Women's Basketball 2/21/2017 11:00:00 PM Shawn D. Smith, Sports Information Director

Minnesota Crookston Women's Basketball Opens NSIC/Sanford Health Tournament at Concordia-St. Paul Wednesday

CROOKSTON, Minn. - The University of MInnesota Crookston women's basketball team will open up the 2017 NSIC/Sanford Health Tournament Wed., Feb. 22 at the Gangelhoff Center in St. Paul, Minn. against Concordia University-St. Paul. The first round meeting for UMC and CSP will be the third in five years between the two foes.

The pair last met in the playoffs at Lysaker Gymnasium in 2015 with UMC picking up the victory. Concordia-St. Paul defeated the Golden Eagles in 2013 at the Gangelhoff Center.

Minnesota Crookston comes into the weekend with a 7-19 mark, while Concordia-St. Paul is 19-9 on the season. The Golden Bears won the regular-season meeting between the two opponents 90-84. CSP was led by 32 points from Anna Schmitt, while Caitlyn Russell had 23. UMC looked to 30 points from Alison Hughes. Isieoma Odor added 18 points.

Minnesota Crookston Golden Eagles
Head Coach: Mike Roysland
Record at UMC: 104-191 Season at UMC: 11th Season

Concordia-St. Paul Golden Bears
Head Coach: Amanda Johnson
Record at CSP: 28-19 Season at CSP: Second Season

Feb. 22, 2017 • St. Paul, Minn. • Gangelhoff Center • 7 p.m.
Video: https://portal.stretchinternet.com/csp/
Live Stats: http://cspbears.com/sports/2012/10/12/WBB_1012123838.aspx?id=82
Radio: 1260 KROX AM/105.7 FM (Broadcast live by Chris Fee)
You can also listen online at www.kroxam.com or on the KROX app

Weekly Snapshot

Minnesota Crookston
Projected Starters
Jr. PG 10 Micaela Noga (5-7, Parkers Prairie, Minn.)                9.4 PPG, 3.8 RPG, 2.3 APG
So. SG 14 Alison Hughes (5-7, Janesville, Wis.)                    17.4 PPG, 4.0 RPG
So. 3G 3 Caitlin Michaelis (5-8, Marshfield, Wis.)                  5.0 PPG, 2.5 RPG
Jr. SF 22 Emily Gruber (5-11, Monticello, Minn.)                    8.3 PPG, 4.3 RPG
R-So. PF 15 Isieoma Odor (6-0, Bloomington, Minn.)            13.3 PPG, 7.5 RPG
Top Bench Players
Fr. G 5 Stephanie McWilliams (5-8, Grand Forks, N.D.)            2.6 PPG, 2.2 RPG, 1.8 APG
Fr. G/F 32 Paige Weakley (5-9, Kearney, Mo.)                        3.4 PPG, 1.9 RPG
Fr. G/F 20 Kelsey Stinson (5-11, Cottage Grove, Wis.)            4.6 PPG, 1.6 RPG

Concordia-St. Paul
Projected Starters
Sr. PG 20 Mishayla Jones (5-6, Milwaukee, Wis.)                  12.3 PPG, 4.3 APG
So. SG 11 Anna Schmitt (5-7, Waconia, Minn.)                    18.2 PPG, 4.5 RPG
So. 3G 10 Kayla Miller (5-10, Pequot Lakes, Minn.)                3.7 PPG, 3.0 RPG
Jr. SF 5 Kyrah Fredenburg (5-11, Coon Rapids, Minn.)            5.4 PPG, 10.5 RPG
Sr. PF 42 Caitlyn Russell (6-3, Onalaska, Wis.)                    12.3 PPG, 5.6 RPG
Top Bench Players
Jr. G 30 Lauren Shifflett (5-8, Chanhassen, Minn.)            7.9 PPG, 1.9 RPG
So. G 15 Hanna Vidlund (5-10, Forest Lake, Minn.)            3.1 PPG, 1.5 RPG
Fr. G 34 Brianna Miller (5-9, Lakeville, Minn.)            2.3 PPG, 1.9 RPG

#5StoryLines

1. Can Alison Hughes have another big performance for the Golden Eagles?

2. Can UMC slow down the league's leading scorer in CSP's Anna Schmitt?

3. Can UMC box out Kyrah Fredenburg and Caitlyn Russell to hold their own on the glass?

4. Can Isieoma Odor have a big game in the post?

5. Will the Golden Eagles play consistent and solid defense in both games?

#DoubleDouble
UMC redshirt sophomore Isieoma Odor had a strong weekend for the Golden Eagles against Minot State and U-Mary. The 6-0 forward averaged 20 points and 11 boards for the Golden Eagles. She shot 62.1 percent from the field. Odor had 20 points and 13 boards against U-Mary. She had 20 points and nine boards in a win over Minot State. Odor will look to have a big impact in the post against Concordia-St. Paul.

