Women's Basketball 1/19/2017 1:22:00 PM Shawn Smith, Sports Information Director

Golden Eagles Journey to Peace Garden State for Two NSIC North Tilts

CROOKSTON, Minn. - The University of Minnesota Crookston women's basketball team will trek to North Dakota this weekend for a pair of road games in the NSIC North Division. UMC will take on University of Mary Fri., Jan. 20 at 6 p.m., before traveling North to Minot State University Sat., Jan. 21 at 4 p.m. for a game.

This weekend is a big one for UMC as they look to improve their standing in the North Division as they are just two games back of the top four. Minnesota Crookston comes into the weekend with a 4-12 (4-8 NSIC), they will play the team they are currently tied for in fifth first as they take on U-Mary. The Marauders are 9-11 (4-8 NSIC) entering the weekend. They then travel to Minot State, who is 3-15 (1-11 NSIC). The Beavers are currently in eighth place in the NSIC North.

Minnesota Crookston Golden Eagles
Head Coach: Mike Roysland
Record at UMC: 101-182 Season at UMC: 11th Season

U-Mary Marauders
Head Coach: Rick Neumann
Record at U-Mary: 70-67 Season at U-Mary: Fifth Season

Minot State Beavers
Head Coach: Sheila Green-Gerding
Record at MINOT: 360-272 Season at MINOT: 22nd Season

Jan. 20, 2016 • Bismarck, N.D. • McDowell Activity Center • 6 p.m.
Video: https://portal.stretchinternet.com/umary/
Live Stats: http://www.sidearmstats.com/mary/wbball/

Jan. 21, 2016 • Minot, N.D. • MSU Dome • 4 p.m.
Video: https://portal.stretchinternet.com/minotstate/
Live Stats: http://www.sidearmstats.com/minotstate/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.) 7.9 PPG, 3.4 RPG
So. SG 14 Alison Hughes (5-7, Janesville, Wis.) 16.5 PPG, 3.6 RPG
So. 3G 3 Caitlin Michaelis (5-8, Marshfield, Wis.) 4.2 PPG, 2.5 RPG
Fr. SF 5 Stephanie McWilliams (5-8, Grand Forks, N.D.) 1.8 PPG, 1.3 RPG
Jr. PF 22 Emily Gruber (5-11, Monticello, Minn.) 7.7 PPG, 4.6 RPG
Top Bench Players
R-So. F 15 Isieoma Odor (6-0, Bloomington, Minn.) 13.1 PPG, 7.4 RPG
Fr. G 11 Kitri Zezza (5-7, Albertville, Minn.) 4.8 PPG, 1.8 APG
Fr. G/F 20 Kelsey Stinson (5-11, Cottage Grove, Wis.) 5.3 PPG, 1.9 RPG
Fr. G/F 32 Paige Weakley (5-9, Kearney, Mo.) 4.0 PPG, 2.1 RPG

U-Mary
Projected Starters
R-Jr. PG 3 Dani Williams (5-9, Gillette, Wyo.) 8.7 PPG, 2.0 APG
R-Sr. SG 30 Rachel Weir (5-10, Fargo, N.D.) 6.2 PPG, 4.1 RPG
Fr. 3G 24 Lauren Rotunda (6-0, Fargo, N.D.) 8.7 PPG, 4.2 RPG
Sr. SF 23 Hannah Larson (6-0, Bismarck, N.D.) 13.3 PPG, 7.4 RPG
R-Fr. PF 32 Gabbie Bohl (6-2, Minot, N.D.) 12.2 PPG, 5.5 RPG
Top Bench Players
Fr. F 12 Cassie Askvig (6-2, Minot, N.D.) 8.2 PPG, 4.1 RPG
Jr. G 21 Sawyer Kluge (5-10, Bremerton, Wash.) 2.4 PPG, 2.1 RPG
Fr. G 2 Christal Hearn (5-11, Mequon, Wis.) 1.7 PPG, 1.7 RPG

