The Scoop
The University of Minnesota Crookston women's basketball team will open up 2018 on the road as they take on University of Minnesota Duluth Fri., Jan. 5 at 6 p.m. and St. Cloud State University Sat., Jan. 6 at 4 p.m. The Golden Eagles are looking to build off a strong weekend in which they lost by just one to Winona State University and picked up a big victory over Upper Iowa University.

Previewing the Golden Eagles
Minnesota Crookston enters the weekend with a 2-9 (2-5 NSIC) mark. The Golden Eagles have picked up conference victories this season over Upper Iowa University and Minnesota State University Moorhead. They have been close in several games this season as they have lost five games by 10 or less points. The Golden Eagles are hopeful they have turned the corner after a near upset of Winona State and a commanding 89-61 win over Upper Iowa. 

The Golden Eagles have been led this season by Isieoma Odor (R-Jr., F/C, Bloomington, Minn.), who leads the team with 14.4 points and 7.2 rebounds per game. Micaela Noga (Sr., G, Parkers Prairie, Minn.) is tallying 13.1 points per game on the season. Noga is looking to consistently find her shot as she has struggled at times beyond the arc. She had a good weekend from distance against Upper Iowa and Winona State as she was 7-of-14 for 50.0 percent from behind the three-point line. She will look to build off of that going into this weekend.

Caitlin Michaelis (Jr., G, Marshfield, Wis.) has perhaps been the most improved player this season for Head Coach Mike Roysland's squad. Michaelis is coming off a big weekend in which she averaged 17.0 points per game and shot 10-of-19 for 52.6 percent from the field. Michaelis was 7-of-12 for 58.3 percent from beyond the arc against Winona State and Upper Iowa.

In addition, Paige Weakley (So., G/F, Kearney, Mo.) is also coming off one of her best weekends in the Maroon and Gold. Weakley notched 10.5 points per game last weekend and was 7-of-10 for 70.0 percent from beyond the arc. Abby Guidinger (Fr., G/F, Waukesha, Wis.) has also been a major impact off of the bench as she is averaging 6.5 points per game in the last four for the Golden Eagles.

Minnesota Crookston had their best scoring performance of the season against Upper Iowa with 89 points. They found their stroke from beyond the arc as they were 28-of-55 for 50.9 percent last weekend. The Golden Eagles also had great ball movement as they had 44 assists to just 15 turnovers on the weekend. 

Previewing the Bulldogs
Minnesota Duluth enters the weekend with a 7-4 (4-3 NSIC) record. The Bulldogs were swept last weekend by University of Mary and Minot State University. Minnesota Duluth came away with a narrow 74-64 win over the Golden Eagles Dec. 2 at Lysaker Gymnasium. The Bulldogs used a 12-0 run in the second quarter to ignite their victory.

Minnesota Duluth is led by the play of guard Sammy Kozlowski, who averages 11.8 points, 5.1 rebounds and 5.6 assists per game. The Bulldogs also look to forward Katie Stark, who is tallying 9.5 points and 5.7 rebounds, while freshman post Sarah Grow is tallying 9.4 points and 6.0 rebounds per game. 

The Bulldogs average 67.7 points per game and allow just 58.5 points per game to their foes. Minnesota Duluth is shooting 38.7 percent from the field and 34.0 percent from beyond the arc. They shoot 68.5 percent from the charity stripe. UMD is averaging 39.5 rebounds per game, including 12.6 offensive rebounds per game. Stark and Grow are key on the offensive boards with 23 offensive rebounds. The 12.6 offensive rebounds per game is good for fourth in the league. 

Previewing the Huskies
St. Cloud State enters the weekend with a 7-4 (4-3 NSIC) record. The Huskies split last weekend with a win over University of Mary and a loss to Minot State University. St. Cloud State came away with a close 58-52 victory over the Golden Eagles Dec. 1 at Lysaker Gymnasium. Minnesota Crookston had control of the game until late in the fourth quarter as the Huskies ended the game on a 20-7 run in the final period.

St. Cloud State is a very guard-oriented team as they run essentially four guards in their current system. The Huskies are averaging 64.7 points per game and allowing just 54.5 points per game, as their defense has been strong. St. Cloud State is shooting 41.5 percent from the field and 36.5 percent from behind the three point line. 

The Huskies look to guard Andrea Thomas with 13.4 points and 4.5 rebounds per game. Freshman Tori Wortz has made an instant impact with 12.1 points per game. She is shooting 41.0 percent from distance. Amanda Christianson has also been strong with 9.5 points and 5.0 rebounds per game. Christianson is shooting 44.4 percent from beyond the arc, while Madelin Dammann is shooting 42.3 percent from distance. 

