PORTLAND, Ore. – The 2018-19 GNAC freshman of the year, Claire Dingus, and All-Conference guard Makenna Schultz headline the Saints' women's basketball team, as Saint Martin's was selected eighth in the GNAC's preseason coaches poll.
 
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Entering the year as the favorite is Central Washington, who picked up five first place votes and 109 total. The Wildcats narrowly edged out Western Washington (107) and Alaska Anchorage (104) in the polling, both of which earned three first place votes respectively.
 
In the middle of the pack was Northwest Nazarene (88), Simon Fraser (78), Concordia (66), and Montana State Billings (57). Saint Martin's (42), Seattle Pacific (39), Western Oregon (23), and Alaska (15) closed out the poll.
 
Entering head coach Christy Martin's third season, the Saints have a core ready to make a push in the GNAC. Led by Dingus and her 13.5 points and 7.4 rebounds per game, the freshman was a double-double threat last year. In 28 games, Dingus marked four double-doubles, and nearly hit the mark in almost all the games.
 
Schultz returns to add a scoring threat from the outside, averaging 11.8 points, and sinking a team leading 57 3-pointers last year. Schultz also dished out a team-leading 94 assists, and played nearly 34 minutes per game.
 
Down low, the Saints return forwards Megan Nilsson (71. ppg, 4.1 rpg), and Bria Thames (7.0 ppg, 5.5 rpg). Nilsson ended last year on a high note, scoring 23 points in the season finale. Thames found her footing in the second half of conference, scoring in double-digits the last four games, including an 18-point, 18-rebound performance against Western Oregon.
 
Also returning from last year is forward Jayla Russ, along with guards Sara Bowen, and Emma Wrede. Saint Martin's added six new players to the squad, with two transfers and four freshman. Transfers Tierney DeDonatis and Mallory Vivola come to Lacey after playing at Glendale Community College for two years. Making up the freshman class is Makenzy Porter, Janealle Sutterlict, Lauryn Morris, and Emily Nelson.
 
The Saints open the year with an exhibition against Division-I Seattle U on November 6, before officially tipping-off against Pacific Lutheran at home on November 12.