CROOKSTON, Minn. - The University of Minnesota Crookston women's basketball team comes upon perhaps their most important weekend in program history. The Golden Eagles will take on Northern State University Fri., Feb. 19 at 6 p.m. at Wachs Arena in Aberdeen, S.D. and Minnesota State University Moorhead Sat., Feb. 20 at 4 p.m., at Nemzek Fieldhouse in Moorhead, Minn.

The Golden Eagles have a shot at least the share of the NSIC North title. Northern State and MSU Moorhead are currently a game up on the Golden Eagles. If they pick up a sweep, they will at least get a share of the title. UMC is 17-7 (14-6 NSIC), while Northern State is 19-6 (15-5 NSIC), while MSU Moorhead is 18-5 (15-5 NSIC).

Minnesota Crookston Golden Eagles
Head Coach: Mike Roysland
Record at UMC: 96-170 Season at UMC: 10th Season

Northern State Wolves
Head Coach: Curt Fredrickson
Record at NSU: 792-291 Season at NSU: 37th Season

MSU Moorhead Dragons
Head Coach: Karla Nelson
Record at MSUM: 275-176 Season at MSUM: 16th Season

Feb. 19 • Aberdeen, S.D. • Wachs Arena • 6 p.m.
Minnesota Crookston and Northern State
Video: http://portal.stretchinternet.com/northern/
Live Stats:http://sidearmstats.com/northern/wbball/
Radio: 1260 KROX AM/105.7 FM (Chris Fee, Play by Play)

Feb. 20 • Moorhead, Minn. • Nemzek Fieldhouse  • 4 p.m.
Minnesota Crookston at MSU Moorhead
Video: http://portal.stretchinternet.com/msum/
Live Stats:http://www.sidearmstats.com/mnstate/wbball/
Radio: 1260 KROX AM/105.7 FM (Chris Fee, Play by Play)

#5StoryLines
1. Can the Golden Eagles get at least a share of the NSIC North title for the first time in school history?

2. Can Katrina Nordick surpass Laurie Tyson's rebound record?

3. Can the Golden Eagles slow down both teams in the post?

4. How will Senior leaders Katrina Nordick and Alexa Thielman perform for the Golden Eagles?

5. Who will the Golden Eagles play for their home playoff game Wed., Feb 24?



#Tidbits

- The UMC women's basketball team comes into their final weekend of the regular-season with a 17-7 (14-6 NSIC). The Golden Eagles come upon what might be the biggest weekend in program history as they have a chance to capture at least a share of the NSIC North title. The Golden Eagles hold their fate in their own hands as they take on the two teams ahead of them in the standings (by one game) Northern State and MSU Moorhead. The Golden Eagles have already set a program-high for overall wins and conference wins and are looking add more to an impressive resume.

- UMC is guaranteed a home playoff game, their second-ever in any sport in school history. The Golden Eagles will figure out who they will play at the end of the season. UMC is looking to make the NSIC/Sanford Health
Tournament quarterfinals at the Sanford Pentagon for the second-consecutive season.

- Two of UMC's seniors Alexa Thielman and Katrina Nordick continue to break milestones as they are currently No. 4 and No. 3 on the all-time scoring charts at UMC. Thielman recently set the three-point mark, surpassing Amy Kuznia. Nordick needs just five rebounds to break Laurie Tyson's career rebounding record. Nordick is third all-time in scoring and needs 157 points to move past Karna Plaine in second, while Thielman is just behind Nordick. Nordick could become only the third player in school history to score 1,500 or more points with just 15 points on the weekend.  

All-Time Scoring List
1. Jamie Zelinsky 1,724
2. Karna Plaine 1,642
3. Katrina (Moenkedick) Nordick 1,485
4. Alexa Thielman 1,377
5. Kari Score, 1,243
6. Brittani Wiese 1,204
7. Steph Mayclin 1,089
8. Cathy Behr 1,060
9. Jess Forsline 1,040
10. Bri Zabel 1,013

- UMC seniors Katrina Nordick, Megan Taylor and Alexa Thielman have been important pieces in helping the Golden Eagles turn things around from just eight wins during their freshman season to at least 17 during the 2015-16 campaign. The three players have helped the Golden Eagle to consecutive home playoff games and consecutive Top-4 finishes in the NSIC North.

- UMC is second in the nation in three-point shooting percentage at 41.2 percent. They have been either first or second in the nation for the majority of the season.

- To add another story line to a big weekend, the Golden Eagles will come upon one of their top players in school history once again in Northern State graduate assistant Brittani Wiese. Wiese was a teammate of Katrina Nordick, Alexa Thielman and Megan Taylor during their freshman season during the 2012-13 campaign. Wiese has been a part of Curt Fredrickson's staff for the last  two seasons.

- Northern State is tied for first in the NSIC North with a 19-6 (15-5 NSIC) mark. The Wolves are led by women's basketball coaching legend Curt Fredrickson, who has nearly 800 career victories in his 37 years with the Wolves. Northern State is led in the post by Jill Conrad, who is averaging 13.4 points and 6.8 rebounds per game. At guard, Devon Brecke leads the way for the Wolves, averaging 10.9 points per game. The Wolves average just 66.3 points per game but their defense limits opponents to 60.4 points per game.

- The MSU Moorhead Dragons come into the weekend with an 18-5 (15-5 NSIC) mark on the season. The Dragons are led by guard Morgan Banasik, who is averaging 15.0 points per game on the season. In the post, Heather Strese comes in averaging 13.7 points and 7.5 rebounds per game. The Dragons are scoring 69.4 points per game but also have been strong defensively, limiting teams to just 60.4 points per game.