Women's Basketball 10/22/2025 10:51:00 AM MLC Sports Information Director- Adam Hussman

Women's Basketball picked to finish 3rd in UMAC Preseason Poll

St. Paul, MN - The 2025 UMAC Women's Basketball preseason poll came out on Wednesday morning and the MLC Knights were voted to finish third in the conference. The poll is voted on by all the head coaches in the conference. Coaches cannot vote for their own team.

Minnesota Morris was predicted to finish atop the UMAC with 36 points (6 first-place votes), while the Knights reeled in 24 points behind UW-Superior (28).

MLC is coming off of one of its better seasons in nearly a decade as the Knights reached the UMAC tournament semifinal as the No. 4 seed, losing in a close overtime game at UW-Superior 80-75. MLC last made the UMAC postseason tournament in the 2016-17 season and its 16-9 record was the best finish for the Knights since the 2011-12 season when they clinched a bid to the NCAA Tournament, where they went 20-8 overall.

Now in his 11th year as the head coach of MLC, Dan Gawrisch will return junior, Mya Morris, who had an impressive first season with the Knights after transferring in from Crown. Morris claimed First Team All-Conference recognition after breaking the MLC single-season record for most 3-point field goals (82) and most 3-pointers in a single game (7) against Mount Mary. The point guard placed fourth in scoring amongst all UMAC players (14.7 ppg) and was also second on the squad in total assists last season (50).

Gawrisch also brings back a pair of forwards in Lydia Feidt and Ava Stein. Feidt led MLC in FG percentage (48.1) and FT percentage (78.1) from a season ago. Additionally, the senior was third on the team in scoring (7.8 PPG) and is the leading returner in blocked shots (15) from last season.

Stein enters her sophomore season down low for the Knights and is the leading rebounder amongst all returners (5.2 rpg). Stein was also efficient from the block as a freshman, shooting 42.5 percent from the floor, which was second on MLC last year, while finishing third on the Knights in scoring (7.7 PPG).

The 2025-26 season is around three weeks away and the Knights will open their season on the road at Augsburg on Thursday, November 13, at 7 p.m.

Complete poll