. In the coaches' poll, it was Montana, with two first-place votes, in third, followed by Montana State and Idaho. In the media poll, Montana State, with three first-place votes, was third, followed by Idaho and Montana.

They may be without Valley, but the Lady Griz return five starters from a year ago.

Montana State, the tournament's No. 1 seed, won the postseason title last March in Reno, defeating Weber State, Eastern Washington and Idaho State on the way to its first championship since 1993. The Bobcats lost at Washington in the first round of the NCAA Tournament.

North Dakota (WNIT), Eastern Washington (WBI) and Idaho (WBI) all advanced to play in tournaments beyond Reno as well.

Portland State -- the Vikings, with four starters back, received a first-place vote in the media poll -- Eastern Washington and Idaho State made up the next three spots in the polls.

Idaho State, as the No. 9 seed in 2016 and No. 6 last year, advanced to the Big Sky tournament championship game both seasons, falling to Idaho and Montana State.

Sacramento State, Weber State, Northern Arizona and Southern Utah filled out the bottom third of both polls.

Northern Arizona is the only league team with a first-year coach in 2017-18. The Lumberjacks hired Loree Payne, the head coach at the University of Puget Sound the previous seven years, in April.

Payne was a standout for Havre High before playing at Washington, where she was twice a first-team All-Pac 10 selection. She was an assistant coach for the Huskies before taking over the program at Puget Sound.

Every Big Sky team but Montana opens the season on Friday, Nov. 10. The Lady Griz start their season on Monday, Nov. 13, at Wyoming before returning home to host Kentucky on Thursday, Nov. 16, and Gonzaga on Nov. 18.

2017-18 Big Sky Preseason Coaches' Poll

1. Northern Colorado (9) … 115
2. North Dakota (1) … 100
3. Montana (2) … 89
4. Montana State … 83
5. Idaho … 82
6. Portland State … 75
7. Eastern Washington … 73
8. Idaho State … 63
9. Sacramento State … 37
10. Weber State … 34
11. Northern Arizona … 24
12. Southern Utah … 17

2017-18 Big Sky Preseason Media Poll

1. Northern Colorado (8) … 176
2. North Dakota (2) … 156
3. Montana State (3) … 144
4. Idaho … 127
5. Montana (2) … 120
6. Eastern Washington … 118
7. Idaho State … 116
8. Portland State (1) … 110
9. Weber State … 66
10. Sacramento State … 61
11. Northern Arizona … 34
12. Southern Utah … 20

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