CROOKSTON, Minn. - The University of Minnesota Crookston women's basketball team will host Southwest Minnesota State University and University of Sioux Falls this weekend in a pair of games. UMC will take on the Mustangs Fri., Jan. 13 at 6 p.m. at Lysaker Gymnasium. The Golden Eagles will battle the Cougars Sat., Jan. 14 at 8 p.m. at Lysaker Gymnasium.
UMC comes into the weekend with a 4-10 (4-6 NSIC) mark. The Golden Eagles have won their last two games this season with victories over Bemidji State University and St. Cloud State University. Southwest Minnesota State enters with a 1-13 (1-9 NSIC) mark, while Sioux Falls is 12-2 (8-2 NSIC). The Cougars lead the NSIC South, while the Mustangs are currently last in the NSIC South.
Minnesota Crookston Golden Eagles
Head Coach: Mike Roysland
Record at UMC: 101-180
Season at UMC: 11th Season
Southwest Minnesota State Mustangs
Head Coach: Tom Webb
Record at SMSU: 1-13
Season at SMSU: First Season
Sioux Falls Cougars
Head Coach: Travis Traphagen
Record at USF: 141-78
Season at USF: Eighth Season
Jan. 13, 2016 • Crookston, Minn. • Lysaker Gymnasium • 6 p.m.
Video: https://portal.stretchinternet.com/crk/
Live Stats: http://www.sidearmstats.com/umcrookston/wbball/
Radio: 1260 KROX AM/105.7 FM
Jan. 14, 2016 • Crookston, Minn. • Lysaker Gymnasium • 4 p.m.
Video: https://portal.stretchinternet.com/crk/
Live Stats: http://www.sidearmstats.com/umcrookston/wbball/
#5StoryLines
1. Can Odor and Gruber build on their big games against Bemidji State?
2. Can UMC limit Lauren Hedlund on the offensive boards for SMSU?
3. Can the Golden Eagles control Sam Knecht in the post for USF?
4. Will
Alison Hughes continue her strong play for the Golden Eagles?
5. What kind of factor will
Stephanie McWilliams be for the Golden Eagles?
Weekly Snapshot
Minnesota Crookston
Projected Starters
Jr. PG 10 Micaela Noga (5-7, Parkers Prairie, Minn.) 7.4 PPG, 3.1 RPG
So. SG 14 Alison Hughes (5-7, Janesville, Wis.) 16.2 PPG, 3.8 RPG
So. 3G 3 Caitlin Michaelis (5-8, Marshfield, Wis.) 4.6 PPG, 2.6 RPG
Fr. SF 5 Stephanie McWilliams (5-8, Grand Forks, N.D.) 1.6 PPG, 0.9 RPG
Jr. PF 22 Emily Gruber (5-11, Monticello, Minn.) 7.5 PPG, 4.9 RPG
Top Bench Players
R-So. F 15 Isieoma Odor (6-0, Bloomington, Minn.) 12.6 PPG, 7.6 RPG
Fr. G 11 Kitri Zezza (5-7, Albertville, Minn.) 5.3 PPG, 1.9 APG
Fr. G/F 20 Kelsey Stinson (5-11, Cottage Grove, Wis.) 5.6 PPG, 1.9 RPG
Fr. G/F 32 Paige Weakley (5-9, Kearney, Mo.) 4.2 PPG, 1.8 RPG
Southwest Minnesota State
Projected Starters
Sr. PG 23 Taylor Silva (5-5, Bellevue, Neb.) 4.9 PPG, 4.1 APG
Sr. SG 3 Abby Connell (5-10, Mankato, Minn.) 6.6 PPG, 1.5 RPG
So. 3G 21 Sarah Buysse (5-9, Marshall, Minn.) 9.5 PPG, 3.5 RPG
Jr. SF 33 Lauren Hedlund (5-11, Hinton, Iowa) 12.1 PPG, 10.1 RPG
Jr. PF 45 Taylor Holicky (6-0, Cleveland, Minn.) 8.9 PPG, 8.3 RPG
Top Bench Players
Fr. F 5 Caleigh Rodning (5-11, Shakopee, Minn.) 11.9 PPG, 5.2 RPG
Fr. G 25 Jamie Spicer (5-7, Sioux Falls, S.D.) 5.2 PPG, 1.2 RPG
Sioux Falls
Projected Starters
Sr. PG 10 Madi Robson (5-7, Ankeny, Iowa) 9.4 PPG, 4.5 RPG, 5.7 APG
Fr. SG 12 Kaely Hummel (5-8, Cherokee, Iowa 10.1 PPG, 1.4 RPG
Sr. 3G 5 Alyson Johnson (5-7, Beresford, S.D.) 6.3 PPG, 2.6 RPG
So. SF 23 Jacey Huinker (5-9, Altoona, Iowa) 5.6 PPG, 7.9 RPG
Sr. PF 50 Sam Knecht (6-2, Platte, S.D.) 13.4 PPG, 10.3 RPG
Top Bench Players
Sr. G 4 Brooke Smith (5-8, Twinsburg, Ohio) 9.1 PPG, 3.4 RPG
Fr. F 14 Andi Mataloni (6-0, Urbandale, Iowa) 4.9 PPG, 1.2 RPG
Jr. F 34 Moira Duffy (6-0, Rapid City, S.D.) 2.1 PPG, 2.8 RPG
Fr. G 22 Mariah Szymanski (5-6, Pulaski, Wis.) 3.8 PPG, 1.0 RPG
#BeastMode
UMC redshirt sophomore Isieoma Odor has been on fire in the last three games after moving to the bench. The post player is averaging 20.7 points and eight rebounds per game over the last three games for the Golden Eagles. She is coming off 21 points on 7-of-9 from the field in a win over Bemidji State. The Bloomington, Minn. native earned NSIC North Player of the Week after tallying 20.5 points and 9.0 rebounds last weekend.
