BILLINGS, Mont. – The 2024-25 NCAA Division II basketball season opens this week, with the eyes of 12 different basketball programs locked on Billings for the 2024 D2CCA Tipoff Classic at the Trailhead, hosted at Alterowitz Gym on the campus of MSU Billings from November 1-3.
 
For the first time, the tournament will move to a combination men's and women's tournament, with six teams making up the field for each side. Each day will kick off with a trio of women's games, followed by three men's games. The 12 teams combine to represent eight different states, and seven different Division II athletic conferences.
 
Previous years tournaments, which were women's only fields, have proven to be a feeding ground for elite teams, with last season's tournament containing five teams that qualified for the NCAA DII Women's Basketball Championships, four Regional Championship teams, and both teams who would advance on to face each other for the National Championship. This year's tournament shapes up to see a similarly strong group of teams come to Billings, with three women's teams from last season's NCAA DII Tournament, all of whom are ranked in the top ten of the WBCA Preseason Coaches Poll, coming to play. On the men's side, two defending NCAA DII Tournament qualifiers are in the field, with a pair of teams receiving votes in the NABC Preseason Coaches Poll.
 
For a full look at each day's schedule, along with links to purchase tickets, find livestreams, and view statistics, please visit the Tournament Homepage.
 
Women's Teams:
 
University of Findlay Oilers
Location: Findlay, Ohio
Conference: Great Midwest Athletic Conference
Head Coach: Michele Durand (3^rd season)
2023-24 Record: 14-15 (10-10 GMAC)
 
The Oilers head into the 2024-25 season following an eighth-place finish in the GMAC last season, and a trip to their conference tournament under Michele Durand, with the program doubling it's win total from the previous year. Findlay will look to take another leap forward this season after being picked to finish 11^th in the GMAC Preseason Coaches' poll, led by last season's top two leading scorers in Kate Ellis and Alyssa Ziehler. The graduate senior Ellis totaled 14.3 points per contest to go with 5.2 rebounds on her way to a First Team All-GMAC selection, while the junior Ziehler averaged 12.2 points per game last season on 53.8% shooting, while finishing as the Oilers' top rebounder with 6.9 per game and earning All-GMAC Second Team honors. They'll be joined by fellow returning starter Janae Hoying, who averaged 7.8 points, 2.7 assists, and 2.6 rebounds last season, and MacKenzie Schultz, who scored 6.2 points a contest off the bench last season, while adding talented transfer Ariyah Douglas from University Illinois Springfield, where she scored 17.3 points per game and was named All-GLVC Second Team.
 
#3 Grand Valley State University Lakers
Location: Allendale, Michigan
Conference: Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference
Head Coach: Mike Williams (10^th season)
2023-24 Record: 31-3 (17-1 GLIAC)
 
The defending GLIAC regular season and tournaments champion Lakers look to continue their incredible dominant run of success under head coach Mike Williams, after winning 31 games for the third consecutive season and making a run to the Sweet 16 of the NCAA Tournament in 2023-24. Grand Valley State will once again be led by senior forward Rylie Bisballe, the defending GLIAC Player of the Year who earned Honorable Mention All-American nods from both the WBCA and D2CCA, and was a D2CCA First Team All-Region selection. Bisballe averaged 13.6 points and 7.2 rebounds last season, while adding 40 steals and 38 blocks. Alongside her return nearly every piece from last season's roster, including eight other players who averaged at least 5.0 points per game or more. Those returners include Ellie Droste, who totaled 11.7 points per game in 18 contests, Nicole Kamin, who earned all-conference first team and all-conference defensive team honors after finishing with 9.1 points, 4.8 rebounds, 1.5 steals and 0.9 blocks per game, and GLIAC Sixth Woman of the Year and All-GLIAC Second Teamer Paige Vanstee, who scored 9.0 points per game off the bench.
 
