CROOKSTON, Minn. – The University of Minnesota Crookston women's basketball team will look to open up the New Year the way that they ended 2015, as they come into 2016 on a three-game winning streak. The Golden Eagles will take on University of Mary Jan. 2 at 4 p.m. at the McDowell Activity Center in Bismarck, N.D., before going North to take on Minot State University Jan. 3 at 4 p.m. at the MSU Dome. The Golden Eagles enter the weekend with a 7-3 (4-2 NSIC) mark and currently sit in a tie for second place in the NSIC North with Minnesota State University Moorhead and Northern State University. They are behind only St. Cloud State University.

U-Mary is currently sitting at 7-7 (1-5 NSIC) entering 2016, while Minot State is 6-6 (3-3 NSIC).

Minnesota Crookston Golden Eagles
Head Coach: Mike Roysland
Record at UMC: 86-166 Season at UMC: 10th Season

U-Mary Marauders
Head Coach: Rick Neumann
Record at U-Mary: 43-28 Season at U-Mary: Fourth Season
Minot State Beavers
Head Coach: Sheila Green-Gerding
Record at MINOT: 352-245  Season at MINOT: 21^st Season

Jan. 2 • Bismarck, N.D. • McDowell Activity Center • 4 p.m.
Minnesota Crookston at U-Mary
Video: http://portal.stretchinternet.com/umary/
Live Stats: http://www.sidearmstats.com/mary/wbball/
Radio: 1260 KROX AM/105.7 FM (Chris Fee, Play by Play)
Online: www.kroxam.com
 
Jan. 3 • Minot, N.D. • MSU Dome • 4 p.m.
Minnesota Crookston at Minot State
Video: http://portal.stretchinternet.com/minotstate/
Live Stats: http://www.sidearmstats.com/minotstate/wbball/
Radio: 1260 KROX AM/105.7 FM (Chris Fee, Play by Play)
Online: www.kroxam.com
 
#5StoryLines
1.       Will Katrina Nordick build on her fantastic end to the 2015 calendar year, in which she averaged 24.7 points and 10.7 rebounds in three games?
2.       Can Alexa Thielman move past Brittani Wiese in fifth place all-time for scoring? She currently needs 43 points.
3.       Can Alexa Thielman move past Amy Kuznia for the all-time record for three-pointers? She currently needs eight three-pointers.
4.       Will the Golden Eagles continue to get balanced scoring? UMC has had at least three players score in double-figures in the last three games with four scoring in double digits against Augustana and Bemidji State.
5.       Can UMC find their shot from three? The Golden Eagles shot over 48 percent against both Augustana and Wayne State, but struggled in their last game against Bemidji State, hitting just 30.8 percent from beyond the arc.
 
#Tidbits
-          The Golden Eagle women's basketball team is 7-3 (4-2 NSIC) coming off of consecutive wins over Augustana University, Wayne State College (Neb.) and Bemidji State University. The Golden Eagles have really found their groove, averaging 79 points per game over the last three contests, up from an average of 70.6 points over their first seven games. In their wins this season, UMC is averaging 76.7 points in their wins and 64.7 points per game in their three losses this season. In addition, the Golden Eagles are shooting 72-of-156 for 46.2 percent from beyond the arc in their seven wins and 19-of-51 for 37.2 percent in their three losses.
 
-          - UMC's pair of seniors Alexa Thielman and Katrina Nordick continue to break milestones as they are currently No.6 and No. 3 on the all-time scoring charts at UMC, while Thielman threatens for the three-point mark and Nordick is 102 rebounds from Laurie Tyson's record. Nordick needs just one point to move past Kari Score for third all-time in scoring, while Thielman will look to surpass former teammate Brittani Wiese in fourth all-time for scoring. Thielman needs just eight three-pointers to move past Amy Kuznia for the three-point record.