#HughesLeadingTheWay
Alison Hughes continues to have a strong showing this season for the Golden Eagles. Hughes is fourth in the league in scoring with 16.2 points per game. In addition, she is leading the conference in free throw percentage at 93.1 percent. Hughes had 16 points on 5-of-11 from the field against Bemidji State. She is shooting 40.0 percent from beyond the arc for the Golden Eagles.
#TheMcWilliamsFactor
Stephanie McWilliams has had a major impact for the Golden Eagles in the last three games. McWilliams has earned the starting spot after seeing limited time prior to this week. McWilliams is a glue player who does a lot of little things well in terms of moving the ball, defense and rebounding. She is averaging 5.7 points, 3.3 rebounds and 3.3 assists per game. She is coming off her best game as a Golden Eagle with eight points and six boards against Bemidji State. She will look to continue to make a positive impact for UMC.
#GruberInTheClutch
UMC junior Emily Gruber has been an impact player for the Golden Eagles in recent games. She is coming off her best game of the season with 20 points and eight boards against
Bemidji State. She continued her positive momentum after hitting one of the biggest shots of her career with a three-pointer with 3.8 seconds remaining to defeat St. Cloud State. Gruber comes into the weekend averaging 7.5 points and 4.9 rebounds per game.
#Tidbits
- Minnesota Crookston comes into the weekend with a 4-10 (4-6 NSIC) mark. The Golden Eagles are currently tied for fifth in the NSIC North. They are one game back of being in the top four, who at the conclusion of the season host the first round of the NSIC/Sanford Health Tournament. The Golden Eagles have won four of the last six games.
- Minnesota Crookston is coming off big wins over St. Cloud State and Bemidji State as they look to continue their momentum into the weekend. The Golden Eagles were led on Tuesday against the Beavers by 21 points from Isieoma Odor and 20 points from Emily Gruber. Alison Hughes chipped in 16 points for the Golden Eagles.
- UMC comes in shooting 37.6 percent from the field and 32.2 percent from beyond the arc. They are one of the league's top free throw shooting teams at 76.6 percent. The Golden Eagles are averaging 65.9 points per game and giving up 74.9 points to their opponents.
- Southwest Minnesota State has a UMC connection on their coaching. Brittani Wiese, an all-time 1,000 point scorer for the Golden Eagles, is in her first season as an assistant coach at SMSU after spending two seasons as a graduate assistant at Northern State University.
- The Mustangs come into the weekend with a 1-13 mark in their first year under Tom Webb. SMSU is led by their post play. The Mustangs look to Lauren Hedlund's 12.1 points and 10.1 rebounds per game. Hedlund has 57 offensive rebounds on the season. Caleigh Rodning is coming off of the bench for the Mustangs for 11.9 points per game. Also in the post, Taylor Holicky comes in with 8.9 points and 8.3 rebounds per game.
- Southwest Minnesota State is averaging 58.3 points per game and giving up 74.2 points per game to their opponents. The Mustangs are shooting 38.4 percent from the field and 32.9 percent from beyond the arc.
- Sioux Falls comes into the weekend with a 12-2 (8-2 NSIC) mark. The Cougars are led by forward Sam Knecht, who is averaging 13.4 points and 10.3 rebounds per game. At guard, freshman shooter Kaely Hummel leads the way with 10.1 points per game. She i shooting 36.6 percent from beyond the arc. At point, Madi Robson leads the way with 80 assists on the year. She is tallying 9.4 points per game on the year.
- The Cougars are averaging 66.7 points per game on the year. They are one of the best defensive teams in the league as they are giving up just 52.8 points per game. Sioux Falls is shooting 39.4 percent from the field and 34.1 percent from beyond the arc.