Minot State University Beavers
Location: Miont, North Dakota
Conference: Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference
Head Coach: Ryan Clark (1^st season)
2023-24 Record: 10-22 (7-15 NSIC)
 
Despite entering the D2CCA Tipoff Classic as a familiar team from last season's tournament, Minot comes to Billings sporting a new look for the 2024-25 season under first year head coach Ryan Clark. Clark and the Beavers will be looking to build upon last season's 10-22 overall record and the Beavers tenth place finish in the NSIC, and will have a few familiar faces. Last season's leading scorer Sydney Gustavsson returns after putting up 12.1 points per contest last season to go with 3.6 rebounds and 1.3 steals. Also back are the Beaver's other three leading scorers from last season, including Jamie Skeggs, who averaged 7.3 points per game, Lorelei McIver, who scored 6.8 points while leading the Beavers in rebounds (4.6 per game) and steals (1.7) and Taylor Goss, who averaged 6.2 points per game. The rotation will be filled out with returners such as Maya Aguilar, Emma Mogen, and Ashley Wacha, who saw action in over 30 games for the Beavers last season, and a handful of first year players looking to make an impact to start their Minot State careers.
 
#6 Montana State University Billings Yellowjackets
Location: Billings, Montana
Conference: Great Northwest Athletic Conference
Head Coach: Kevin Woodin (21^st season)
2023-24 Record: 28-7 (16-2 GNAC)
 
The Yellowjackets continued a continued string of successful seasons with one of the program's best in 2023-24, collecting a GNAC Regular Season Championship and making a run to the Sweet 16 and West Region Final of the NCAA Tournament. MSUB and head coach Kevin Woodin will look to continue that success in 2024-25 after the team ended up in second in the GNAC Preseason Coaches' Poll. All-GNAC Second Team selection and 1,000-point scorer Dyauni Boyce returns to lead the charge after averaging 14.7 points, 5.6 rebounds, and 2.4 assists last season, as does the defending GNAC Defensive Player of the Year and fellow All-GNAC Second Teamer Kortney Nelson, who averaged 9.6 points, 5.5 rebounds, 3.1 assists and 1.3 steals per contest last year. The two fifth-year players are joined by two more seniors: fellow Preseason All-GNAC selection Aspen Giese, who totaled 9.5 points, 5.2 rebounds, and 2.3 assists, and Chloe Williams, who led MSUB in steals last season with 49 while chipping in 4.8 points and 3.4 rebounds. The 'Jackets also return a key player from last season's rotation in Kaitlin Grossman, who played in 30 games and averaged 2.5 points and 2.2 rebounds with 11 blocks, and will look to see sophomore's Layla Baumann and Avery Burkhart take steps forward after seeing time as freshman last year. MSUB also adds experience and depth in the form of Chenoa Louie, who averaged 5.9 points and 4.9 rebounds in her last season at Saint Martin's, along with six promising freshman who will look to make an impact this season.
 
Texas A&M International University Dustdevils
Location: Laredo, Texas
Conference: Lone Star Conference
Head Coach: Jaida Williams (1^st season)
2023-24 Record: 25-7 (16-6 LSC)
 
The Dustdevils had a strong 2023-24 season, finishing third in the East Division of the Lone Star Conference and making a trip to the conference tournament, where they would make it to the semifinals. They'll look to build upon that success in the 2024-25 season, as former Coastal Carolina head coach and Ole Miss assistant coach Jaida Williams takes over in her first season in charge at Texas A&M International. Texas A&M International was picked to finish seventh in the Lone Star Preseason Poll, but received a first-place vote and look to stack up strongly in a tough conference. The Dustdevils return just two faces from last season's team in Angelique Morgan, who played in 31 games and averaged 4.5 points and 1.8 rebounds, and Taylor Jacobson, who played in 15 games. But joining them is a talented group of newcomers including transfers Bahar Kalkan, Aaliyah McMillan, Mia Monroe, Alyssia Thorne, Josie Igherighe, and Noa Chorda-Iglesias.
 
