CROOKSTON, Minn. – The University of Minnesota Crookston women's basketball team will conclude 2016 with a pair of NSIC road games Dec. 30 and Dec. 31. The Golden Eagles will take on Winona State University at 6 p.m. Fri., Dec. 30 at McCown Gymnasium in Winona, Minn. They will then head down to the Hawkeye State for a New Year's Eve meeting with Upper Iowa University Saturday at 4 p.m. at Dorman Gymnasium.

The Golden Eagles will look to build on the positive momentum they went into the holiday break with after picking up their first win of the season Dec. 15 against Bemidji State University. Winona State comes in with a No. 16 national ranking. The Warriors are 10-2 on the season coming into Friday. Upper Iowa enters the weekend with a 0-10 mark on the season.

Minnesota Crookston Golden Eagles
Head Coach: Mike Roysland
Record at UMC: 98-178 Season at UMC: 11^th Season

Winona State Warriors
Head Coach: Scott Ballard
Record at WSU: 220-119 Season at WSU: 13^th Season

Upper Iowa Peacocks
Head Coach: Micha Thompson
Record at UIU: 0-10 Season at UIU: First Season

Minnesota Crookston at No. 16 Winona State
Dec. 30, 2016 – Winona, Minn. – McCown Gymnasium – 6 p.m.
Video – https://portal.stretchinternet.com/winona/
Live Stats - http://www.sidearmstats.com/winona/wbball/
Radio – 1260 KROX AM/105.7 FM

Minnesota Crookston at Upper Iowa
Dec. 31, 2016 – Fayette. Iowa – Dorman Gymnasium – 4 p.m.
Video - https://portal.stretchinternet.com/uiu/
Live Stats - http://www.sidearmstats.com/uiu/wbball/
Radio – 1260 KROX AM/105.7 FM

Weekly Snapshot
Minnesota Crookston
Projected Starters
Jr. PG 10 Micaela Noga (5-7, Parkers Prairie, Minn.) 6.7 PPG, 2.7 RPG
So. SG 14 Alison Hughes (5-7, Janesville, Wis.) 16.9 PPG, 3.4 RPG
So. 3G 3 Caitlin Michaelis (5-8, Marshfield, Wis.) 4.7 PPG, 2.6 RPG
Jr. SF 22 Emily Gruber (5-11, Monticello, Minn.) 5.8 PPG, 5.0 RPG
R-So. PF 15 Isieoma Odor (6-0, Bloomington, Minn.) 11.8 PPG, 8.0 RPG
Top Bench Players
Fr. G 11 Kitri Zezza (5-7, Albertville, Minn.) 5.8 PPG, 2.3 RPG
Fr. G/F 20 Kelsey Stinson (5-11, Cottage Grove, Wis.) 7.7 PPG, 1.8 RPG
Fr. G 32 Paige Weakley (5-9, Kearney, Mo.) 3.1 PPG, 1.8 RPG

Winona State
Projected Starters
PG 11 Jenny Tuttle (5-7, Mukwonago, Wis.) 10.0 PPG, 3.2 APG
SG 14 Tara Roelofs (5-9, Vernon Center, Minn.) 14.9 PPG, 4.7 RPG
3G 3 Liz Evenocheck (5-11, Rosemount, Minn.) 8.0 PPG, 2.5 RPG
SF 24 Hannah McGlone (6-0, Streamwood, Ill.) 8.8 PPG, 8.1 RPG
PF 32 Kayla Timmerman (6-3, Wayzata, Minn.) 11.8 PPG, 6.5 RG
Top Bench Players
F 21 Jenny Weiland (5-10, New Berlin, Wis.) 5.0 PPG, 3.8 RPG
G 1 Gabie Doud (5-9, Huxley, Iowa) 2.9 PPG, 3.1 RPG
G 25 Kayla Schaefer (5-11, Paynesville, Minn.) 2.5 PPG, 1.3 RPG

