HELENA, Mont.- Providence was selected as the preseason favorite to win the 2024-25 Frontier Women's Basketball conference title, the preseason coaches' poll was announced Wednesday. The six Frontier head coaches voted on the projected order of finish and the preseason awards.
The Argos received five first place votes – the coaches are not allowed to vote for themselves – for a total of 25 points. Providence is coming off from the NAIA Women's Basketball National Tournament championship appearance, falling short to Dordt (Iowa) by four points (57-53). UP finished the 2023-24 season with an overall record 27-9, including the conference tournament's title.
Carroll and Rocky Mountain were tied for second in the preseason poll with 19 points each. The Saints, who won the previous two Frontier regular-season titles, received the final first place votes. Carroll also advanced to the NAIA national semifinals before falling to the Argos.
Montana State-Northern placed fourth in the poll with 12 points, followed by Montana Western fifth with nine points and Montana Tech sixth with six points.
Providence's graduate guard Ashlee Maldonado was the choice as the Frontier Preseason Player of the Year. She became the second player in Argos' history to be named to All-America First Team. She led the country in games started and minutes played while averaging 18.0 points per game ranking seventh nationally with 172 assists.
Maldonado was named the Frontier Defensive Player of the Year and Newcomer of the Year last season.
Providence had two players listed on the Frontier Preseason All-Conference Team, including Maldonado and sophomore forward Keanna Salave'a. Carroll's guards Kyndall Keller (graduate) and Willa Albrecht (senior) were also listed on the preseason team.
Seniors Gracee Lekvold (guard) and Sydney Dethman (forward) of Rocky Mountain were also named to Frontier Women's Basketball Preseason All-Conference team. Senior guard Joelnell Momber of Montana Western was also listed on the preseason All-Conference team.
2024-25 Frontier Conference Women's Basketball Coaches' Preseason Poll
| Place |
School |
Votes |
| 1 |
Providence (5) |
25 |
| T-2 |
Carroll (1) |
19 |
| T-2 |
Rocky Mountain |
19 |
| 4 |
MSU-Northern |
12 |
| 5 |
Montana Western |
9 |
| 6 |
Montana Tech |
6 |
| First place votes in parenthesis |
2024-25 Frontier Conference Women's Basketball All-Conference Preseason Team:
| Name |
School |
Position |
Class |
Hometown |
| Ashlee Maldonado* |
Providence |
Guard |
Graduate |
Sunnyside, Wash. |
| Kyndall Keller |
Carroll |
Guard |
Graduate |
Havre, Mont. |
| Gracee Lekvold |
Rocky Mountain |
Guard |
Senior |
Scobey, Mont. |
| Keanna Salave'a |
Providence |
Forward |
Sophomore |
Vancouver, Wash |
| Sydney Dethman |
Rocky Mountain |
Forward |
Senior |
Brockton, Mont. |
| Joelnell Momberg |
Montana Western |
Guard |
Senior |
Box Elder, Mont. |
| Willa Albrecht |
Carroll |
Guard |
Senior |
Billings, Mont. |
| *Preseason Player-of-the-Year |