All-Time Scoring List
1. Jamie Zelinsky 1,724
2. Karna Plaine 1,642
T3. Kari Score 1,243
T3. Katrina (Moenkedick) Nordick 1,243
5. Brittani Wiese 1,204
6. Alexa Thielman 1,162
7. Steph Mayclin 1,089
8. Cathy Behr 1,060
9. Jess Forsline 1,040
10. Bri Zabel 1,013
 
-          - The Golden Eagles have one of the more productive starting line-ups in all of NCAA Division II basketball. UMC's five starters are all averaging over nine points per game with Nordick, Thielman and Alison Hughes all averaging in double-figure scoring.
 
-          - UMC is currently leading the entire nation with a 44.0 percent shooting percentage from beyond the arc. Alison Hughes is shooting 48.8 percent, while Thielman is shooting 45.3 percent, Emily Gruber is shooting 40.9 percent, Caitlin Michaelis is shooting 42.1 percent and Katrina Nordick is shooting 58.3 percent on just 12 attempts. Hughes is ranked 14^th in three-point percentage nationally, while Thielman is 16^th four three-pointers made.
 
-          U-Mary comes into the weekend with a 7-7 (1-5 NSIC) mark. The Marauders have lost their last three dating back to an 80-77 win over Southwest Minnesota State University Dec. 11. The Marauders are led by Brittney Dietz, who is averaging 21.8 points per game and 6.5 rebounds per game. After Dietz though, the Marauders have a big gap. Dani Williams is averaging 8.6 points and 5.0 rebounds, while Hannah Larson is averaging 8.3 points 8.4 rebounds per game. The Marauders are averaging 69.6 points per game and limiting their opponents to 57.9 points per game. They are shooting 31.1 percent from beyond the arc, but have had goodthree-oint shooting defense, limiting their foes to just 22.3 percent.
 
-          Minot State enters the weekend with a 6-6 (3-3 NSIC) mark. The Beavers won their last two games with a pair of wins over University of Mary going into the break. The Beavers are led in the post by 6-3 post Savana Kingsbury, who is averaging 13.3 points and 7.5 rebounds. They have two others players averaging double-figure scoring with Alex Haley averaging 13.2 points per game, while Sarah Lester is averaging 10.4 points and 5.8 rebounds. Minot State is getting out-scored 73.3 to 71.4. They struggle from beyond the arc, shooting at a 38.0 percent clip.
 
-          #DifferentNameSameGame
2014-15 All-NSIC First Team pick Katrina Nordick is up to her same tricks, despite getting married in the off-season and changing from a Moenkedick to a Nordick. Nordick has won two-consecutive NSIC Player of the Week honors after averaging 24.7 points and 10.7 rebounds in wins over Wayne State, Augustana and Bemidji State. Nordick leads the team, averaging 16.5 points and 7.1 rebounds per game.
 
-          #AlexaFromThree
Watch out for Alexa Thielman from beyond the arc. Thielman is among the top nationally for three-pointers made this season. She is shooting 45.2 percent from beyond the arc this season. Thielman has also been strong for the Golden Eagles in their three-consecutive wins, averaging 16.3 points per game against Wayne State, Augustana and Bemidji state. Thielman is second on the game for the 2015-16 season, averaging 15.2 points per game.
 
-          #WatchOutForHughes
Freshman Alison Hughes has been a potent threat for the Golden Eagles in her first season in the Maroon and Gold. Hughes is third on the team with 10.2 points per game, while leading the team with a 48.8 percent shooting percentage from beyond the arc, which is also among the national leaders.
 
-          #Em
Sophomore Emily Gruber has also been strong of late, averaging 11.7 points per game. Along with fellow sophomore Micaela Noga, the pair makes up the core of the future for the Golden Eagles. Gruber is averaging 9.3 points and 6.8 rebounds per game on the season, while Noga is averaging 9.3 points and 5.3 rebounds per game. Noga has also been great from the charity stripe, shooting 87.5 percent.