Minot State
Projected Starters
So. PG 12 Kari Clements (5-7, Trevor, Wis.) 10.9 PPG, 3.2 RPG, 2.6 APG
Sr. SG 33 Kori Eurich (5-7, Pueblo, Colo.) 8.7 PPG, 3.3 RPG
So. 3G 3 Madison Wald (5-6, Minot, N.D.) 8.4 PPG, 2.2 RPG
Jr. SF 44 Diondra Denton (5-10, Great Falls, Montana) 7.9 PPG, 4.8 RPG
Jr. PF 40 Kristal Flowers (6-1, Collins, Miss.) 8.1 PPG, 6.7 RPG
Top Bench Players
Fr. F 22 Haley Hildenbrand (6-2, Parker, Colo.) 6.3 PPG, 4.3 RPG
So. SG 32 Gabby Wilkinson (5-9, Bismarck, N.D.) 3.1 PPG, 1.5 RPG
Fr. F 42 Reina Strand (6-1, Keizer, Ore.) 1.5 PPG, 2.1 RPG

#BenchPoints
UMC redshirt sophomore Isieoma Odor has been on fire in the last five games for the Golden Eagles after moving to the bench. The UMC post is sharing time with Emily Gruber and is averaging 19.0 points and 7.2 rebounds for the Golden Eagles. Odor had 22 points on 10-of-11 from the field against St. Cloud State and 21 points on 7-of-9 from the field at Bemidji State. Odor is shooting 69.8 percent from the field in the last five games and 80.8 percent from the charity stripe.

#HughesLeadingTheWay
Alison Hughes continues to have a strong showing this season for the Golden Eagles. Hughes is among the top five in scoring in the league this season. The Janesville, Wis. native is leading the team with 16.5 points this season as she has become the go-to player. Hughes leads the league in free throw percentage at 93.8 percent. She is shooting 40.9 percent from beyond the arc this season. She will look to have a big weekend for UMC against Minot State and U-Mary

#FindingHerShot
UMC junor guard Micaela Noga has started finding her shot in recent games. The UMC point guard averaged 11.5 points per game last weekend against Sioux Falls and Southwest Minnesota State. She shot 5-of-12 for 41.7 percent from beyond the arc in those games. Noga will look to continue to build on last weekend's performances as she had 12 against the Mustangs and 11 versus the Cougars.

#JuniorSteppingUp
UMC junior Emily Gruber has increased her production in recent games. The Golden Eagle post, who is sharing time with Isieoma Odor, is averaging 12.7 points and 4.7 rebounds over the last three games. Gruber had one of her best games of the season with 20 points on 9-of-17 from the field against Bemidji State. Gruber tallied 10 points on Saturday against Sioux Falls. She has changed her game in recent weeks, as she is more focused on getting jumpers and layups than settling for three-point shots.

#Tidbits
- Minnesota Crookston comes into the weekend with a 4-12 (4-8 NSIC) mark. The Golden Eagles are currently tied for ffith place in the NSIC North with University of Mary. This is a big weekend for UMC as they look to move up in the standings in the division. They are currently just two games out of fourth place.

- The Golden Eagles are shooting 37.4 percent from the field and 31.7 percent from beyond the arc this season. They have been phenomenal from the charity stripe this season as they come in shooting 78.3 percent on the year. UMC averaged 65.8 points per game, while giving up 74.6 points to their opponents. They are looking to continue to improve defensively as they continue to allow teams to shoot 46.3 percent from the field and 37.7 percent from beyond the arc.

- Stephanie McWilliams has started the last five games for the Golden Eagles. She has given UMC a spark on
defense and she also gives the Golden Eagles a good passer and someone who puts maximum effort on the boards. McWilliams is averaging 4.6 points per game for UMC over the last five contests. She is tallying 3.4
rebounds per game and 2.8 assists per game.

- U-Mary comes into the weekend with a 9-11 (4-8 NSIC) mark. The Marauders have been led on the year by the play of Hannah Larson in the post. She gives the Marauders an inside-out player. She is averaging 13.3 points and 7.4 rebounds per game. Larson is shooting 34.4 percent from beyond the arc for the Marauders.

- In addition to Larson, Gabbie Bohl is averaging 12.2 points per game, while Dani Williams is tallying 8.7 points per game. The Marauders are tallying 62.1 points per game, while giving up 66.7 points per game. They are shooting 41.5 percent from the field and 32.3 percent from beyond the arc.

- Minot State enters the weekend with a 3-15 (1-11 NSIC) mark. The Beavers have been led on the year by guard Kari Clements, who is averaging 10.9 points per game. She shoots 31.3 percent from beyond the arc and 86.4 percent from the charity stripe. Minot State struggles to score outside of Clements. Kori Eurich is averaging 8.7 points and shooting 38.6 percent, while Madison Wald is tallying 8.4 points per game and shooting 36.4 percent from beyond the arc.

Print Friendly Version