Women's Basketball 1/31/2018 5:05:00 PM Shawn D. Smith, Director of Athletic Media Relations

Golden Eagles Take On Top Two NSIC South Teams As They Open Four-Game Home Stand

The Scoop
    The University of Minnesota Crookston women's basketball team opens a four-game home stand this weekend as they take on Augustana University and Wayne State College (Neb.), the top two teams in the NSIC South. The Golden Eagles take on the Vikings at 6 p.m. Fri., Feb. 2 and the Wildcats at 4 p.m. Sat., Feb. 3.

Previewing the Golden Eagles
    The Golden Eagles havev won three of their last five games and have won five games since Dec. 31.

    Minnesota Crookston will look to continue their strong play as they take on the two top teams in the NSIC South. Minnesota Crookston looks to Isieoma Odor, who is leading the team with 13.8 points and 7.5 rebounds per game. Odor needs just 120 points to surpass 1,000 points in a career. Senior Micaela Noga has also had a strong season with 13.1 points per game. She became the 11th player to eclipse 1,000 points two weeks ago. Emily Gruber, a 5-11 forward, is also coming close to 1,000 points as she needs just 88 points to do. Gruber is averaging 9.0 points and 6.2 rebounds per game.

    Junior Caitlin Michaelis has also been a major piece for the Golden Eagles this season. The guard is tallying 11.4 points per game and leads the team by shooting 41.4 percent from beyond the arc. Michaelis is tallying 15.5 points per game in the last four contests for the Golden Eagles.

    In addition, Abby Guidinger has been vital in recent games for Minnesota Crookston. The freshman is notching 13.4 points per game in the last seven contests. Guidinger is averaging 9.0 points and 4.0 rebounds per game on the season.

    Stephanie McWilliams has also had a nice season for the Golden Eagles. McWilliams moved to the bench last weekend and averaged 6.5 points per game for Minnesota Crookston.

    Minnesota Crookston is averaging 64.5 points per game, while allowing 68.3 to their foes.
They are shooting 40.0 percent from the field, 30.2 percent from beyond the arc and 80.4 percent from the charity stripe.

Previewing the Vikings
    Augustana enters the weekend with a 19-1 mark and a No. 7 national ranking. The Vikings have won five-straight games dating back to a Jan. 12 loss to Minnesota State University Moorhead.

    The Vikings look to long guards in twins Logan and Presley O'Farrell. Logan O'Farrell is averaging 13.3 points per game, while Presley O'Farrell is tallying 12.6 points per game. In addition, post Shelby Selland is tallying 10.8 points per game. Paige Peterson has been crucial off the bench for Augustana with 10.2 points per game, while Naomi Rust is starting over her with 8.5 points per contest.

    Augustana is averaging 82.5 points per game, while limiting their foes to just 63.2 points per game. The Vikings are shooting 44.9 percent from the field and 34.1 percent from beyond the arc paced by 50.0 percent from Hana Metoxen. Augustana shoots 80.4 percent from the charity stripe.

Previewing the Wildcats
    Wayne State comes into the weekend with an 18-6 record. The Wildcats have won their last four games dating back to an overtime loss Jan. 13 to MSU Moorhead.

    The Wildcats look to center Paige Ballinger with 12.3 points per game, while 6-0 forward Maggie Schulte is tallying 11.5 points per game. Erin Norling adds to the attack with 9.3 points per game for Wayne State. The guard court for Wayne State looks to Kacie O'Connor's 8.3 points per game.

    Wayne State is averaging 77.7 points per game, while giving up 63.0 points per game to their foes. The Wildcats are shooting 44.6 percent from the field and 37.1 percent from beyond the arc. Wayne State looks to Schulte's 47.3 percent from beyond the arc. Wayne state is an 80.8 percent free throw shooting team.

Minnesota Crookston Golden Eagles
Head Coach: Mike Roysland
Record at UMC: 111-208 Season at UMC: 12th Season

Augustana Vikings
Head Coach: Dave Krauth
Record at AU: 596-255 Season at AU: 29th Season

Wayne State Wildcats
Head Coach: Chris Kielsmeier
Record at WSC: 230-71 Season at WSC: 10th Season

Date: Feb. 2, 2018
Time: 6 p.m.
Opponent: Augustana University Vikings
Site: Crookston, MN (Lysaker Gymnasium)
Live Stats: http://www.sidearmstats.com/umcrookston/wbball/
Video: https://portal.stretchinternet.com/crk/
Date: Feb. 3, 2018
Time: 4 p.m.
Opponent: Wayne State College Wildcats
Site: Crookston, MN (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): Michael Kolness, Caleb Curfman, Nic Thompson
Officials (Saturday): Brad Sylliaasen, Glenn Roll, Ivan Hirst
Last (AU): Augustana won 87-79 in Sioux Falls on Feb. 3, 2017
Series: Augustana leads the series 15-3 in Division II.
Last (WSC): Wayne State won 67-60 in Wayne on Feb. 4, 2017
Series: Wayne leads the all-time series 24-7 in Division II.