#36
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 17.4 points per game. Hughes broke the school record for points in a game with 36 Friday against Minot State. She surpassed the previous mark set by Jessica Forsline and Karna Plaine. Hughes was 12-of-12 from the charity stripe in that game. The sophomore leads the NSIC in free throw shooting as she hits at a clip of 94.3 percent.

#Three
Coincidentally Caitlin Michaelis wears #3 and that is where she can make a big impact for the Golden Eagles. Michaelis had a big weekend from beyond the arc against the Beavers and Marauders. She shot 6-of-10 from beyond the arc for 60 percent. Michaelis averaged 11.0 points per game and shot 53.8 percent from the field. Michaelis will look to continue her strong shooting against the Golden Bears.

#McWilliamsOnTheAssist
UMC freshman guard Stephanie McWilliams, a Grand Forks, N.D. native, had a big weekend finding her teammates against U-Mary and Minot State. McWilliams averaged seven assists per game for the Golden Eagles as she tallied seven assists against both the Marauders and Beavers. She averaged 4.5 points and 5.5 rebounds per game on top of her assist numbers. McWilliams will look to continue to help out in any way possible on Wednesday against Concordia-St. Paul.

#Tidbits

- Minnesota Crookston enters Wednesday with a 7-19 mark on the season. They will hit the road on Wednesday for the first time since the 2013-14 season as they had hosted home playoff games the previous two seasons. The Golden Eagles have quite the history against Concordia-St. Paul in the NSIC/Sanford Health Tournament. UMC has played the Golden Bears in three of the last five years. UMC defeated Concordia-St. Paul at home during the 2014-15 playoffs. The Golden Eagles fell to the Golden Bears 60-45 at the Gangelhoff Center in the opening round of the 2012-13 playoffs.

- UMC is led by Alison Hughes, who is averaging 17.4 points per game. She leads the NSIC shooting 94.3 percent from the charity stripe. Hughes is also among the best three-point shooters in the league, hitting at a 44.0 percent clip. In addition to Hughes, UMC looks to Isieoma Odor, who is averaging 13.3 points and 7.5 rebounds. Micaela Noga is tallying 9.4 points per game on the season. The Golden Eagles are averaging 67.5 points per game and giving up 75.1 points to their opponents. UMC is shooting 38.6 percent from the field, 34.1 percent from beyond the arc and 78.6 percent from the charity stripe.

- Concordia-St. Paul comes into Wednesday with a 19-9 mark. The Golden Bears look to the league's leading scorer, Anna Schmitt. She is averaging 18.2 points per game. At point guard, Mishayla Jones leads the way with 12.3 points per game. She is averaging 4.4 assists per game. In the post, Caitlyn Russell is averaging 12.3 points and 5.6 rebounds per game. Russell is strong on the boards, as is Kyrah Fredenburg, who is averaging 10.5 rebounds per game for the Golden Bears.

- Concordia-St. Paul is averaging 67.1 points per game and giving up 65.5 points per game to their opponents. The Golden Bears are shooting 40.7 percent from the field and 31.3 percent from beyond the arc. They shoot 74.4 percent from the charity stripe.

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Players Mentioned

#22 Emily Gruber: F/C; 5' 11"; Junior

#14 Alison Hughes: G; 5' 7"; Sophomore

#3 Caitlin Michaelis: G; 5' 8"; Sophomore

#10 Micaela Noga: G; 5' 7"; Junior

#15 Isieoma Odor: F; 6' 0"; Redshirt Sophomore

#5 Stephanie McWilliams: G; 5' 8"; Freshman

#20 Kelsey Stinson: G/F; 5' 11"; Freshman

#32 Paige Weakley: G; 5' 9"; Freshman

Players Mentioned

#22 Emily Gruber
: 5' 11"; Junior
: F/C

#14 Alison Hughes
: 5' 7"; Sophomore
: G

#3 Caitlin Michaelis
: 5' 8"; Sophomore
: G

#10 Micaela Noga
: 5' 7"; Junior
: G

#15 Isieoma Odor
: 6' 0"; Redshirt Sophomore
: F

#5 Stephanie McWilliams
: 5' 8"; Freshman
: G

#20 Kelsey Stinson
: 5' 11"; Freshman
: G/F

#32 Paige Weakley
: 5' 9"; Freshman
: G