#8 Union University Bulldogs
Location: Jackson, Tennessee
Conference: Gulf South Conference
Head Coach: Mark Campbell (26^th season)
2023-24 Record: 29-4 (22-2 GSC)
 
Under longtime head coach and athletic director Mark Campbell, the Bulldogs had another impressive season in 2023-24, coming in second in the GSC before making a run to the conference tournament semifinals, and qualifying for the NCAA Tournament in the South Regional. The Bulldogs look to keep that run of success, led by the sister duo of Macey and Olivia Lee. The older Macey was the second leading scorer for Union last season, averaging 12.2 points per game along with 4.3 rebounds on her way to a First-Team All-GSAC selection. Olivia meanwhile averaged 9.2 points per game, starting all of Union's 33 games as a true freshman. The Bulldogs also return playmaker Jazalyn Anousinh, who averaged 6.1 points, 5.5 assists, and 1.7 steals per contest last season, and will also look to see a jump from underclassman Courtney Zensen, who averaged 7.7 points in her first season as a Bulldog. They also added veteran experience and quality in the form of three Division I transfers. Alexis Callins, who was a Third-Team All-ASUN selection and 1,000-point scorer in her career, and Emily Jones, who played 18 games last season, join from North Alabama, while Kynidi Mason Striverson comes in from University of Evansville, where she averaged 11.5 points and 2.7 rebounds last season.
 
Men's Teams:
 
Alaska Anchorage Seawolves
Location: Anchorage, AK
Conference: Great Northwest Athletic Conference
Head Coach: Rusty Osborne (19^th season)
2023-24 Record: 21-11 (10-8 GNAC)
 
After a 20-win season, a GNAC Championship appearance, and a trip to the NCAA West Region Tournament, the Alaska Anchorage Seawolves look to build off their last season success as they head into their 2024-25 campaign. Led by head coach Rusty Osborne, the Seawolves ranked T-4 in the most recent GNAC Preseason coaches' poll with key returners Dillon Barrientos and Bishop Tosi earning Preseason All-GNAC recognition as well. Barrientos averaged 11.1 points per game and a team best 3.6 assists per game for Anchorage in 2023-24 while Tosi's season was cut short due to injury but looks to bounce back with a breakout year. Also looking to make an impact this season for the Seawolves is Sean Evans who averaged over 17 points per game at Nebraska-Kearney, Tyler Burraston who also averaged 17.5 points per game at Green River Community College, and Jesse Stines a transfer from Irvine Valley College. Key returners for Anchorage include Sloan Lentfer who made 22 starts in 2023-24, Hasaan Herrington who played in all 33 games a season ago, Luke Devine, and Lyman Simmons. The Seawolves roster features five returners, three returners and eight newcomers.
 
(RV) Montana State University Billings Yellowjackets
Location: Billings, MT
Conference: Great Northwest Athletic Conference
Head Coach: Luke Fennelly (2^nd season)
2023-24 Record: 20-10 (14-4 GNAC)
 
Following back-to-back 20-win seasons, back-to-back NCAA Tournament appearances, a GNAC Regular Season Title, and nearly sweeping every conference award, expectations are high for the Yellowjackets to keep their recent success going. Luke Fennelly, NABC West Region and GNAC Coach of the Year, looks to lead this star-studded lineup with help from D2CCA West Region and GNAC Player of the Year Jalen Tot. Tot most recently was named GNAC Preseason Player of the Year and was named to the GNAC Preseason All-Conference Team accompanied by Famous Lefthand. Just a season ago Tot earned his accolades by averaging over 15 points per game while shooting nearly 50 percent from the field and over 43 percent from beyond the arch. The 'Jackets were picked second in the 2024-25 GNAC Preseason Coaches Poll and are hungry to make another post season run. Despite the low turnover that 'Jackets brought in 10 newcomers, including three freshman and seven transfers. Amongst the transfers are Division I bounce backs David Jones from Georgia Southern and Cooper Dewitt from IUPUI, Kael Robinson from Rocky Mountain College where he averaged over 18 points per game, and Brendon Johnson from Dominican University where he averaged over 10 points per game.
 
University of Mary Marauders
Location: Bismarck, ND
Conference: Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference
Head Coach: Jack Nelson (4^th season)
2023-24 Record: 7-21 (2-20 NSIC)
 
The Marauders look to prove the voters wrong in their 2024-25 season, after being selected to finish 15^th in the Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference Preseason Polls. Looking to lead Mary this season is newcomer Kevin McGaskey who was selected as an NSIC Player to Watch. McGaskey is a Division I transfer from Prairie View A&M where he averaged 4.0 points per game, 3.0 assists per game, 2.2 rebounds per game, and tallied 35 total steals for the Panthers. Key returner Xavier Lewis also looks to help lead the Marauders after posting 6.7 points per game and a team best 5.5 rebounds per game as a sophomore. Returning for U Mary are key players Xavier Lewis who averaged 6.7 points per game with 149 rebounds and 36 assists, Alex Mattes who averaged 6.2 points per game with 32 rebounds and 22 assists, and Ty Rogers who averaged 5.7 points per game with 95 rebounds. Also returning for the Marauders is Rich Ashu, Gunner Swanson, Nick Harrell, and Liam Dougherty.
 
