Ironwood, Mich. - 
Shannon Nelson begins her 11th season in charge of the Northland women's basketball program. The Pioneers have qualified for the Region 13B Tournament in each of Nelson's first 10 seasons. The Pioneers won the Region 13B title in 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2016, 2017, 2018 and 2020, reached the NJCAA Division III championship game in 2014, 2016 and 2020, and won a national championship in 2014. 
Nelson's top assistant, Beth Tvedt, is in her eighth season after joining the staff  in 2013-14, and Alicia Backer is in her third season as an assistant. 
The Pioneers return two players from their 2020 national runner-up team - Macy Skyberg and Tessani Peterson. 
Skyberg, a 5-7 guard from East Grand Forks, is the only Pioneer on this year's roster who has previous collegiate game experience. She averaged 10.6 points and 5.7 rebounds per game in 2020. 
"Experience is the biggest thing," Nelson said. "She knows what our program is about, our expectations and how to approach practices. She is really just a good all around player for us. She was third in rebounding and scoring, and second in assists. She can do a little bit of everything. She will have the same type of role. The area where we want her to take the biggest step is in her leadership by example."
Also returning to the Pioneers is Tessani Peterson. The 5-7 forward from Middle River was on the team two years ago but she did not log any game minutes due to a knee injury that she suffered in high school.
"I think Tessani will bring some of that same knowledge and experience [as Skyberg]," Nelson said. "Having gone to a region tournament and national tournament, she knows what to expect. She's a hybrid player, kind of a forward and a guard for us. We are looking for her to bring some of that leadership in demonstrating how to do things."
Nine freshman make up the remainder of the Northland lineup. 
Felicity Andress, 5-2 guard from McIntosh - "Felicity is small but feisty.  She can shoot the three. The biggest thing for her, at her size, is getting a good matchup."
Chloe Kuznia, 5-2 guard from Grygla - "She is someone who can handle the ball for us. She excels on the defensive end of the court for us. She is someone who's tough and wants to compete."
Jackie Lynn Taflin, 5-7 guard from Clearbrook - "She is a taller, stronger point guard for us. She plays pretty physical for a point guard and creates some matchup problems for other teams."
Sydney Clark, 5-6 guard from Mahnomen - "She is coming off an injury this fall. She is a coaches kid and has a really high basketball IQ. She missed a lot of workouts this fall but is picking things up really quickly. We are looking for big things especially in the second half of the season."
Lexie Benke, 5-5 guard from Middle River - "She's super quick. She is a really good on-ball defender. She is a lefty, and good at going to her left. Good at getting herself open or getting someone else open."
Nicole Swedberg, 6-0 center from Ogema - "We had her sister Megan, who was an All-American for us. She is a similar player. Good with her back to the basket and a good passer from that position. We are expecting her do a lot on the boards and defending the paint as well."
Kasey Stegman, 5-9 forward from Drayton, N.D. - "She is another coaches kid. High basketball IQ. She's a natural leader in terms of her communication on the floor. She can shoot the three, post up a little bit and can contribute a lot on both ends of the floor."
Vivian Coan, 5-8 forward from Goodridge - "She can flat out shoot the three. She's tough nosed and not afraid to play physical even though shes a little undersized. We're going to expect a lot out of her on the boards."
Keylee Dahl, 6-2 forward from Newfolden - "Keylee is just a flat out scorer. She can score in anyway possible – someone who is 6-2 who can shoot the three. She can also score inside. She's probably going to carry a little bigger offensive role. She will also be expected to contribute in the paint on defense." 
Family Act
This year's Northland women's basketball team has three players with ties to former players. Nicole Swedberg is the younger sister of Megan Swedberg, who played for the Pioneers from 2016-18; Keylee Dahl is the cousin of Allyson Dahl, who played for the Pioneers from 2014-16; and Kasey Stegman, cousin of Emily Anderson, who played for the Pioneers from 2016-18. 
Pioneers should have good depth, ready to compete for another region title. 
When the Northland women's basketball team began regular season play two years ago, it did so with just seven healthy players. Depth was a concern all season, but the Pioneers overcame an 0-4 start to finish the year 22-6 that includes a loss to fellow MCAC foe Western Tech. 
Nelson likes her team and she expects them to compete for a region title, while at the same time noting that the MCAC as a whole has become one of the premier conferences in the nation. 
"I believe that we will be able to compete again for a region championship, but its going to be challenging because all of the teams have raised the bar a little bit," Nelson said. "Two years ago, it was two MCAC schools competing for the National Championship. We have a lot of talent and a lot of different people who can score. It will be a matter of shaking off the nerves and just playing within their own abilities."
The Pioneers open the season as the top-ranked team in NJCAA Division III. The ranking puts an even bigger target on the Pioneers' back as defending Region 13B champion. 
"Being ranked number one is great for our program and its great for recruiting, but it also creates pressure that they need to learn how to manage," Nelson said. 
The Pioneers open their season tonight at 5 p.m. against Milwaukee Area Technical College in a game that is part of the GCC Classic, hosted by Gogebic Community College in Ironwood, Mich. The Pioneers face Western Tech in a rematch of the 2020 NJCAA Division III championship in day two of the GCC Classic on Saturday at noon.