The Scoop
The University of Minnesota Crookston women's basketball team will close out the 2017 calendar year by hosting Winona State University Sat., Dec. 30 at 1:30 p.m. and Upper Iowa University Sun., Dec. 31 at 1:30 p.m. 

Previewing the Golden Eagles
Minnesota Crookston comes into the last weekend of 2017 with a 1-8 (1-4 NSIC) record. The Golden Eagles have been close in several games as they have four losses by 10 or less points. Minnesota Crookston is just looking to consistently put together 40 minutes of basketball as they close out the calendar year.
The Golden Eagles have been led on the season by Isieoma Odor in the post with 14.2 points and 7.2 rebounds per game. Micaela Noga comes in tallying 12.8 points and 4.8 rebounds per game, but she has struggled from beyond the arc where she has been strong in the past. Noga is shooting just 19.4 percent coming into the weekend. Caitlin Michaelis has shown vast improvement this season as she is tallying 10.4 points and 2.3 rebounds per game. She is shooting 39.4 percent from beyond the arc. Emily Gruber, a senior forward for Minnesota Crookston, comes in averaging 9.2 points and 6.9 rebounds per game. Gruber is averaging 11.0 points per game over the last six contests for Minnesota Crookston.

Off of the bench, Abby Guidinger has made an impact for the Golden Eagles in recent games after returning from injury. Guidinger is tallying 7.5 points and 4.5 rebounds per game in the last two games for Minnesota Crookston. Stephanie McWilliams, a sophomore from Grand Forks, N.D., is a starter in the back court for the Golden Eagles. McWilliams is notching 3.2 points and 2.6 assists per game for Minnesota Crookston.

The Golden Eagles come into the weekend averaging 59.2 points per game, while giving up 69.8 points per game to their foes. Minnesota Crookston is shooting 38.8 percent from the field on the season. In addition, they are shooting at a 24.1 percent clip from beyond the arc and a 76.7 percent clip from the charity stripe. The Golden Eagles are notching 32.9 rebounds per game. 

Previewing the Warriors
Winona State enters the end of the 2017 calendar year with a 9-1 (5-1 NSIC) mark. The Warriors look to Hannah McGlone in the post with a double-double of 15.1 points and 10.7 rebounds per game. Freshman Allie Pickrain has been strong for the Warriors with 12.4 points per game and a 47.2 three-point percentage. 
In addition to McGlone and Pickrain, sophomore guard Gabie Doud is coming off of the bench for 8.9 points per game. She has been dangerous from beyond the arc where she is shooting 53.6 percent on the season. Liz Evenocheck comes into the weekend averaging 8.7 points and shooting 40.2 percent from behind the three-point line. Lake Superior State University transfer Rachel Novotny, a 6-2 post, is tallying 8.4 points and 5.3 rebounds per game.

Winona State is shooting 48.8 percent from the field and 37.0 percent from beyond the arc. The Warriors are hitting at a 70.7 percent clip from the charity stripe. Winona State is averaging 36.0 rebounds per game. Winona State is notching 72.8 points per game, while giving up just 54.0 points a game to their foes.

Previewing the Peacocks
Upper Iowa heads into the final weekend of 2017 with a 2-10 (0-6 NSIC) record. The Peacocks look to Blair Klostermann with 12.6 points per game. Natalie Dinius is coming off the bench for Upper Iowa with 9.9 points per game. Upper Iowa shoots 33.0 percent from the field and 29.4 percent from beyond the arc. The Peacocks also look to Utah State University transfer Angelica De Paulo, a 6-2 senior, who is averaging 8.4 points per game. Guard Ashley Rosenstiel comes in averaging 6.3 points and 5.0 rebounds per contest. Rosenstiel is shooting 43.8 percent from beyond the arc on the season.

The Peacocks are averaging 55.3 points per game, while allowing their foes to score 68.9 points per game. Upper Iowa is averaging 34.9 rebounds per game on the season. 

Minnesota Crookston Golden Eagles
Head Coach: Mike Roysland
Record at UMC: 106-202 Season at UMC: 12th Season

Winona State Warriors
Head Coach: Scott Ballard
Record at WSU: 241-152 Season at WSU: 14th Season

Upper Iowa Peacocks
Head Coach: Micha Thompson
Record at UIU: 6-33 Season at UIU: Second Season

Date: Dec. 30, 2017
Time: 1:30 p.m.
Opponent: Winona State University
Site: Crookston, Minn.
Date: Dec. 31, 2017
Time: 1:30 p.m.
Opponent: Upper Iowa University
Arena: Lysaker Gymnasium
Capacity: 3,000
Live Stats: http://www.sidearmstats.com/umcrookston/wbball/
Video: https://portal.stretchinternet.com/crk/#liveEventsTab
Radio: 1260 KROX AM/105.7 FM (Saturday)
Officials (Saturday): Brad Syliaasen, Dave Klundt, Brian Aufforth
Officials (Sunday): Ryan Weiser, Lisa Schwinden, Caleb Curfman
Last (WSU): Winona State won 80-56 Dec. 30 in Winona, Minn.
Series: Winona State leads 16-14 in NCAA Division II era. The Warriors have won the last three. Last win for Minnesota Crookston came Jan. 4, 2014 at home.
Last (UIU): Minnesota Crookston won 72-68 in Fayette Dec. 31
Series: Minnesota Crookston leads 10-5 in NCAA DIvision II. The Golden Eagles have won the last four. Last win for Upper Iowa was Jan. 18, 2013 in Fayette. 

