CROOKSTON, Minn. - The University of Minnesota Crookston women's basketball team will have an important road weekend as they take on University of Sioux Falls and Southwest Minnesota State University. The second-place teams in both divisions will battle Fri., Feb. 5 at 6 p.m. as UMC takes on Sioux Falls at the Stewart Center. Sat., Feb. 6, UMC will take on SMSU at 5 p.m.
The Golden Eagles enter the weekend with a 14-6 mark overall. They have six games in the regular-season left as they look to solidify their standing in the Top 4 in the NSIC North to host the first round of the NSIC/Sanford Health Tournament.
Minnesota Crookston Golden Eagles
Head Coach: Mike Roysland
Record at UMC: 93-169 Season at UMC: 10th Season
Sioux Falls Cougars
Head Coach: Travis Traphagen
Record at USF: 147-80 Season at USF: Eighth Season
Southwest Minnesota State Mustangs
Head Coach: Alison Kruger
Record at SMSU: 28-130 Season at SMSU: Sixth Season
Feb. 5 • Sioux Falls, S.D. • Stewart Center • 6 p.m.
Minnesota Crookston at Sioux Falls
Video: http://portal.stretchinternet.com/siouxfalls/#
Live Stats: http://portal.stretchinternet.com/siouxfalls/#
Radio: 1260 KROX AM/105.7 FM (Chris Fee, Play by Play)
Feb. 6 • Marshall, Minn. • R/A Facility • 5 p.m.
Video: http://portal.stretchinternet.com/smsu/
Live Stats: http://livestats.smsu.edu/wbasketball/
Radio: 1260 KROX AM/105.7 FM (Chris Fee, Play by Play)
#5StoryLines
1. Can the Golden Eagles slow down Taylor Varsho against Sioux Falls?
2. Will the Golden Eagles be able to knock down the three-pointer against Sioux Falls and Southwest Minnesota State?
3. Will Katrina Nordick and Alexa Thielman have strong weekends for the Golden Eagles?
4. What other UMC starter or starters will have big weekends or come up with the big game?
5. Can the Golden Eagles come out of the weekend in good standing in the NSIC North?#Tidbits- The UMC women's basketball team is 14-6 on the season and is heading into an important road weekend as they take on No. 2 in the NSIC South University of Sioux Falls and Southwest Minnesota State University. The Golden Eagles are currently tied for second with St. Cloud State University in NSIC North. Both teams are one game back of both Northern State University and Minnesota State University Moorhead in first. The Golden Eagles have six regular-season games left, including four on the road away from Lysaker Gymnasium.
- UMC's pair of 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 37 rebounds to break Laurie Tyson's career rebounding record. Nordick is third all-time in scoring and needs 201 points to move past Karna Plaine in second, while Thielman is just behind Nordick.
All-Time Scoring List
1. Jamie Zelinsky 1,724
2. Karna Plaine 1,642
3. Katrina (Moenkedick) Nordick 1,422
4.
Alexa Thielman 1,333
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
- Minnesota Crookston has been strong on the season from the charity stripe and currently find themselves in fourth in the NSIC for free throw shooting percentage at 75.7 percent. The Golden Eagles are led by
Micaela Noga, who is up over 90 percent from the charity stripe and
Alexa Thielman, who is shooting over 85 percent.
- UMC has the third-highest field goal percentage in the league at 42.7 percent and they lead the league and the nation from beyond the arc at 42.4 percent.
- Sioux Falls comes into the weekend with an 18-4 (12-4 NSIC) mark. The Cougars are currently second in the NSIC South. Sioux Falls is led by Colorado State transfer Taylor Varsho, who is on of the best players in the league. Varsho is averaging 18.5 points, 4.3 rebounds and has 70 assists on the season. In addition to Varsho, they have two players who have had strong seasons in the post in Sam Knecht and Alison Klostergaard. Knecht is averaging 10 points and 6.8 rebounds per game, while Klostergaard is averaging 10 points and 6.7 rebounds per game.
- Southwest Minnesota State comes into the weekend with a 4-18 (2-14 NSIC) mark. The Mustangs have been led by Hope Bonlander's 14.5 points and 6.4 rebounds. In addition to Bonlander, Lauren Hedlund comes in averaging 11.9 points and 6.8 rebounds, while point guard Annessa Rosch is averaging 10.9 points per game.
