Women's Basketball 2/9/2017 10:32:00 AM Shawn Smith, Sports Information Director

Golden Eagles Head to Northern State and No. 16 MSU Moorhead for Final Road Tilts of 2016-17 Season

CROOKSTON, Minn. - The University of Minnesota Crookston women's basketball team will head to Aberdeen, S.D. and Moorhead, Minn. this weekend for their final road tilts of the 2016-17 regular-season. The Golden Eagles will take on Northern State University Fri., Feb. 10 at 6 p.m. They will then take on Red River Valley rival Minnesota State University Moorhead, who enters the weekend ranked 16th nationally. They will take on the Dragons Sat., Feb. 11 at 4 p.m.

The Golden Eagles come into the weekend with a 6-16 (6-12 NSIC) mark. Northern State is 16-6 (12-6 NSIC) coming into Friday, while MSU Moorhead is 19-3 (16-2 NSIC).

Minnesota Crookston Golden Eagles
Head Coach: Mike Roysland
Record at UMC: 103-188 Season at UMC: 11th Season

Northern State Wolves
Head Coach: Curt Fredrickson
Record at NSU: 812-299 Season at Augie: 38th Season

MSU Moorhead Dragons
Head Coach: Karla Nelson
Record at MSUM: 307-180 Season at MSUM: 17th Season

Feb. 10, 2017 • Aberdeen, S.D. • Wachs Arena • 6 p.m.
Video: https://portal.stretchinternet.com/northern/
Live Stats: http://www.sidearmstats.com/northern/wbball/

Feb. 11, 2017 • Moorhead, Minn. • • 4 p.m.
Video: https://portal.stretchinternet.com/msum/index.htm
Live Stats: http://web.mnstate.edu/livestats/basketball/xlive.htm
Radio: 1260 KROX AM/105.7 FM

#5StoryLines

1. Can Emily Gruber and Micaela Noga put up strong performances after each having one big game last weekend?

2. Can UMC slow down the big three for MSU Moorhead of Sannes, Thorson and Volkert?

3. Can UMC hang with Miranda Ristau and Jill Conrad in the post against Northern State?

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

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

Weekly Snapshot

Minnesota Crookston
Projected Starters
Jr. PG 10 Micaela Noga (5-7, Parkers Prairie, Minn.) 9.3 PPG, 3.6 RPG, 2.2 APG
So. SG 14 Alison Hughes (5-7, Janesville, Wis.) 16.9 PPG, 3.9 RPG
So. 3G 3 Caitlin Michaelis (5-8, Marshfield, Wis.) 4.5 PPG, 2.5 RPG
Jr. SF 22 Emily Gruber (5-11, Monticello, Minn.) 9.0 PPG, 4.6 RPG
R-So. PF 15 Isieoma Odor (6-0, Bloomington, Minn.) 13.0 PPG, 7.5 RPG
Top Bench Players
Fr. G 5 Stephanie McWilliams (5-8, Grand Forks, N.D.) 1.9 PPG, 1.8 RPG
Fr. G/F 20 Kelsey Stinson (5-11, Cottage Grove, Wis.) 4.8 PPG, 1.7 RPG
Fr. G/F 32 Paige Weakley (5-9, Kearney, Mo.) 3.7 PPG, 2.1 RPG

Northern State
Projected Starters
Sr. PG 10 Paige Waytashek (5-11, Lino Lakes, Minn.) 10.0 PPG, 3.2 RPG
Fr. SG 31 Brianna Kusler (5-9, Aberdeen, S.D.) 5.8 PPG, 2.8 RPG
Fr. 3G 34 Jessi Marti (5-10, Cuba City, Wis.) 4.5 PPG, 1.7 RPG
Jr. PF 40 Jill Conrad (5-11, Lino Lakes, Minn.) 15.0 PPG, 7.0 RPG
Jr. C 51 Miranda Ristau (6-2, Warner, S.D.) 15.8 PPG, 8.0 RPG
Top Bench Players
Jr. G 22 Gabby Laimer (5-6, Monticello, Minn.) 7.0 PPG, 2.3 RPG
Jr. G 23 Brynn Flakus (5-8, Aberdeen, S.D.) 2.3 PPG, 1.3 RPG
Sr. G/F 35 Bethany Crosswait (5-9, Spearfish, S.D.) 3.5 PPG, 3.9 RPG
So. F 41 Anika Fredrick (6-0, Buffalo, Minn.) 2.4 PPG, 1.6 RPG

