The Scoop
The University of Minnesota Crookston women's basketball team  continues a three-game home stand Fri., Jan. 19 and Sat., Jan. 20 as they host University of Mary and Minot State University. The two games this weekend are crucial as the Golden Eagles come into the weekend tied for fifth in the NSIC North with both of their opponents. This weekend will help to shake out the race for seeding as we inch closer to the last month of the 2017-18 regular-season. 

Previewing the Golden Eagles
Minnesota Crookston enters the weekend with a 4-12 (4-8 NSIC) record. The Golden Eagles have claimed two victories in their last three games. Minnesota Crookston will look to continue to build on that momentum heading into this weekend.

The Golden Eagles have been led as of late by freshman Abby Guidinger, who is averaging 15.0 points and 5.7 rebounds per game in the last three tilts. Isieoma Odor leads the team in the post with 13.4 points and 7.1 rebounds per game, while senior Micaela Noga is tallying 13.3 points per game. Noga needs just 12 points this weekend to become the 11th player in school history to tally 1,000 points in a career. In addition, she needs just 26 points to 
surpass Bri Zabel for 10th all-time in scoring in school history.

Emily Gruber has continued to show improvement this season for the Golden Eagles. Gruber comes in averaging 9.5 points and 6.6 rebounds per game. She has been especially crucial in recent games as the Montuicello, Minn. native is tallying 14.7 points and 9.0 rebounds per game in the last three tilts for Minnesota Crookston. Caitlin Michaelis has also had a nice season for the Golden Eagles as she is averaging 10.4 points per game. Michaelis leads the team by shooting 42.0 percent from beyond the arc. Paige Weakley has added strong shooting off of the bench as she is tallying 5.5 points per game in the last nine contests. Weakley is shooting 12-of-23 or 52.2 percent in the last seven games for Minnesota Crookston.

The Golden Eagles come into the weekend averaging 63.1 points per game. They are allowing 68.1 points per game to their foes. Minnesota Crookston is shooting 40.1 percent from the field and 30.5 percent from beyond the arc. The Golden Eagles are hitting free throws at a 79.6 percent clip this season. Minnesota Crookston is being out-rebounded on the season 40.1 to 33.5. 

Previewing the Marauders
U-Mary swept last weekend with wins over Minnesota State University, Mankato and Concordia University-St. Paul. The Marauders are 8-10 on the season. Minnesota Crookston and U-Mary split last season's games with each team winning on the road. 

U-Mary looks to forward Gabbie Bohl fo 17.3 points and 6.7 rebounds per game. Cassie Askvig adds 13.5 points and 8.8 rebounds per game as the Marauders are strong in the post this season. At guard, six-footer Lauren Rotunda leads the way with 10.1 points per game. She is also crucial on the boards with 7.1 rebounds per game. Dani Williams leads the Marauders from beyond the arc by shooting 44.6 percent.

The Marauders come into the weekend averaging 66.1 points per game. They are giving up 62.6 points per game to their foes. U-Mary is shooting 40.8 percent from the field and 32.2 percent from behind the three-point line. The Marauders are just a 66.4 percent shooting team from the foul line. They have out-rebounded their opponents 39.3 to 36.1 on the season. 

Previewing the Beavers
The Beavers are in their first season under Head Coach Mark Graupe. Minot State is 7-9 on the season entering the weekend. Minnesota Crookston swept Minot State last season. The Golden Eagles lead the all-time series 7-4 over the Beavers. Minnesota Crookston has claimed four-straight wins over their foes from down U.S. Highway 2. The last win for Minot State came Feb. 13, 2015 in Minot, N.D.

The Beavers look to University of North Dakota transfer Holly Johnson with 15.5 points per game. She is aided in the post by Kristal Flowers with 10.5 points and 8.9 rebounds per game. At guard, Madison Wald leads the way for the Beavers with 10.7 points per game. Diondra Denton leads the team from beyond the arc as she is shooting 40.5 percent from three on the year. Mariah Payne has given Minot State a spark off the bench with 7.1 points per game.

Minot State is averaging 64.9 points per game on the season and is giving up 65.4 points per game to their opponents. The Beavers are shooting 40.8 percent from the field and 34.6 percent from behind the three-point line. Minot State is a 74.2 percent free throw shooting team on the season. 

Minnesota Crookston Golden Eagles
Head Coach: Mike Roysland
Record at UMC: 109-206 Season at UMC: 12th Season

U-Mary Marauders
Head Coach: Rick Neumann
Record at UM: 84-82 Season at UM: 6th Season

Minot State Beavers
Head Coach: Mark Graupe
Record at MSU: 7-9 Season at MSU: First Season

Date: Jan. 19, 2017
Time: 6 p.m.
Opponent: University of Mary Marauders
Site: Crookston, Minn. (Lysaker Gymnasium)
Live Stats: http://www.sidearmstats.com/umcrookston/wbball/
Video: https://portal.stretchinternet.com/crk/
Date: Jan. 20, 2017
Time: 4 p.m.
Opponent: Minot St. University Beavers
Site: Crookston, Minn. (Lysaker Gymnasium)
Live Stats: http://www.sidearmstats.com/umcrookston/wbball/
Video: https://portal.stretchinternet.com/crk/
Radio: 1260 KROX AM/105.7 FM
Officials (Friday): Brad Sylliaasen, Ryan Weiser, Lisa Schwinden
Officials (Saturday): Dave Klundt, Ryan Overlie, April Kabes
Last (UM): U-Mary won 87-81 in overtime in Crookston Feb. 18, 2017
Series: U-Mary leads the series 16-6 in Division II. The two teams split last seasons two matchups
Last (MINOT): Minnesota Crookston won 86-70 in Crookston Feb. 19, 2017
Series: Minnesota Crookston leads the all-time series 7-4. The Golden Eagles swept the Beavers in both meetings last season

