CROOKSTON, Minn. –  The University of Minnesota Crookston women's basketball team will open up their Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference (NSIC) schedule as the Golden Eagles take on their rivals from 88 miles down U.S. Highway 2 in Bemidji State University. The two foes will play Sat., Nov. 29 at 2 p.m. at BSU Gymnasium. The Golden Eagles enter the weekend with a 1-3 overall mark after picking up a split at the Oahu Classic in Honolulu, Hawai'i with a win over University of Hawai'i Hilo and a loss to Hawai'i Pacific University. Bemidji State is 2-2 on the season coming into the weekend.

The Golden Eagles have been led this season by Alexa Thielman (Jr., G, Buffalo, Minn./Health Science), who comes in averaging 16.3 points and 4.3 rebounds per game. In addition to Thielman, Katrina Moenkedick (Jr., F, Perham, Minn./Applied Studies) comes into Saturday averaging 12.0 points per game.

The Golden Eagles are shooting 41.6 percent from the field and 32.3 percent from beyond the arc, while averaging 70.8 points per game.

The Beavers' wins came over Northland College and Mayville State University, while they lost to Fort Hays State University and No. 24 Pittsburg State.

Bemidji State has been led this season by sophomore Tatum Sheley, who comes in averaging 15.5 points and 5.0 rebounds per game, while shooting 46.2 percent from beyond the arc. Aimee Pelzer comes in averaging 14.8 points and 5.8 rebounds per game for the Beavers, while Hanna Zerr is averaging 8.5 points and .40 rebounds.

Bemidji State is shooting 41.4 percent from the field this season and 29.3 percent from beyond the arc while averaging 75.0 points per game.

The Connection

As usual, the UMC and BSU women's basketball rivalry has a lot of ties as Mike Roysland played basketball at Bemidji State University and is a member of the school's Hall of Fame, while Mike Curfman coached the Golden Eagles before heading to Bemidji State in 2005. In addition, both Roysland and Curfman are natives of Fosston, Minn., and still maintain residence in the town.

Impact Newcomers

The Golden Eagles have been aided by the play of several impact newcomers this season. At point guard, Micaela Noga (G, Parkers Prairie, Minn./Health Management) and Maria Loughlin (G, Rogers, Minn.) have made an impact for the Golden Eagles. Noga is averaging 7.3 points per game, while Loughlin is averaging 4.5 points per game. Minnesota Crookston has been looking for better point guard play after operating without a true point guard for most of the 2013-14 season.

The same could be said for the post, another spot UMC needed a boost at. The freshman duo of Emily Gruber (Fr., F/C, Monticello, Minn./Undecided) and Isieoma Odor (Fr., F/C, Bloomington, Minn./Health Management) has provided that for the Golden Eagles. Gruber is averaging 8.8 points and 3.8 rebounds per game. In addition, Gruber is shooting an astounding 82.6 percent from the charity stripe. Gruber is coming off the Hawai'i trip in which she shot 15-of-16 from the charity stripe for 93.8 percent. Odor comes in averaging 6.8 points and 4.8 rebounds per game. In addition, she is averaging two blocks per contest.

Series Recap

Bemidji State leads the all-time series 20-16. The Golden Eagles went 1-1 last year with a win at home and a loss on the road to the Beavers. The Golden Eagles will look to add a win to their total of 16 wins in the series dating back to Jan. 16, 1996.

The Scout

The Beavers started four guards in their last game with just one player starting over six-foot. Center Sierra Senske is 6-2, while the rest of the starters are 5-10 and shorter. Of the most used players off the bench, Sarah Durand at six-feet is the biggest sub Curfman uses off the bench.

Last Weekend

- Alexa Thielman led the Golden Eagles on their Hawai'i trip with an average of 17 points and six rebounds per game. Thielman showed up big on the glass in game one of the Oahu Classic with a near double-double of 14 points and nine rebounds against Hawai'i Hilo. However, Thielman helped keep the Golden Eagles in the game the whole way in a hard-fought battle against Hawai'i Pacific with 24 points on 8-of-16 shooting from the field.

- The Golden Eagles connected on 8-of-21 three-point attempts in the loss against Hawai'i Pacific for 38.1 percent. Thielman led the way with three treys, while Loughlin and Ashley Martell (Sr., G, Somerset, Wis./Health Science) each added two apiece.

- The Beavers won 82-76 in their last game against Mayville State University. Sheley came off the bench for 24 points on 10-of-20 from the field, including four treys. Freshman Sarah Durand came off the bench for 15 points.

For more information, visit the Golden Eagle Athletics website at www.goldeneaglesports.com.

Follow the Golden Eagles on Facebook at Golden Eagle Sports and on Twitter at @UMCAthletics.

The University of Minnesota, Crookston is an NCAA Division II Institution and a member of the Northern

Sun Intercollegiate Conference (NSIC). The Golden Eagle Equestrian team is a member of the Intercollegiate Horse Show Association (IHSA).

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