Following last season’s GPAC Postseason Tournament Championship and an appearance in the Round of 16 at the NAIA National Tournament, the Briar Cliff women’s basketball team was selected to finish second in the GPAC Preseason Coaches’ Poll. The Chargers received 105 points in the voting.
In head coach Brian Ortmeier‘s first season at the Cliff, the Chargers posted a 26-8 (17-5 GPAC) record and held a 12-2 record in the Newman Flanagan Center.
Dordt is the favorite to repeat as the regular season champions after a 20-2 GPAC record last season. The Defenders totaled 121 points and 11 first place votes. Concordia received the final first place vote and is picked to finish third with 99 points. Jamestown and Northwestern round out the top-five.
The Chargers return three of their top four scorers from last year’s national tournament team in Konnor Sudmann, Kennedy Benne and Payton Slaughter.
Sudmann was a Second Team NAIA All-American after leading the Chargers at 17.6 points per game. Sudmann scored 20+ in 13 games and dropped over 30 twice. Benne was the GPAC co-Defensive Player of the Year and was named to the all-GPAC second team. Benne averaged 10.8 ppg and 2.7 steals per contest. Slaughter was an all-GPAC honorable mention and was the team’s leading rebounder at 7.1 boards per game. She added 10.8 points and 3.1 assists per game.
The Chargers open the season with five straight road games starting on November 3 against Manhattan Christian College in McPherson, Kansas. Briar Cliff’s first game on Ray Nacke Court will be on November 18 against College of Saint Mary.
| PLACE | TEAM | POINTS | 1st PLACE VOTES |
| 1 | DORDT | 121 | 11 |
| 2 | BRIAR CLIFF | 105 | |
| 3 | CONCORDIA | 99 | 1 |
| 4 | JAMESTOWN | 84 | |
| 5 | NORTHWESTERN | 81 | |
| 6 | DAKOTA WESLEYAN | 69 | |
| 7 | MORNINGSIDE | 68 | |
| 8 | DOANE | 61 | |
| 9 | HASTINGS | 40 | |
| 10 | MOUNT MARTY | 30 | |
| 11 | MIDLAND | 19 | |
| 12 | COLLEGE OF SAINT MARY | 15 |
The Briar Cliff men’s basketball team was picked to finish eight in the GPAC Men’s Basketball Preseason Coaches’ Poll with 33 points.
Morningside is the favorite to win the league after being co-champions with Jamestown last season. The Mustangs went 15-5 in the regular season and received 93 points and five first place votes. Northwestern also had five first place votes and received 92 points, and Dordt tallied the final first place vote and is picked third. Jamestown and Concordia round out the top-five.
The Chargers held a 14-14 (8-12 GPAC) record last season and fell in the first round of the GPAC Postseason Tournament to Morningside, 101-95. BC graduated their top two scorers from last season in Conner Groves (13.5 ppg) and Jaden Kleinhesselink (13.2 ppg).
Matthew Stilwill returns as the leading scoring after averaging 12.2 points per game on a .513 shooting percentage. Stilwill scored in double-digits in 17 games and poured in over 20 points in three contests. He was named an all-GPAC honorable mention. Quinn Vesey was also an honorable mention after averaging 11.0 points and 1.6 steals per game.
The Chargers kick off their season next Thursday against Dakota State in the Newman Flanagan Center. Game time is set for 7:30 p.m. on Ray Nacke Court. BC opens GPAC play on the road on November 15 against Midland.
| PLACE | TEAM | POINTS | 1st PLACE VOTES |
| 1 | MORNINGSIDE | 93 | 5 |
| 2 | NORTHWESTERN | 92 | 5 |
| 3 | DORDT | 85 | 1 |
| 4 | JAMESTOWN | 72 | |
| 5 | CONCORDIA | 68 | |
| 6 | DAKOTA WESLEYAN | 47 | |
| 7 | DOANE | 46 | |
| 8 | BRIAR CLIFF | 33 | |
| 9 | HASTINGS | 30 | |
| 10 | MOUNT MARTY | 22 | |
| 11 | MIDLAND | 17 |