Upper Iowa
Projected Starters
Sr. PG 21 Sam Ofstad (5-4, Hurley, Wis.) 10.1 PPG, 2.9 APG
Jr. SG 10 Ashley Ray (5-5, Ames, Iowa) 7.0 PPG, 1.8 RPG
So. 3G 13 Blair Klostermann (5-11, Dyersville, Iowa) 16.2 PPG, 4.9 RPG
So. SF 24 Haley Martin (6-1, Mound, Minn.) 6.2 PPG, 5.4 RPG
R-Sr. PF 42 Carly Pagel (6-0, Sumner, Iowa) 5.7 PPG, 3.3 RPG
Top Bench Players
Jr. F 30 Blake Bergren (5-10, Red Oak, Iowa) 4.2 PPG, 3.6 RPG
So. G 3 Kari Fitzpatrick (5-10, Greeley, Iowa) 4.2 PPG, 2.8 RPG
R-So. G 14 Ashley Rosentiel (5-9, Oelwein, Iowa) 2.3 PPG, 1.7 RPG
Fr. F 22 Bekka Pierson (6-2, Waverly, Iowa) 1.9 PPG, 2.6 RPG


#5StoryLines

1. Can the Golden Eagles build off the win over Bemidji State before the holiday?
2. Can UMC box out well on the boards against Winona State?
3. Will the Golden Eagles have success from beyond the arc?
4. Who will step up and have a big game for the Golden Eagles?
5. Can freshmen Kitri Zezza and Kelsey Stinson build off a strong showing in the last few games for UMC?

#PlayerOfTheWeek
UMC sophomore Alison Hughes has had a strong start to the season. The Golden Eagle guard is coming off an NSIC North Player of the Week nod after her performance against Bemidji State. Hughes tallied 22 points on 6-of-8 from the field and 3-of-4 from beyond the arc. Hughes shot a perfect 7-of-7 from the charity stripe. She is averaging 16.9 points per game on the season. Hughes is shooting 41.1 percent from beyond the arc and 92.2 percent from the charity stripe.


#ComingOnStrong
UMC freshman Kelsey Stinson has had a major impact for the Golden Eagles, especially in the last five games for the Golden Eagles. Stinson is averaging 7.7 points per game on the season. She is tallying 10.4 points per game over the last five for UMC. Stinson is one of the team's best long-range shooters. Stinson is shooting 41.3 percent from beyond the arc this season. She is 16-of-38 for 42.1 percent over the last five contests for the Golden Eagles. Stinson will look to continue her strong play going into this weekend.


#GruberTime
UMC junior Emily Gruber had a slow start to the season, but she is starting to play up to her potential over the last four games. Gruber had a big game against Bemidji State, especially early on in the game. Gruber would finish with 14 points on 4-of-9 from the field. She did a great job of driving and getting to the basket in the game. She is averaging 8.5 points per game over the last four contests.


#SMAConnection
UMC freshman Kitri Zezza has shown a lot at times early in the season, especially in the last two games. Zezza, who continues the St. Michael-Albertville connection that has been established under Mike Roysland, has been a key bench contributor. Zezza is averaging 12.5 points per game over the last two contests for the Golden Eagles. Zezza is shooting 7-of-16 for 43.8 percent from the field.

#Tidbits

• The Golden Eagles come into the season with a 1-8 mark on the season. Minnesota Crookston is shooting 32.4 percent from beyond the arc on the season. They have been strong from the charity stripe this season, shooting 75.1 percent from the free-throw line.
• Alison Hughes leads the team with 16.9 points per game this season. In addition to Hughes, Isieoma Odor has been strong in the post. She is averaging 11.8 points and 8.0 rebounds per game this season.
• Minnesota Crookston has a young roster this season. The Golden Eagles do not have a senior. They have two juniors and the rest of the roster has underclassmen this season.
• Winona State is 10-2 on the season. The Warriors are shooting 45.1 percent from the field and 38.6 percent from beyond the arc. Winona State is led by Tara Roelofs' 14.9 points per game. In the post, 6-3 Kayla Timmerman, a former Division I player at University of Iowa, is averaging 11.8 points and 6.5 rebounds per game. Jenny Tuttle comes in tallying 10.0 points per game. She is shooting 48.6 percent from beyond the arc.
• Upper Iowa is in their first season under Micha Thompson. They are 0-10 on the season. The Peacocks have looked to Blair Klostermann's 16.2 points per game. She is shooting 37.2 percent from three-point range. Sam Ofstad comes in averaging 10.1 points per game. The Peacocks are shooting 37.1 percent from the fild and 31.8 percent from beyond the arc.