Minnesota Crookston
Projected Starters
So. PG 4 Stephanie McWilliams, 5-8, Grand Forks, N.D. 3.2 PPG, 2.6 APG
Sr. SG 10 Micaela Noga, 5-7, Parkers Prairie, Minn. 12.8 PPG, 4.8 RPG
Jr. 3G 3 Caitlin Michaelis, 5-8, Marshfield, Wis. 10.4 PPG, 2.3 RPG
Sr. SF 22 Emily Gruber, 5-11, Monticello, Minn. 9.2 PPG, 6.9 RPG
R-Jr. PF 15 Isieoma Odor, 6-0, Bloomington, Minn. 14.2 PPG, 7.2 RPG
Top Bench Players
Fr. G/F 12 Abby Guidinger , 5-10, Waukesha, Wis. 5.5 PPG, 3.3 RPG
So. G/F 32 Paige Weakley, 5-9, Kearney, Mo. 2.6 PPG, 1.2 RPG
Jr. G/F 21 Lindsey Weber, 5-11, Delafield, Wis. 1.8 PPG, 1.3 RPG

Winona State
Projected Starters
Fr. PG 2 Allie Pickrain, 5-7, Apple Valley, Minn. 12.4 PPG, 3.1 APG
Jr. SG 25 Kayla Schaefer, 5-11, Paynesville, Minn. 6.8 PPG, 2.3 RPG
Jr. 3G 3 Liz Evenocheck, 5-11, Rosemount, Minn. 8.7 PPG, 2.2 RPG
Sr. SF 24 Hannah McGlone, 6-0, Streamwood, Ill. 15.1 PPG, 10.7 RPG
Jr. PF 10 Rachel Novotny, 6-2, New Berlin, Wis. 8.4 PPG, 5.3 RPG
Top Bench Players
So. G 1 Gabie Doud, 5-9, Huxley, Iowa 8.9 PPG, 3.4 RPG
Fr. G 11 Emily Kieck, 5-6, Baraboo, Wis. 5.0 PPG, 1.2 RPG
R-So. G 22 Madison Worke, 5-10, Blooming Prairie, Minn. 3.5 PPG, 1.1 RPG
R-So. G 23 Alyssa Jurges, 5-8, New Lenox, Ill.  2.9 PPG, 1.4 RPG

Upper Iowa
Projected Starters
R_Jr. PG 14 Ashley Rosenstiel (5-9, Oelwein, Iowa) 6.3 PPG, 5.0 RPG
Sr. SG 10 Ashley Ray (5-5, Ames, Iowa) 3.9 PPG, 1.0 RPG
Jr. 3G 13 Blair Klostermann (5-11, Dyersville, Iowa) 12.6 PPG, 3.9 RPG
Jr. SF 24 Haley Martin (6-1, Mound, Minn.) 4.6 PPG, 6.9 RPG
Fr. PF 21 Savannah Domeyer (6-3, Guttenberg, Iowa) 5.7 PPG, 4.5 RPG
Top Bench Players
Fr. G 5 Natalie Dinius (5-8, Canby, Minn.) 9.9 PPG, 2.9 RPG
Sr. F 23 Angelica De Paulo (6-2, Sao Paulo, Brazil) 8.4 PPG, 3.2 RPG
So. F 22 Bekka Pierson (6-2, Shell Rock, Iowa) 4.6 PPG, 4.0 RPG
Fr. G 3 Emma Gaber (5-9, Bondurant, Iowa) 3.5 PPG, 0.5 RPG

#5StoryLines
1. Can the Golden Eagles shoot the ball more consistently?

2. Can Minnesota Crookston slow down Hannah McGlone for Winona State in the post?

3. Will the Golden Eagles go into the 2018 calendar year on a strong note?

4. Can Minnesota Crookston put a full 40 minutes together?

5. Will Minnesota Crookston slow down Upper Iowa's Blair Klostermann?

#GetItToThePost
Minnesota Crookston redshirt junior forward Isieoma Odor has had a great start to her junior season. Odor is averaging  14.2 points and 7.2 rebounds per game for the Golden Eagles. She tallied 21 points in the win over MSU Moorhead and notched 16 points in their last game against Bemidji State. 
Odor has three double-doubles on the 2017-18 season. She is shooting 51.5 percent from the field.

#ComingOnStrong
Junior guard Caitlin Michaelis has perhaps been the most improved player for the Golden Eagles this season. Michaelis is averaging 10.4 points and 2.1 assists per game. Michaelis leads the team by shooting 39.4 percent from beyond the arc. She has improved drastically from her sophomore season where she averaged 5.1 points per game and shot 32.4 percent from behind the three-point line. She is averaging 12.3 points per game in the last four games. Michaelis is shooting 40.0 percent from beyond the arc in those same four games. Michaelis will look to continue to make a big impact for Minnesota Crookston as the season continues.

#Number10
Minnesota Crookston senior Micaela Noga has been a crucial part of the team's offense this season with 12.8 points per game. She is also averaging 4.8 rebounds per game on the season. Noga has had to look to getting to the hoop more this season as she has struggled from beyond the arc this season. Noga is shooting just 19.4 percent from beyond the arc. She has made up for it at the charity stripe where she is shooting 80.6 percent. Noga will look to continue to find her shot and aid her team heading into the rest of the season.

#DearAbby
Freshman Abby Guidinger has made a major impact off of the bench in the last two games for the Golden Eagles after missing several games due to injury. Guidinger is tallying 7.5 points and 4.5 rebounds per game for Minnesota Crookston in the last two games. Guidinger adds versatility and toughness off of the bench for the Golden Eagles. She will look to continue to improve and make an impact off of the bench for the Golden Eagles.