The Scoop
The University of Minnesota Crookston women's basketball team will play a mid-week game with conference rival Bemidji State University Tues., Jan. 16 at 6 p.m. The game will wrap up the season series between the two schools. Bemidji State won the game in Bemidji, Minn. Dec. 16 76-64. The Golden Eagles had won the previous five games going into the December meeting. The Golden Eagles lead the Division II era series 19-18.

Previewing Minnesota Crookston
The Golden Eagles come into Tuesday with a 3-12 (3-8 NSIC) mark. Minnesota Crookston split last weekend with a win over Southwest Minnesota State University and a loss to University of Sioux Falls. The Golden Eagles have won two of their last five games as they look to get on track for the 2017-18 season.
Minnesota Crookston looks to guard Micaela Noga with 13.3 points per game. Noga comes in shooting 28.0 percent from beyond the arc, which she is looking to improve. Noga needs just 24 more points to become the 11th player in school history to reach 1,000 points. The most recent 1,000 point scorers for the Golden Eagles were Katrina (Moenkedick) Nordick and Alexa Thielman. 

In addition to Noga, Isieoma Odor has been an integral cog for Minnesota Crookston. Odor is coming off a tough weekend, but she is averaging 13.1 points and 7.0 rebounds per game on the season. At guard, Caitlin Michaelis has been one of the most improved players for the team this season. She is tallying 10.8 points per game. Michaelis leads the team by shooting 44.3 percent from beyond the arc.

Senior Emily Gruber is coming off her best weekend of the season. The forward notched 17.5 points and 9.0 rebounds per game in a pair of games. Gruber is notching 9.4 points and 6.5 rebounds per game. Off of the bench, Abby Guidinger is also coming off a great weekend. Guidinger tallied 14.0 points, 5.5 rebounds and 3.5 assists per game. Paige Weakley has also improved off of the bench. Weakley is notching 3.7 points per game and is shooting 3.7 points per game. Stephanie McWilliams has been a great glue player. She doesn't score a ton of points but she is averaging 2.9 assists per game.

Minnesota Crookston is shooting 40.1 percent from the field on the season. The Golden Eagles are shooting 30.2 percent from three-point range and 78.3 percent from the foul line. The Golden Eagles are averaging 62.4 points per game and giving up just 69.5 points per contest.

Previewing Bemidji State
Bemidji State comes into the weekend with a 4-11 (3-8 NSIC) record. The Beavers picked up a win over Minnesota Crookston earlier this season led by 22 points from freshman guard Brooklyn Bachmann. She leads the team this season with 13.9 points per game. Bachmann is the only player averaging double-figures for the Beavers. Sierra Senske, the daughter of Minnesota Crookston Hall of Famer Steele Senske and grand-daughter of Hall of Famer Gary Senske, is notching 9.1 points and 5.4 rebounds per game off of the bench. Sydney Arrington is now starting over her and is developing as a force inside. Arrington is notching 7.7 points and 3.2 rebounds per game. 

The Beavers are notching 56.7 points per game and allowing opponents to score 65.5 points per game. Bemidji State is shooting 34.4 percent from the field. They are hitting at a 29.1 percent clip from beyond the arc and a 73.3 percent clip from the foul line. 

Minnesota Crookston Golden Eagles
Head Coach: Mike Roysland
Record at UMC: 108-206 Season at UMC: 12th Season

Bemidji State Beavers
Head Coach: Chelsea DeVille
Record at BSU: 18-51 Season at BSU: Third Season

Date: Jan. 16, 2018
Time: 6 p.m.
Opponent: Bemidji State (Tuesday)
Site: Crookston, Minn.
Arena: Lysaker Gymnasium
Capacity: 3,000
Live Stats: http://www.sidearmstats.com/umcrookston/wbball/
Video: https://portal.stretchinternet.com/crk/
Series against BSU: Minnesota Crookston leads 19-18 in the NCAA Division II Era. BSU leads the overall series 22-19.
Last: Bemidji State won Dec. 16 in Bemidji 76-64
Recent Trends: Bemidji State won the last game, but the Golden Eagles had won the five before. Minnesota Crookston is 6-3 in the last eight meetings with the Beavers
Officials: Michael Kolness, Danny Weigel, Nic Thompson

#5StoryLines
1. Can the Golden Eagles get consistent shooting on Tuesday against Bemidji State?
2. Will Emily Gruber build off a strong weekend as the Golden Eagles take on Bemidji State Tuesday?
3. Can the Golden Eagles force mistakes by freshman Brooklyn Bachmann?
4. Will Abby Guidinger follow up a big weekend as Minnesota Crookston takes on Bemidji State Tuesday?
5. Can Minnesota Crookston win the battle in the post?