Rogers State University Hillcats
Location: Claremore, OK
Conference: Mid-America Intercollegiate Athletics Association
Head Coach: Justin Barkley (15^th season)
2023-24 Record: 17-12 (14-8 MIAA)
 
After a first-round bye and a semifinals loss in the Mid-America Intercollegiate Athletic Association conference tournament, the Hillcats look to build off their 17-win season to make another post-season run. Rogers State was ranked eighth in their 2024-25 Preseason Coaches' Poll and sixth in their Preseason Media Poll. After losing key returners like Rodney Battle who was named Third Team All-MIAA and Isaac Johnson who was All-MIAA Honorable Mention, 2023-24 All-MIAA Honorable Mention selection Kofi Hamilton looks to lead the Hillcats in their 2024-25 campaign. Hamilton averaged 11.7 points per game and a team best 5.6 rebounds per game just a season ago. The Hillcats looks to lean on a veteran roster as they return eight players including Anthony Marshall Jr., Bryce Tillery, Evan Anderson, Griffin Rogers, Sam Davidson, Mario Fox, and Caden Fry. Amongst the returners Marshall Jr. averaged over ten points for Rogers state a season ago, followed by Anderson at 8.6 and Fry at 7.2. RSU also welcomes eight newcomers including two freshman and six transfers.
 
(RV) St. Edward's University Hilltoppers
Location: Austin, TX
Conference: Lone Star Conference
Head Coach: Andre Cook (16^th season)
2023-24 Record: 21-11 (14-7 LSC)
 
Coming off a 20-win season and a Lone Star Conference Tournament appearance in 2023-24, head coach Andre Cook and the Hilltoppers look to repeat their success with a mix of key returners and fresh faces. Picked fifth in the LSC Preseason Rankings, the Hilltoppers return 2023-24 All-LSC Second Team forward Blake Nielson and 2023-24 All-LSC Third Team guard Gavino Ramos. Nielson averaged 11.5 points per game, 5.4 rebounds per game, and 5.2 assists per game last season and most recently made the 2024-25 LSC Preseason Players to Watch List. Ramos also had an impressive 2023-24 campaign, posting 14.3 points per game, 4.2 rebounds per game, and 4.0 assists per game. The Hilltoppers also return Jamison Kay who averaged 5.2 points per game with 92 rebounds and 23 assists, Conor McManus who averaged 3.6 points per game with 74 rebounds and 23 assists, and Jake DeFranza who made nine appearances with nine points and seven rebounds. St. Edwards welcomes 10 newcomers including four freshman and seven transfers.
 
Texas A&M International University Dustdevils
Location: Laredo, TX
Conference: Lone Star Conference
Head Coach: Mac McConnell (5^th season)
2023-24 Record: 18-12 (13-9 LSC)
 
Texas A&M International look to repeat a post season run following their 85-75 upset over #2 Dallas Babtist in their first ever LSC Tournament appearance. The Dustdevils were picked to finish sixth in the 2024-25 LSC Preseason Polls, receiving one first place vote and 127 total points. Returning for his senior season is Olaverr Camacho who was the only Dustdevil to make the 2023-24 LSC Preseason Players to Watch List. In 2023-24, Camacho averaged 5.7 points per game, 5.5 rebounds per game, and shot 61.4% from the field earning him All-LSC Honorable Mention and an LSC All-Defensive Team recognition. The Dustdevils also return key players like Emmanuel Alexandre who averaged 7.3 points per game with 68 rebounds and 24 assists, Esteban Roacho who averaged 5.2 points per game with 82 rebounds and 50 assists, and Rogelio Leyendecker. Despite that, Texas A&M International welcomes 11 newcomers who help to mesh with the key returners heading into the 2024-25 season.