Women's Basketball 12/8/2016 2:51:00 PM Shawn Smith, Sports Information Director

UMC Women's Basketball Opens Home Slate With Two NSIC North Foes

CROOKSTON, Minn. - The University of Minnesota Crookston women's basketball team open up their 2016-17 home slate against Minnesota State University Moorhead and Northern State University this weekend. UMC will take on Red River Valley rival MSU Moorhead Fri., Dec. 9 at 6 p.m. They will then take on Curt Fredrickson and the Northern State Wolves Sat., Dec. 10 at 4 p.m.

Minnesota Crookston Golden Eagles
Head Coach: Mike Roysland
Record at UMC: 97-176 Season at UMC: 11th Season

Minnesota State Moorhead Dragons
Head Coach: Karla Nelson
Record at MSUM: 284-178 Season at MSUM: 17th Season

Northern State Wolves
Head Coach: Curt Fredrickson
Record at NSU: 802-294 Season at NSU: 38th Season

MSU Moorhead at Minnesota Crookston
Dec. 9, 2016 • Crookston, Minn. • Lysaker Gymnasium • 6 p.m.
Video: https://portal.stretchinternet.com/crk/
Live Stats: http://www.sidearmstats.com/umcrookston/wbball/

Northern State at Minnesota Crookston
Dec. 10, 2016 • Crookston, Minn. • Lysaker Gymnasium • 4 p.m.
Video: https://portal.stretchinternet.com/crk/
Live Stats: http://www.sidearmstats.com/umcrookston/wbball/
Radio: 1260 KROX AM/105.7 FM (Chris Fee, Play By Play)

Weekly Snapshot
Minnesota Crookston
Projected Starters
Jr. PG 10 Micaela Noga (5-7, Parkers Prairie, Minn.) 6.8 PPG, 3.2 RPG
So. SG 14 Alison Hughes (5-7, Janesville, Wis.) 17.8 PPG, 3.8 RPG
So. 3G 3 Caitlin Michaelis (5-8, Marshfield, Wis.) 4.5 PPG, 3.2 RPG
Jr. SF 22 Emily Gruber (5-11, Monticello, Minn.) 5.2 PPG, 5.5 RPG
R-So. PF 15 Isieoma Odor (6-0, Bloomington, Minn.) 12.5 PPG, 8.3 RPG
Top Bench Players
Fr. G 11 Kitri Zezza (5-7, Albertville, Minn.) 4.0 PPG, 2.2 APG
Fr. G/F 20 Kelsey Stinson (5-11, Cottage Grove, Wis.) 5.8 PPG, 1.3 RPG

MSU Moorhead
Projected Starters
So. PG 12 Jacky Volkert (5-7, Arden Hills, Minn.) 9.9 PPG, 4.3 APG
Sr. SG 22 Natalie Van Wyhe (5-8, Albertville, Minn.) 3.1 PPG, 1.3 RPG
Jr. 3G 2 Cassidy Thorson (5-11, West Fargo, N.D.) 14.4 PPG, 3.7 RPG
Fr. SF 33 Morgan Ham (6-1, Shadehill, S.D.) 4.9 PPG, 2.3 RPG
Jr. PF 42 Drew Sannes (6-3, Hawley, Minn.) 17.1 PPG, 11.3 RPG
Top Bench Players
Fr. F 51 Megan Hintz (6-2, Rochester, Minn.) 5.1 PPG, 4.0 RPG
Jr. F 32 Shannon Galegher (5-10, Thompson, N.D.) 2.9 PPG, 1.9 RPG
Fr. G 3 Maddie Erickson (5-6, Fargo, N.D.) 2.7 PPG, 0.7 RPG
Sr. G 11 Jessica Hart (5-9, Eagan, Minn.) 1.7 PPG, 2.9 RPG

Northern State
Projected Starters
Sr. PG 35 Bethany Crosswait (5-9, Spearfish, S.D.) 3.0 PPG, 4.1 RPG, 3.3 APG
Jr. SG 22 Gabby Laimer (5-6, Monticello, Minn.) 9.4 PPG, 2.9 RPG
Sr. SF 10 Paige Waytashek (5-11, Lino Lakes, Minn.) 7.7 PPG, 3.7 RPG, 3.3 APG
Jr. PF 40 Jill Conrad (5-11, Lino Lakes, Minn.) 14.6 PPG, 4.9 RPG
Jr. PF 51 Miranda Ristau (6-2, Warner, S.D.) 12.3 PPG, 7.4 RPG
Top Bench Players
Fr. G 31 Brianna Kusler (5-9, Aberdeen, S.D.) 6.4 PPG, 1.4 RPG
Jr. G 23 Brynn Flakus (5-8, Aberdeen, S.D.) 2.3 PPG, 1.3 RPG
So. F 41 Anika Fredrick (6-0, Buffalo, Minn.) 2.1 PPG, 2.1 RPG

#5StoryLines

1. Can the Golden Eagles get more production out of all five starters?

2. Can UMC limit Drew Sannes against MSU Moorhead?

3. Can the Golden Eagles have strong post defense against Northern State?

4. Will Alison Hughes continue her strong start to the season for the Golden Eagles?

5. Will they be able to improve their three-point shooting?

#NogaTime
UMC junior Micaela Noga had a strong weekend for the Golden Eagles. She has moved back to the point guard position, a role she played as a freshman. After a slow start, she had a big weekend for UMC with 11.0 points per game last weekend for UMC. Noga shot 47.1 percent from the field and 40.0 percent from beyond the arc for Coach Roysland's squad.

