BILLINGS, Mont. – The NCAA Division II season kicks off this weekend, and for ten teams, all eyes will be focused on Billings as they start their 2023-24 campaigns at the D2CCA Tipoff Classic, hosted on the campus of Montana State University Billings from November 3-5.
 
The tournament features ten teams, representing six different states and five athletic conferences. Five of the teams competing find themselves ranked in the WBCA Preseason Top 25 Coaches Poll, while another team received votes in the poll. The ten teams combined to win a total of 212 games in the 2022-23 season, with six teams qualifying for the NCAA DII Tournament.
 
All of the weekend's action will be played at Alterowitz Gym, on the campus of MSU Billings.
 
Angelo State Rambelles: 2022-23 Record 26-7 (17-5 Lone Star Conference)
 
Coming off a season in which they won 26 games, won the Lone Star Conference Tournament, and made it to the South Central Regional Semifinals, expectations are high for Angelo State heading into the 2023-24 season, after being selected to finish first in their conference this season, and voted 19^th in the WBCA Preseason Top 25 Coaches Poll. The Rambelles, led by third-year head coach Alesha Ellis, return plenty of talent from last season's team, including Sawyer Lloyd, who was selected as the Lone Star Conference Defensive Player of the Year in 2022-23, and was voted Preseason Co-Player of the Year this season. Joining Lloyd are starters Tayjanna McGhee-Pleasant and Madeline Stephens, who started every game for the Rambelles, along with a supporting cast of players including Landry Morrow, Madisen Honea, and Aicha Ndir, all of whom started games and played key minutes in the Rambelles 2022-23 campaign.
 
Florida Tech Panthers: 2022-23 Record 3-21 (1-19 Sunshine State Conference)
 
The Panthers look to rebound from their 2022-23 campaign with a strong start at the Tipoff Classic, and head coach John Reynolds, who enters his 37^th year in charge, has many of the pieces from last season's team back to go again, with ten players returning from their previous season's squad. Florida Tech is led in scoring last season by Tai Roberts, who averaged 12.7 a game, sees many players who got key minutes last season look to take a step forward such as Sarah Liberatore, Emily Acampora, and Lina Stranger-Johannessen.
 
Gannon University Knights: 2022-23 Record 29-5 (19-3 Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference)
 
After winning almost 30 games in 2022-23, and qualifying for the NCAA DII Atlantic Regional, the Gannon University Knights look to build off their success from last season as they head into the 2023-24 campaign. Led by head coach Cleve Wright, the Knights finished last season in the WBCA poll, and find themselves receiving votes ahead of this season. Gannon returns WBCA Honorable Mention All-American and 2023 PSCA West Athlete of the Year Sam Pirosko, who averaged 20.4 points per game, and is coming off a season in which she set a school record for points scored with 693. Joining her is Bri Claxton, the PSAC Freshman of the Year, but the roster will look significantly different for the Knights this season, with eight newcomers on the roster.
 
Minot State Beavers: 2022-23 Record 12-16 (8-14 Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference)
 
Minot State looks to prove the doubters wrong in the 2023-24 season, after being selected to finish 15^th in the NSIC this season. Head coach Michael Brandt brings in a roster that has changed significantly heading into the 2023-24 season, with nine newcomers, including six true freshmen. Their returning leading scorer is Emma Mogen, who averaged 6.1 points per game and 3.8 rebounds in 2022-23, who is joined by sophomore center Emily Srejma, who played in 26 games as a freshman last season, averaging 5.8 points a contest.
 
Montana State University Billings Yellowjackets: 2022-23 Record 25-8 (14-4 Great Northwest Athletic Conference)
 
Coming off runs to the GNAC Championship Game and The NCAA DII West Regional Semifinals, expectations remain high for Montana State University Billings, who were selected to win the GNAC in the preseason coaches poll and ranked 15 in the WBCA Preseason Top 25. Head coach Kevin Woodin returns eight players from last season's roster, with four new additions, including Montana State transfer Kola Bad Bear. The Yellowjacket's leading returning scorer is Dyauni Boyce, who averaged 10.7 points a game last season to go with 5.3 rebounds. She, along with Aspen Giese, Kortney Nelson, and Shayla Montague, received All-GNAC recognition last season, and look to their strong 2022-23 campaign to springboard into another successful season this year.
 
Texas A&M Kingsville Javelina: 2022-23 Record 18-11, (15-7 Lone Star Conference)
 
The Javelinas return nine players from last season's team, including All-LSC Selection Mia Rivers, who finished last season with the second-best assist total in the conference. She is joined by other All-LSC honorees in Georgia Ohiaeri and Jayde Tschritter, who look to propel the Javelinas forward under head coach Michael Madrid. Texas A&M Kingsville was selected to finish sixth in the Lone Star Preseason Polls.
 
Texas Woman's University Owls: 2022-23 Record 26-6 (19-3 Lone Star Conference)
 
The Owls were selected 24th in the Nation by the WBCA Preseason Top 25 and picked to finish second in the Lone Star Conference preseason rankings, despite receiving the most first place votes in the coach's poll. Texas Woman's is coming off a successful 2022-23 campaign where they totaled the most wins in program history. The Owls are led by head coach Beth Jillson, who has been selected as the LSC Coach of the year in back-to-back season and junior Ashley Ingram who was named a preseason player to watch after being on the WBCA All-American Honorable Mention list last season. The Owls roster is made up of 6 returners and seven newcomers, including one Division 1 transfer and 3 freshmen.
 
University of Mary Marauders: 2022-23 Record 14-13 (12-10 Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference)
 
University of Mary and head coach Rick Neumann return many of the key pieces from last season's team, which looks to take another step forward in the 2023-24 season. Among them is First Team All-NSIC performer Megan Zander, who averaged 14.7 points per game last season. She is joined by Mariah McKeever, who transferred to Mary from conference foe MSU Morehead, and the return of All-NSIC center Lexi Schneider, who missed the previous season with injury.
 
Minnesota State Mankato Mavericks: 2022-23 Record 26-5 (19-3 Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference)
 
Minnesota State Mankato bring is a talented group under head coach Emily Thiesse, whose team was selected second in the WBCA Top 25 Preseason rankings, their highest placement since 2009 following a NCAA DII Championship victory. The Mavericks return three All-NSIC Team players including guards Natalie Bremer, Destinee Bursch and two-time NSIC Defensive Player of the Year, Joey Batt. Batt, a native of New Elm, Minnesota averaged 16.3 points and 3.1 rebounds a game and leads the Mavericks in steals with 94. Batt was named Minnesota State's NSIC preseason player of the year going into the 2023-24 season.
 
University of Tampa Spartans: 2022-23 Record 33-2 (19-1 Sunshine State Conference)
 
Last season the Spartans won their third consecutive SSC championship and eighth overall SSC title on their way to a trip to the Elite Eight in the NCAA DII Tournament. The Spartans were ranked first in their conference this year, receiving six first place votes, and were selected fifth in the WBCA Preseason Top 25. Featuring six returners from last season's squad, the Spartans come into the season with high expectations to repeat as conference champions and make another deep NCAA Tournament run.

The homepage for the tournament can be found online here.