New schedule, no LC State, but the women's field is still loaded

Frontier Conference women's basketball is always really good. There's always multiple teams ranked in the NAIA Top 25, and almost any team in the league in a given year would be good enough to make it to the NAIA national tournament.

This coming season will be more of the same, too. Yes, the Frontier will be loaded yet again, but, it will also be much different.

Lewis-Clark State has moved on to the Cascade Conference, so, that changes the schedule - a schedule that harkens back to the old days when teams played each other Ron back-to-back nights. The league also likely won't have has many teams ranked in the Coaches Poll each week because of the merger of Division I and Division II, which means likely less at-large bids to the national tournament. Of course, there's all the trouble that COVID-19 is likely to cause as well.

And still, despite all of that, Frontier women's basketball is still as good as ever. All six teams in the league this season can beat anybody on a given night, so, while things won't necessarily look the same, and fans won't be able to pack the gyms over the next two months, on the court, and in the standings, women's basketball in the Frontier hasn't changed at all. 2021, like every year, is going to be an all-out war.

Here's a team-by-team look at the upcoming Frontier season, in the predicted order of finish according to the Frontier Preseason Coaches Poll.

Carroll College

Fighting Saints

2020-21: 1-0, 7-1

2019-20: 13-5, 21-10, 1st in Frontier

Head Coach: Rachelle Sayers

Location: Helena

Overview: Unlike most teams in the Frontier, the Fighting Saints were able to play several non-conference games in the last fall. So, not only does Carroll return a loaded squad, led by former Havre Blue Pony Dani Wagner, the Saints also have in-season experience, which is rare this winter. Experience, like Christine Denny, Sienna Swannack, Maddie Gertiz, Kamden Hillborn and Jayden Lyman, blended with the addition of Lady Griz transfer Jamie Pickens, is also while the Saints are just a heavy favorite to win the Frontier this season, but, they're also a team that could very well win an NAIA national championship. The Saints are Currently ranked No. 6 in the nation.

Providence

Argos

2020-2021: 0-0, 0-0

2019-20: 9-9, 21-12, 4th in Frontier

Head Coach: Bill Himmelberg

Location: Great Falls

Overview: The Argos weren't together in the fall because UP was in remote learning. And of course, they've played no games, so no doubt, they're at a disadvantage. Except, they have so much firepower that, none of that may matter. Returning All-Americans Emilee Maldonado and Parker Esary combined to average 30 ppg for the Argos a season ago, and they could be the best inside-out combo in the country. Kennedy Cartwright, Reed Hazard and Kerstyn Pimperton also bring experience back to UP, while Himmelberg has also added several talented newcomers, and that means, if the Argos can quickly shake off the rust, they will certainly be the team that can give Carroll a run for its money in the Frontier title chase.

MSU-Northern

Skylights

2020-21: 0-0, 1-3

2019-20: 4-14, 15-16, 6th in Frontier

Head Coach: Chris Mouat

Location: Havre

Overview: Injuries have plagued the Skylights the last couple of season, and they certainly derailed a red-hot start in he Frontier last winter, in which Northern climbed all thew way to No. 11 in the NAIA. Now though, if the Skylights can avoid those injuries, they've got a veteran group, led by seniors McKenzie Gunter, Peyton Kehr, Sydney Hovde and Tiara Gilham, as well as junior Allix Goldhahn, and good depth on their bench, they will be a team that can not only fight for a conference title this winter, but a berth in the national tourney.

Rocky Mountain College

Battlin' Bears

2020-21: 0-0, 0-0

2019-20: 10-8, 19-11, 4th in Frontier

Head Coach: Wes Keller

Location: Billings

Overview: One of the reasons the Frontier has been so tough has been the emergence of Rocky as a women's power. Wes Keller has made the Bears into that, and they should be a powerhouse again this winter, even though they lost All-American Markaela Francis and other key pieces. Still, the return of All-American guard Kloie Thatcher, combined with the talents of returners Izzy Spruit and Mackenzie Dethman should help the Bears transition into a team with a ton of talented newcomers, and should also help the Bears overcome the fact that they were unable to get in any games before the holiday break due to COVID-19 issues.

Montana Western

Bulldogs

2020-21: 1-1, 3-1

2019-20: 12-6, 20-11, 2nd in Frontier

Head Coach: Lindsey Woolley

Location: Dillon

Overview: After winning the 2019 NAIA national championship, many though the Bulldog's run was over. Instead, all they did was finish second in the Frontier last season, and would have been back in the Big Dance to defend their title had it not been cancelled. Graduation did however, take more big names away from the Dawg's roster, but, Lindsey Woolley is a master recuriter, and he'll have Western playing well this season. It helps to have some experience returning in the likes of Brynley Fitzgerald, Paige Holmes and Mesa King, while Jennie Weber, Shainy Mack and former Box Elder star Lilly Gopher are stepping up so far this season. So, with that said, don't expect anything less from Western then for the Dawgs to be in the hunt for the Frontier title at season's end.

Montana Tech

Orediggers

2020-2021: 1-2, 1-2

2019-20: 4-14, 14-17, 7th in Frontier

Head Coach: Carly Sanon

Location: Butte

Overview: Tech may have finished last in the Frontier last season, and the Orediggers may be picked to finish there again this winter. But, that doesn't mean they're a pushover. In fact, with star players like Mollie Peoples, two-sport star Tavia Rooney, Dani Urick and Celestine Faloti all back from last year's squad, Tech is built like anything but a cellar-dwellar and the Orediggers certainly won't play like on this season.