The University of Mary women's basketball team hasn't played a game yet and has already suffered a setback.

But not in the win-loss column.

The NCAA has denied an appeal by U-Mary to allow senior Sonny Schulz additional eligibility.

Thus the Marauders will go into battle without their leading returning scorer.

Schulz, a 5-foot-7 guard from Watford City, earned All-NSIC third-team honors last season. She averaged 12.9 points per game and reached double digits points 17 times in the first 17 games of the season. She led the Marauders in scoring nine times.

"We were devastated," senior post Liz Sipma said. "We knew there was a possibility that she couldn't play, but deep down we didn't come to terms with it."

Schulz could not be reached for comment and coach Fred Fridley refused to comment beyond what was was issued in a press release.

Initially, U-Mary filed a Ten Semester Extension Request seeking additional eligibility for Schulz. The request was denied by the NCAA. U-Mary appealed the initial decision to the NCAA Division II Committee on Student-Athlete Reinstatement on behalf of Schulz. The committee, comprised of peers from athletic departments across the country, rejected the appeal.

U-Mary learned the appeal had been denied by a phone call from the NCAA. Thus far no rationale for the decision has been provided. A written communication is not anticipated for a couple of weeks.

"Sonny was a big asset to the team," said Sipma, who is from Dickinson. "Her presence will be missed on the floor, but we will come together as a team. Sonny wants to be part of the team, which will be helpful to us."

NCAA student athletes are given 10 academic semesters to play four years of collegiate athletics. The 10 semesters allow a student to redshirt one year and to play four.

Because Schulz was forced to sit out a medical hardship season after already redshirting one season, U-Mary sought an extension of the 10-semester rule. The extension would have allowed Schulz 12 semesters to play her four years.

"Sonny had a great career for the University of Mary and we're sorry her legacy ends off the court instead of on it," Fridley said in the press release. "She helped us quickly become a respected member of the Northern Sun and the NCAA."

Schulz played a handful of games in 2004-05, her freshman year, helping the Marauders advanced to the NAIA quarterfinals.

U-Mary began transitioning to NCAA Division II in 2005-06. The school then became ineligible for the NAIA playoffs and was no longer a member of the Dakota Athletic Conference. Schulz chose to redshirt that season.

In 2006-07, U-Mary's first year of competition in the Northern Sun and NCAA Division II, Schulz received a medical hardship after becoming ill and playing only in the season opener.

Schulz was a full-time contributor for the Marauders the past two seasons.

She was one of the best free throw shooters in the nation, making 85.1 percent of her attempts.

Schulz scored 646 points in her career, 26th all-time among U-Mary women's basketball players.

Sipma said she sees Shaunna Knife as Schulz's heir apparent. Knife is a true freshman from Bottineau and was a North Dakota Miss Basketball finalist last season.