CROOKSTON, Minn.- The University of Minnesota Crookston women's basketball program officially opened up practice Thurs., Oct. 15. The Golden Eagles are looking to build upon one of their best season's in program history in 2014-15 as they finished third in the NSIC North with a 14-14 (12-10 NSIC) mark. The Golden Eagles would be amond the top eight teams in the conference, earning a place in the NSIC/Sanford Health Women's Basketball Tournament at The Pentagon in Sioux Falls, S.D. The Golden Eagles would lose in the first round, but hope to be able to make a return trip during the 2015-16 season. They will however have to get through an always tough NSIC schedule.

Guards
The Golden Eagles backcourt will be led by returning All-NSIC First Team pick Alexa Thielman (Sr., G, Buffalo, Minn.). Thielman led UMC is scoring as a junior with 15.4 points per game, while averaging 4.2 rebounds per contest. She was 59-of-177 for 33.3 percent from beyond the arc and 77-of-88 for 87.5 percent from the charity stripe. Thielman joined the 1,000 point club last season, becoming the 10th player in school history to do so. She has 1,010 career points.

In addition to Thielman, the Golden Eagles return Micaela Noga (So., G, Parkers Prairie, Minn.), who is a versatile guard. Noga started 19 games last season and averaged 8.8 points and 3.6 rebounds. Noga shot 32.6 percent from the field.

UMC also returns Dawn Leland (So., G, Merrill, Wis.), who appeared in 11 games last season. The Golden Eagles have several newcomers who should make an impact for the team at either the point, shooting guard or wing position. UMC has Alison Hughes (Fr., G, Janesville, Wis.), Caitlin Michaelis (Fr., G, Marshfield, Wis.), Katie Klein (Fr. ,G, Park Rapids, Minn.) and Lindsey Weber (Fr., G/F, Delafield, Wis.).

Forward/Center
Leading the way at the forward and center positions will be Katrina Nordick (Sr., F, Perham, Minn.). The former Katrina Moenkedick was an All-NSIC First Team selection last season. She was second on the team averaging 14.5 points and led the team with 6.8 rebounds per game. Moenkedick shot 75.0 percent from the charity stripe and 46.8 percent from the field. Moenkedick is also a 1,000 point scorer. She has scored 1,104 career points and has 503 career rebounds. She needs 620 points to move past Jamie Zelinsky as the all-time leading scorer. She currently sits fifth behind Zelinsky, Karna Plaine, Kari Score and Brittani Wiese. Nordick needs 176 rebounds to move past Laurie Tyson as the all-time leading rebounder for the program.

In addition to Nordick, the Golden Eagles also return 2014-15 All-NSIC Freshman Team member Emily Gruber (Fr., F/C, Monticello,Minn.), who averaged 9.1 points and 5.5 rebounds per game in 23 starts. Gruber will be looked to have an improved year as a sophomore. Isieoma Odor (So., F/C, Bloomington, Minn.) also returns after missing most of the year due to injury. In six games, she averaged 5.8 points and 4.0 rebounds. Her physical nature will help add depth to the post. Megan Taylor (R-Jr., F/C, Estelline, S.D.) also returns with experience for the Golden Eagles. Taylor averaged 1.5 points and 1.7 rebounds in 26 games played last season.

The lone newcomer is 6-3 center Leanna Haugen, a local product out of Argyle, Minn., who will look to compete for playing time in her first year in the Maroon and Gold.

Coaching Staff
Mike Roysland enters his ninth season at the helm after earning NSIC Coach of the Year, following one of his most successful seasons yet. He has helped seven players earn 12 All-Conference awards during his time at UMC. Last season, he also helped lead UMC to their first-ever win in the NSIC Tournament over Concordia-St. Paul as the Golden Eagles hosted their first-ever home playoff game in any sport.

Roysland is supported by long-time assistant Nate Mahlen, who he has known since his days as a high school coach at Win-E-Mac in Erskine. The two have coached together at Fosston H.S. and for the past eight years at UMC. Crookston High School legend and former University of Iowa guard Kamille Wahlin enters her third season helping out the team, while Bryant Friskop, who helped out a very successful University of North
Dakota program the last few seasons as a manager and student assistant, enters his first season with the team.

The Golden Eagles will play exhibitions against NCAA Division I schools North Dakota State University (Nov. 5) and University of North Dakota (Nov. 8) before opening their regular-season in Puerto Rico against University of Puerto Rico-Rio Piedras and University of Puerto Rico-Bayamon. UMC will open up the NSIC season against Bemidji State University Nov. 28 at 2 p.m. at Lysaker Gymnasium.

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 a NCAA Division II university located in the Red River Valley of Northwest Minnesota. UMC sponsors 11 intercollegiate athletic teams with membership in the Northern Sun Intercollegiate conference (NSIC) and the Intercollegiate Horse Show Association (IHSA). The NSIC is a 16-team conference with schools situated in Minnesota, Iowa, North Dakota, South Dakota and Nebraska.
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