2020 Frontier Preview: Some of the NAIA's best women's teams reside in the Frontier

For the last several years, it would be hard to argue that the Frontier Conference hasn't been the absolute toughest conference in all of NAIA women's basketball, culminating with Montana Western's 2019 NAIA national championship last March in Billings.

And through the first three months of NAIA basketball this season, it would be hard to argue that anything has changed. In other words, the Frontier is still really good.

Yet there have been some surprises, and that's going to make the next two months very intriguing. The teams picked to finish sixth and seventh this season, the MSU-Northern Skylights and Montana Tech Orediggers, well, they lead the field heading into the new year. And, devastated by graduation, Western is still really good, too. In fact, the whole league is good, with no team in the Frontier having lost more than five games to this point. So, once again, it's going to be literally a battle to crown a Frontier champion, and, now more than ever, the Frontier is easily the toughest league in the NAIA.

Here's a team-by-team breakdown of the 2020 Frontier women's basketball season, in its predicted order of finish.

Carroll College

Fighting Saints

2019-20: 1-1, 9-5

2018-19: 14-4, 26-6, 2nd

Head Coach: Rachelle Sayers

Gym: Carroll P.E. Center

OUTLOOK: Carroll cut down the nets in last year's Frontier tournament, beating Western in a thrilling championship game. But, while the Saints did advance to the NAIA Elite 8, they weren't satisfied. Now, Carroll is back and hungry for much, much more. Replacing Hannah Dean and others hasn't been easy for the Saints, but with Frontier play here for good, it's easy to see why they're a heavy favorite. With former Havre Blue Pony Dani Wagner (5-9) leading the way, and Christine Denny (5-9), Sienna Swannack (5-9), and point guard Jaidyn Lyman (5-3) back to run the show, Carroll is talented and tough. The Saints not only have their sights set on repeating as Frontier champions but also on going much deeper into March in what will be the final NAIA national tournament held in Billings.

Rocky Mountain College

Battlin' Bears

2019-20: 1-1, 9-3

2018-19: 10-8, 20-13, 3rd

Head Coach: Wes Keller

Gym: Fortin Center

OUTLOOK: It hasn't taken Wes Keller long to build the Battlin' Bears into a Frontier powerhouse. And that's exactly what Rocky is expected to be this winter. The Bears did lose three starters to graduation last season, but senior Markaela Francis is having a huge season thus far, and point guard Khloie Thatcher (5-7) has become one of the best in the league. Add to that the play of Mackenzie Dethman (6-1) and Destinee Pointer (5-8) among others, and RMC is going to be a bear for every Frontier team to handle, especially defensively, where the No. 25 Bears are among the best in the country.

Providence

Argos

2019-20: 0-2, 9-5

2018-19: 7-11, 18-14, 5th

Head Coach: Bill Himmelberg

Gym: McLaughlin Center

OUTLOOK: The No. 19 Argos have had some memorable seasons recently, including runs to the national tourney. Last year, though, was one the Argos want to put behind them, and they're poised to do that. The Argos did go to the big dance, but overall, they finished 7-11 in the Frontier, and this season, with Frontier Preseason Player of the year Emilee Maldonado (5-5) and Parker Esary (6-1) back as one of the best 1-2 punches in the country, UP should be very dangerous. Add to that a healthy Jenna Randich (5-7), and a deep roster with tons of new talent, and the Argos are every bit a contender for the Frontier title, especially with an offense that averages nearly 90 points per night.

Lewis-Clark State

Warriors

2019-20: 1-1, 9-3

2018-19: 9-9, 22-12, 4th

Head Coach: Brian Orr

Gym: Activity Center

OUTLOOK: The Warriors have been one of the torch-bearers in the Frontier for a long, long time. Now in their last season in the league, LCSC will look to be a dominant force once more. And veteran head coach Brian Orr has the squad to do it after LCSC once again went to the national tourney last year. Star point guard Peyton Souvenir is the catalyst for the Warriors, who boast a deep and talented roster that also includes Kiara Burlage (6-0) and Jansen Edmiston (5-9) who form a great scoring duo. LCSC is also one of the best offensive teams in the Frontier, while adding a full-court pressure defense that allows less than 60 ppg. And all that adds up to one more likely great run before the Warriors head back to the Cascade Conference.

Montana Western

Bulldogs

2019-20: 1-1, 8-5

2018-19: 15-3, 30-4, 1st

Head Coach: Lindsey Woolley

Gym: Straugh Gym

OUTLOOK: It would be easy to forgive the Bulldogs if they took a step back after winning the NAIA national championship, and graduating one of the best players in Frontier history last season. But, Western appears to have no intentions of stepping aside after last year's dream season. Key returnees Paige Holmes (5-6) Shannon Worcster (5-6), Mesa King (6-1) and Savanna Bignell (5-9) have meshed well with a talented group of newcomers, and once again, Lindsey Woolley's team is as good as it gets on defense. So, with all that said, there's no reason why Western, which is getting votes in the Coaches Poll, won't at least contend to defend its Frontier title.

MSU-Northern

Skylights

2019-20: 2-0, 13-1

2018-19: 5-13, 13-18, 6th

Head Coach: Chris Mouat

Gym: Armory Gymnasium

OUTLOOK: What a start for the Skylights. In head coach Chris Mouat's 13th season in Havre, Northern is off to one of its best starts ever. The Skylights lead the NAIA in scoring defense, and have four Top 25 wins to their credit. They restart Frontier play ranked No. 11 in the country and are the only unbeaten team left in the league. Led by veterans Peyton Kehr, Hailey Nicholson, Sydney Hovde and Tiara Gilham, as well as exciting point guard McKenzie Gunter, and so much more, Northern starts 2020 looking every bit like the team to beat in the race for the Frontier title.

Montana Tech

Orediggers

2019-20: 1-1, 11-3

2018-19: 3-15, 13-17

Head Coach: Carly VanDyke

Gym: HPER Complex

OUTLOOK: The Orediggers haven't had many high finishes in the Frontier of late. But that doesn't mean they haven't been good, it just means the Frontier is so tough, And this winter, Tech will be good again. With star Mesa Williams (5-10) averaging over 18 points per game, and with Mollie Peoples (5-8), Kaylee Zard (6-0) and Tavia Rooney (5-11) all returning to the fold, Tech has one of the most veteran teams in the Frontier, so don't be surprised if the Orediggers are consistently making noise over the next two months.