#HughesLeadingTheWay
Alison Hughes has become UMC's go-to scorer as a sophomore. The Janesville, Wis. native is off to a great start for the Golden Eagles. She comes into the weekend averaging 17.8 points per game. Hughes is shooting 43.9 percent from the field and 42.1 percent from beyond the arc. In addition, she is a near-perfect 33-of-34 from the charity stripe for 97.1 percent.

#StinsonOffTheBench
Kelsey Stinson had a strong weekend for the Golden Eagles off of the bench. She would averaged 9.0 points in 16.5 minutes per game for the Golden Eagles. Stinson was on fire from beyond the arc. She would go 6-of-11 from the field for 54.5 percent. All six of her made field goals on the weekend were from beyond the arc. Stinson will look to continue to come into her own this season for the Golden Eagles.

#BackOnTrack
UMC junior forward Emily Gruber had a strong weekend after struggling in the first four games of the season. Gruber averaged 10.0 points and 5.5 rebounds per game against St. Cloud State and Minnesota Duluth. She finally hit her first three-pointer of the season and finished the weekend going 4-of-9 from beyond the arc. She was a combined 57.1 percent from the field for the weekend.

#Tidbits
- Minnesota Crookston has played a strong opening schedule in their first six games. They are a young team with just two juniors and the rest underclassmen. The Golden Eagles are looking to replace two of the program's best all-time players in Katrina Nordick and Alexa Thielman. They are currently 0-6 on the season, but they have been within seven points in two of those games. UMC has gotten strong production out of sophomore guard Alison Hughes, with over 17 points per game. The key now is to get more consistency in the rest of the line-up. They are shooting just 34.9 percent from the field and 31.6 percent from beyond the arc.

- UMC is also looking to improve their defense. They come in giving up 75.3 points per game. They are allowing
opponents to shoot 45.6 percent from the field against them and 38.2 percent from three-point range.

- The Golden Eagles hold a narrow margin in rebounds this season, out-rebounding their foes 38.7 to 38.2.

- UMC has several freshmen that are playing key roles off the bench this season. Look for Kelsey Stinson and Kitri Zezza to see a lot of time in the line-up. Amber Schoenicke, Paige Weakley, Stephanie McWilliams and Leanna Haugen have also seen quite a bit of time this season for UMC.

- The Golden Eagles will also look to limit their turnovers this weekend. They have 86 in six games this season for an average of 14.3 per game. It is an area they must correct to try to get into the win column.

- UMC split with MSU Moorhead last season with a win at Lysaker Gymnasium and a loss in Moorhead. The Golden Eagles defeated the Dragons 71-60 Jan. 22 in Crookston.

- MSU Moorhead is off to a 6-1 start on the season. The Dragons have looked to the post where Drew Sannes is a major factor. The 6-3 Hawley native is averaging a double-double of 17.1 points and 11.3 rebounds this season. In addition, Cassidy Thorson is a threat on the wing. Thorson is tallying 14.4 points per game and shooting 41.2 percent from beyond the arc. The Dragons are averaging 63.3 points per game, but they are limiting their foes to just 49.7 on the season. MSUM is shooting 41.8 percent from the field and 32.9 percent from beyond the arc.

- Northern State is currently 6-1 on the season. They boast a No. 25 national ranking. The Wolves are also oriented in the post with the play of Jill Conrad and Miranda Ristau. Conrad leads the way with 14.6 points and 5.9 rebounds per game. In addition, Ristau is averaging 12.3 points and 7.4 rebounds. On the perimeter, Gabby Laimer is leading the way with 9.4 points per game. She shoots 45.0 percent from beyond the arc.

- The Wolves are shooting 43.9 percent from the field and 37.4 percent from three-point range. They are averaging 62.1 points per and limiting opponents to 47.7.

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Players Mentioned

#21 Katrina Nordick: F; 5' 10"; Senior

#12 Alexa Thielman: G; 5' 8"; Senior

#22 Emily Gruber: F/C; 5' 11"; Junior

#23 Leanna Haugen: C; 6' 3"; Redshirt Freshman

#14 Alison Hughes: G; 5' 7"; Sophomore

#3 Caitlin Michaelis: G; 5' 8"; Sophomore

#10 Micaela Noga: G; 5' 7"; Junior

#15 Isieoma Odor: F; 6' 0"; Redshirt Sophomore

#5 Stephanie McWilliams: G; 5' 8"; Freshman

#20 Kelsey Stinson: G/F; 5' 11"; Freshman

Players Mentioned

#21 Katrina Nordick
: 5' 10"; Senior
: F

#12 Alexa Thielman
: 5' 8"; Senior
: G

#22 Emily Gruber
: 5' 11"; Junior
: F/C

#23 Leanna Haugen
: 6' 3"; Redshirt Freshman
: C

#14 Alison Hughes
: 5' 7"; Sophomore
: G

#3 Caitlin Michaelis
: 5' 8"; Sophomore
: G

#10 Micaela Noga
: 5' 7"; Junior
: G

#15 Isieoma Odor
: 6' 0"; Redshirt Sophomore
: F

#5 Stephanie McWilliams
: 5' 8"; Freshman
: G

#20 Kelsey Stinson
: 5' 11"; Freshman
: G/F