MSU Moorhead
Projected Starters
So. PG 12 Jacky Volkert (5-7, Arden Hills, Minn.) 12.4 PPG, 4.5 RPG, 4.6 APG
Sr. SG 22 Natalie Van Wyhe (5-8, Albertville, Minn.) 3.7 PPG, 3.5 APG
Jr. 3G 2 Cassidy Thorson (5-11, West Fargo, N.D.) 14.6 PPG, 3.1 RPG
Fr. SF 33 Morgan Ham (6-1, Shadehill, S.D.) 6.3 PPG, 2.4 RPG
Jr. PF 42 Drew Sannes (6-3, Hawley, Minn.) 15.4 PPG, 8.6 RPG
Top Bench Players
Jr. F 32 Shannon Galegher (5-10, Thompson, N.D.) 4.6 PPG, 2.5 RPG
Fr. F 51 Megan Hintz (6-2, Rochester, Minn.) 7.6 PPG, 4.1 RPG
Sr. G 11 Jessica Hart (5-9, Eagan, Minn.) 1.9 PPG, 2.1 RPG

#IsyTime
UMC redshirt sophomore Isieoma Odor has had a strong 2017 for the Golden Eagles. Whether it is as a starter or off of the bench, Odor has been able to come into her own in the post for the Golden Eagles. She is averaging 13.0 points and 7.5 rebounds per game this season. Odor is coming off a strong game against Augustana in which she tallied 22 points and 17 rebounds. Odor is
shooting 48.5 percent from the field this season.

#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 16.9 points per game. She is in the top 10 in three-point shooting percentage at 43.1 percent. Hughes leads the league in free throw shooting percentage at 92.9 percent. Hughes will look to finish out the season on a strong note heading into the final four games.

#BigGameForNoga
UMC junior guard Micaela Noga is coming off a career-high 29 points against Augustana University last Friday. Noga was 11-of-16 from the field and 7-of-9 from beyond the arc. She is averaging 13.2 points per game over the last six games for UMC. Noga tallied 23 points at Minot State University. She is averaing 9.3 points per game on the season and shooting 36.5 percent from the field and 36.0 percent from beyond the arc.

#JuniorSteppingUp
UMC junior Emily Gruber has increased her production in recent games. She is one of the two most experience players for the Golden Eagles along with Micaela Noga. Gruber is averaging 13.3 points per game over the last four for UMC. She tallied a season-high 23 points on 10-of-22 from the field last Saturday against Wayne State. She will look to continue her strong play of late this weekend at MSU Moorhead and Northern State.

#Tidbits
- Minnesota Crookston enters the weekend with a 6-16 (6-12 NSIC) mark. The Golden Eagles are still in the hunt for the top four in the NSIC North entering the final four games. UMC is in sixth place in the division, just one game back of St. Cloud State and Minot State in a tie for fourth place. The final four games of the regular-season will be crucial in determining seeds heading into the NSIC/Sanford Health Tournament.

- The Golden Eagles are averaging 67.3 points per game and giving up 74.9 points per game defensively. UMC is looking for defensive consistency heading down the stretch. The Golden Eagles have had strong offensive games in their last three, averaging 74.3 points per game. However, they have struggled defensively as they have given up an average of 81.3 points per game to their opponents. Last Saturday's game against Wayne State College was one of their best defensively, as they gave up just 67 points to the Wildcats. They will look to channel that game as they move forward into the final four of the regular-season.

- UMC has struggled to get consistency out of their big four in recent games. Against Augustana, Noga and Odor combined for 51 points, while Hughes and Gruber combined for 19 points. While against Wayne State, Gruber and Hughes combined for 35 points, while Odor and Noga combined for just nine points. They will look for more consistency down the stretch.

- MSU Moorhead enters the weekend as the No. 16 team in the nation. The Dragons have a mark of 19-3 on the season with a 16-2 record in conference play. MSU Moorhead looks to their big three. Drew Sannes has led the way for the Dragons with 15.4 points and 8.6 rebounds per game. She has been trouble for most teams at 6-3 in the post. She also has 51 blocks on the season. On the wing, Cassidy Thorson is averaging 14.6 points per game and shooting 41.1 percent from beyond the arc, while point guard Jacky Volkert averages 12.4 points and 4.6 assists per game.

- Northern State comes into the weekend with a 16-6 mark. The Wolves are always a tough scout under Curt Fredrickson with the many plays they run. Northern State is led by their post presence of Miranda Ristau and Jill Conrad. Ristau is averaging 15.8 points and 8.0 rebounds per game, while Conrad is tallying 15.0 points and 7.0 rebounds per game. In addition to the two in the post, Paige Waytashek is tallying 10.0 points per game. The Wolves are shooting 45.5 percent from the field and 33.0 percent from beyond the arc this season.

- UMC fell earlier this season to both Northern State and MSU Moorhead. The Dragons defeated UMC 87-70, while Northern State won 78-65 at Lysaker Gymnasium. Thorson led the Dragons with 21 points, while UMC looked to 15 from Hughes against MSU Moorhead. The Wolves looked to 22 points from Waytashek and 19 from Ristau. The Golden Eagles were led by 11 points from Kelsey Stinson, while Caitlin Michaelis had 10.

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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