SIOUX FALLS, S.D. (UND Athletics)– Graduate student guard Kacie Borowicz was selected as the Preseason Summit League Player of the Year by the league’s head coaches, sports information directors and select media in advance of the conference’s annual media day festivities on Tuesday.
In addition, the Fighting Hawks were selected fourth in the preseason poll for the second straight year after reaching the postseason in 2022-23 for the first time since 2016-17. South Dakota State earned the top spot in the poll after finishing last season with a perfect 18-0 record in conference play while North Dakota State and South Dakota rounded out the top three.
Borowicz has been a mainstay on the conference’s all-performer teams during her career, earning back-to-back All-Summit League First Team honors in each of the last two seasons after pacing the league in scoring over those campaigns. Last season, the Roseau, Minn., native put together one of the best scoring seasons in program history to finish 14th in the nation with a 21.1 points per game average while her 674 total points last season were the second most in the program’s single-season history.
The guard reached double figures in 31 of UND’s 32 games last season, including 17 contests with at least 20 points and five 30-plus outings. Borowicz could also dish the rock, leading the Summit with 4.8 assists per game and finishing seventh in the league with a .425 field goal percentage.
North Dakota opens the season with a road contest against Wyoming on Nov. 6 before beginning the home slate with Grand Canyon on Nov. 11.
For more information on North Dakota women’s basketball, follow on social media @UNDwbasketball or visit FightingHawks.com.
2023-24 Preseason Summit League Player of the Year
Kacie Borowicz, North Dakota
2023-24 Preseason All-Summit League First Team
Kacie Borowicz, North Dakota, Gr., G (19.4 ppg/4.0 rpg/4.8 apg/82.4 FT%)*
Hannah Cooper, Oral Roberts, Gr., G (20.4 ppg/4.6 rpg/3.9 apg/2.5 spg)
Elle Evans, North Dakota State, So., G (13.8 ppg/4.7 rpg/83.7 FT%)
Heaven Hamling, North Dakota State, Sr., G (17.2 ppg/ 5.1 rpg/ 3.9 apg)
Grace Larkins, South Dakota, Jr., G (18.3 ppg/8.7 rpg/4.9 apg/2.1 spg)
Paige Meyer, South Dakota State, Jr., G (9.6 ppg/3.2 apg/2.4 rpg/54.5 FG%)
2023-24 Preseason All-Summit League Second Team
Carley Duffney, South Dakota, So., F (12.2 ppg/4.2 rpg/88.5 FT%)
Makayla Minett, Denver, Gr., F (8.1 ppg/8.8 rpg/2.9 bpg)
Tori Nelson, South Dakota State, Sr., F (7.8 ppg/3.1 rpg/2.2 apg)
Emma Smith, Denver, So., G (13.4 ppg/4.8 rpg/2.9 apg/80.7 FT%)
Ruthie Udoumoh, Oral Roberts, Gr., G (11.8 ppg/7.5 rpg/2.5 apg/2.0 spg)
*Preseason player of the year automatically earns a spot on the first team
**stats from 2022-23 Summit League games
2023-24 Summit League Women’s Basketball Preseason Coaches’ Poll
| Rank | School | Points (1st) | 2022-23 Record (SL) |
| 1. | South Dakota State | 577 (27) | 29-6 (18-0) |
| 2. | North Dakota State | 526 (5) | 18-12 (12-6) |
| 3. | South Dakota | 485 (2) | 14-16 (10-8) |
| 4. | North Dakota | 434 | 19-13 (11-7) |
| 5. | Oral Roberts | 357 (1) | 12-19 (8-10) |
| 6. | Omaha | 263 | 15-17 (8-10) |
| 7. | Denver | 233 (1) | 12-18 (8-10) |
| 8. | St. Thomas | 203 | 13-17 (7-11) |
| 9. | Kansas City | 174 | 9-23 (3-15) |