Minnesota Crookston
Projected Starters
Sr. PG 10 Micaela Noga, 5-7, Parkers Prairie, Minn.            13.1 PPG, 4.7 RPG
Jr. SG 3 Caitlin Michaelis, 5-8, Marshfield, Wis.            11.4 PPG, 2.6 RPG
Fr. 3G 12 Abby Guidinger    , 5-10, Waukesha, Wis.            9.0 PPG, 4.0 RPG
Sr. SF 22 Emily Gruber, 5-11, Monticello, Minn.            9.0 PPG, 6.2 RPG
R-Jr. PF 15 Isieoma Odor, 6-0, Bloomington, Minn.            13.8 PPG, 7.5 RPG
Top Bench Players
So. PG 4 Stephanie McWilliams, 5-8, Grand Forks, N.D.        3.8 PPG, 2.4 RPG
So. G/F 32 Paige Weakley, 5-9, Kearney, Mo.                3.5 PPG, 1.2 RPG

Augustana Vikings
Projected Starters
Jr. PG 22 Lynsey Prosser, 5-7, Sturgis, SD.                7.5 PPG, 2.0 RPG
Sr. SG 30 Logan O'Farrell, 5-11, Summit, SD.                13.3 PPG, 6.8 RPG
Sr. 3G 35 Presley O'Farrell, 5-11, Summit, SD.            12.6 PPG, 4.5 RPG
Sr. C 42 Naomie Rust, 6-0, Bismarck, ND.                8.5 PPG, 2.7 RPG
Jr. C 40 Shelby Selland, 6-2, Letcher, SD.                10.8 PPG, 5.3 RPG
Top Bench Players
Jr. C 23 Paige Peterson, 6-1, Jamestown, ND.            10.2 PPG, 3.9 RPG
So. G 14 Abby Hora, 5-8, Viborg, SD.                6.9 PPG, 2.6 RPG
Sr. G 34 Allie Koehn, 5-9, Brandon, SD.                4.4 PPG, 2.0 RPG
So. F 31 Hana Metoxen, 5-11, Apple Valley, Minn.            4.9 PPG, 2.5 RPG

Wayne State Wildcats
Projected Starters
Fr. PG 23 Hailey Busse, 5-5, Winthrop, Minn.            6.5 PPG, 1.1 RPG, 2.6 APG
Sr. SG 15 Kacie O'Connor, 5-10, Sundance, Wyoming            8.3 PPG, 2.9 RPG
Fr. SF 22 Erin Norling, 5-11, Loretto, Minn.                9.3 PPG, 3.8 RPG
Sr. PF 35 Maggie Schulte, 6-0, Wynot, Neb.                11.5 PPG, 6.2 RPG
Sr. C 52 Paige Ballinger, 6-1, Pender, Neb.                12.3 PPG, 5.7 RPG
Top Bench Players
Jr. PG 12 Maggie Lowe, 5-7, Perry, Iowa                6.1 PPG, 1.2 RPG
Jr. F 44 Andrea Larson, 6-0, Sperry, Iowa                6.9 PPG, 3.3 RPG

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

2. Can Minnesota Crookston limit the Augustana post play?

3. Will the Golden Eagles be able to limit Paige Ballinger for Wayne State?

4. Can the Golden Eagles continue to have strong production from their starting five?

5. Who will be an x-factor off of the bench?

#GetItToThePost

Minnesota Crookston redshirt junior forward Isieoma Odor has had a strong junior season. Odor has been particularly effective in the last five games as the post is tallying 15.8 points and 9.0 rebounds per game. Odor is shooting 45.5 percent from the field this season and has tallied 13.8 points and 7.5 boards per game. She will look to continue her strong play of late as the Golden Eagles head into the weekend.

#MichaelisMakingAMajorImpact

Junior guard Caitlin Michaelis has perhaps been the most improved player for the Golden Eagles this season.

Michaelis has come into her own this season and has especially shown this lately as she is averaging 15.5 points per game in the last four contests. Michaelis talled a season-high 20 points Jan. 19 against U-Mary. She averaged 13.0 points per game last weekend for the Golden Eagles. She is the team's leading three-point shooter on the season at 41.4 percent. Michaelis will look to have a major weekend against Augustana and Wayne State.

#MovingUpTheCharts

Minnesota Crookston senior Micaela Noga became the 11th player in school history to eclipse 1,000 points against U-Mary. Noga continues to move up the charts as she needs just five points to surpass Jessica Forsline for ninth in all-time scoring. Several of Noga's teammates are also approaching the 1,000 point club as Gruber needs just 88 points and Odor just 120 points.

#DearAbby

Freshman Abby Guidinger has been crucial in the last seven games for the Golden Eagles. Minnesota Crookston has posted a 4-3 mark in those games. Guidinger is tallying 13.4 points per game in those seven games. The freshman has come into her own and is averaging 9.0 points and 4.0 rebounds per game.

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Players Mentioned

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

#4 Stephanie McWilliams: G; 5' 8"; Sophomore

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

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

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

#32 Paige Weakley: G/F; 5' 9"; Sophomore

#12 Abby Guidinger: G; 5' 10"; Freshman

Players Mentioned

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

#4 Stephanie McWilliams
: 5' 8"; Sophomore
: G

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

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

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

#32 Paige Weakley
: 5' 9"; Sophomore
: G/F

#12 Abby Guidinger
: 5' 10"; Freshman
: G