Projected Starters
So. PG 4 Stephanie McWilliams, 5-8, Grand Forks, N.D. 3.6 PPG, 2.4 APG
Sr. SG 10 Micaela Noga, 5-7, Parkers Prairie, Minn. 13.3 PPG, 5.0 RPG
Jr. 3G 3 Caitlin Michaelis, 5-8, Marshfield, Wis. 10.3 PPG, 2.3 RPG
Sr. SF 22 Emily Gruber, 5-11, Monticello, Minn. 9.5 PPG, 6.6 RPG
R-Jr. PF 15 Isieoma Odor, 6-0, Bloomington, Minn. 13.4 PPG, 7.1 RPG
Top Bench Players
Fr. G/F 12 Abby Guidinger , 5-10, Waukesha, Wis. 7.8 PPG, 3.8 RPG
So. G/F 32 Paige Weakley, 5-9, Kearney, Mo. 3.8 PPG, 1.3 RPG
Jr. G/F 21 Lindsey Weber, 5-11, Delafield, Wis. 1.1 PPG, 1.1 RPG

U-Mary Marauders
Projected Starters
Fr. PG 1 Macy Williams, 5-7, Sussex, Wisconsin 6.8 PPG, 2.0 RPG
Sr. SG 3 Dani Williams , 5-9, Gillette, Wyoming 8.9 PPG, 2.4 RPG
So. SF 24 Lauren Rotunda, 6-0, Fargo, North Dakota  10.1 PPG, 7.4 RPG
So. PF 32 Gabbie Bohl, 6-0, Minot, North Dakota 17.3 PPG, 6.7 RPG
So. C 12 Cassie Askvig, 6-2, Minot, North Dakota 13.5 PPG, 8.8 RPG
Top Bench Players
R-So. G 14 Jordyn Jossart, 5-7, Bismarck, North Dakota 4.4 PPG, 1.0 RPG
S0. G 2 Christal Hearn, 5-11, Mequon, Wisconsin 2.8 PPG, 2.4 RPG

Minot State Beavers
Projected Starters
Jr. G 3 Madison Wald, 5-6, Minot, North Dakota 10.7 PPG, 3.4 RPG
Jr. G 12 Kari Clements, 5-7, Trevor, Wis. 6.0 PPG, 3.2 RPG
Sr. G 44 Diondra Denton, 5-10, Great Falls, Mont. 7.2 PPG, 5.1 RPG, 3.2 APG
Sr. F 40 Kristal Flowers, 6-1, Collins, Miss. 10.5 PPG, 8.9 RPG
Sr. F 23 Holly Johnson, 6-0, Minot, North Dakota 15.5 PPG, 5.7 RPG
Top Bench Players
So. G 4 Mariah Payne, 5-7, Burnie, Australia 7.1 PPG, 1.7 RPG
R-Fr. G/F 10 Calli Delsman, 5-10, Waukesha, Wis. 2.8 PPG, 2.2 RPG
Jr. G 14 Whitney Molina, 5-8, Hinsdale, Mont. 2.1 PPG, 2.7 RPG

#5StoryLines
1. Can the Golden Eagles have strong shooting from beyond the arc? 

2. Can Minnesota Crookston come up big on the glass in the crucial moments?

3. Will Abby Guidinger continue to give the Golden Eagles a spark off of the bench?

4. Can Minnesota Crookston limit U-Mary's Gabbie Bohl and Cassie Askvig in the post?

5. Can the Golden Eagles slow down Holly Johnson and Kristal Flowers in the post for Minot State?

#GetItToThePost
Minnesota Crookston redshirt junior forward Isieoma Odor has had a strong season overall for the Golden Eagles. She is coming off a very strong game against Bemidji State Tuesday in which she had 18 points and nine rebounds. It was a bounce back for the redshirt junior after she tallied just 2.5 points per game on the weekend for Minnesota Crookston. Odor leads the team this season with 13.4 points and 7.1 rebounds per game. 

#DearAbby
Freshman Abby Guidinger has added a different dynamic to the team over the last three games as she has provided the ability to get to the hoop and also knock down the occasional outside shot. Guidinger is averaging 15.0 points and 5.7 rebounds per game over the last three tilts for Minnesota Crookston. She is shooting 18-of-36 for 50.0 percent from the field in those three games. Guidinger will look to continue to bring great energy off of the bench for the Golden Eagles this weekend. 

#Chasing1000
Minnesota Crookston senior Micaela Noga is just 12 points from 
becoming the 11th player in school history to tally 1,000 points. Noga is also just 26 points from surpassing Bri Zabel for 10th all-time in scoring for the Golden Eagles. Noga has been a key cog for Minnesota Crookston averaging 13.3 points per game. She is shooting 14-of-32 for 43.8 percent in the last three games for the Golden Eagles.

#GetItToGruber
Senior Emily Gruber has been a force offensively and on the boards in recent games for the Golden Eagles. Gruber is averaging 14.7 points and 9.0 rebounds per game for Minnesota Crookston in the last three games. Gruber has also been strong from the free throw line where she is shooting 16-of-20 for 80.0 percent over the last three games.