Minnesota Crookston Golden Eagles
Head Coach: Mike Roysland
Record at UMC: 107-203 Season at UMC: 12th Season

Minnesota Duluth Bulldogs
Head Coach: Mandy Pearson
Record at UMD: 28-37 Season at UMD: Third Season

St. Cloud State Huskies
Head Coach: Lori Fish
Record at SCSU: 139-119 Season at SCSU: 10th Season

Date: Jan. 5, 2017
Time: 6 p.m.
Opponent: University of Minnesota Duluth
Site: Duluth, Minn. (Romano Gymnasium)
Live Stats: https://portal.stretchinternet.com/umd/
Video: https://portal.stretchinternet.com/umd/
Date: Jan. 6, 2017
Time: 4 p.m.
Opponent: St. Cloud State University
Site: St. Cloud, Minn. (Halenbeck Hall)
Live Stats: http://www.sidearmstats.com/stcloudstate/wbball/
Video: https://portal.stretchinternet.com/scsu/
Radio: 1260 KROX AM/105.7 FM (Saturday)
Officials (Friday): Chuck Morning, Jim Erzar, Eric Rain
Officials (Saturday): Rick Baker, Steve Dengerud, Tony Schrepfer
Last (UMD): Minnesota Duluth won 74-64 in Crookston Dec. 2
Series: Minnesota Duluth leads 30-3 in NCAA Division II series. Golden Eagles last won Jan. 10, 2016 in Crookston.
Last (SCSU): St. Cloud State won 58-52 in Crookston Dec. 1
Series: St. Cloud State leads the NCAA Division II series 19-7. The Golden Eagles are 3-4 in the last four seasons against the Huskies. Minnesota
Crookston last won Jan. 7, 2017 with a 78-76 victory in Crookston.

Minnesota Crookston
Projected Starters
So. PG 4 Stephanie McWilliams, 5-8, Grand Forks, N.D. 3.8 PPG, 3.3 APG
Sr. SG 10 Micaela Noga, 5-7, Parkers Prairie, Minn. 13.1 PPG, 4.6 RPG
Jr. 3G 3 Caitlin Michaelis, 5-8, Marshfield, Wis. 11.6 PPG, 2.5 RPG
Sr. SF 22 Emily Gruber, 5-11, Monticello, Minn. 9.3 PPG, 6.5 RPG
R-Jr. PF 15 Isieoma Odor, 6-0, Bloomington, Minn. 14.4 PPG, 7.2 RPG
Top Bench Players
Fr. G/F 12 Abby Guidinger , 5-10, Waukesha, Wis. 5.5 PPG, 2.8 RPG
So. G/F 32 Paige Weakley, 5-9, Kearney, Mo. 4.0 PPG, 1.3 RPG
Jr. G/F 21 Lindsey Weber, 5-11, Delafield, Wis. 1.5 PPG, 1.4 RPG

Minnesota Duluth
Projected Starters
Jr. PG 23 Sammy Kozlowski, 5-9, New Berlin, Wis. 11.8 PPG, 5.1 RPG, 5.6 APG
Fr. SG 11 Ann Simonet, 5-7, Brooklyn Park, Minn. 7.6 PPG, 3.4 RPG
Jr. 3G 33 Emma Boehm, 5-11, Eden Prairie, Minn. 8.9 PPG, 2.5 RPG
So. SF 31 Katie Stark, 5-11, Hayward, Wis. 9.5 PPG, 5.7 RPG
Fr. PF 42 Sarah Grow, 6-2, Circle Pines, Minn. 9.4 PPG, 6.0 RPG
Top Bench Players
Fr. G/F 21 Payton Kahl, 6-0, Stoughton, Wis. 4.2 PPG, 1.5 RPG
So. G 3 Taylor Schneider, 5-9, Turtle Lake, Wis. 3.5 PPG, 1.5 RPG
Sr. F 0 Ayo Porte, 5-11, Brooklyn Park, Minn. 3.5 PPG, 4.3 RPG

St. Cloud State
Projected Starters
Sr. PG 10 Andrea Thomas, 5-5, Mauston, Wis. 13.4 PPG, 4.5 RPG
Fr. SG 2 Tori Wortz, 5-8, Hutchinson, Minn. 12.1 PPG, 2.9 RPG
So. 3G 4 Madelin Dammann, 5-9, Waconia, Minn. 6.8 PPG, 3.3 RPG
Sr. SF 32 Amanda Christianson, 5-10, Alexandria, Minn. 9.5 PPG, 5.0 RPG
R-So. PF 45 Brianna Johnson, 6-0, Beaver Dam, Wis. 5.8 PPG, 6.3 RPG
Top Bench Players
R-Jr. G 11 Mallie Doucette, 5-6, Colfax, Wis. 6.7 PPG, 2.4 RPG
Fr. F 40 Nikki Kilboten, 6-2, Eau Claire, Wis. 3.7 PPG, 3.1 RPG
R-Jr. G 3 MacKenzie Uter, 5-6, Howard Lake, Minn. 1.6 PPG, 1.0 RPG

#5StoryLines
1. Can the Golden Eagles shoot the ball like they did last weekend?

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

3. Will the Golden Eagles be able to limit UMD's Sammy Kozlowski?

4. Can the Golden Eagles slow down the St. Cloud State guard court?

5. Will Minnesota Crookston continue to get strong production off of the bench from the likes of Abby Guidinger and Paige Weakley?

#GetItToThePost
Minnesota Crookston redshirt junior forward Isieoma Odor has had a great 
start to her junior season. Odor is averaging  14.4 points and 7.2 rebounds per game for the Golden Eagles. She notched 17 points and six rebounds in the win over Upper Iowa and had 13 points and eight rebounds against Winona State. Odor is tallying 15.3 points per game in the last three for the Golden Eagles. She will continue to be a major factor for Minnesota Crookston in all of their games. 

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

Michaelis is averaging 11.6 points per game this season for Minnesota Crookston. She has been crucial for the Golden Eagles in the last three games as she is averaging 16.3 points per game. Michaelis is shooting 16-of-30 for 53.3 percent in the last three games. In addition, she is 9-of-17 for 52.9 percent from beyond the arc. Michaelis has found her niche this season as she struggled for consistency last season, finishing with 5.1 points per game. She is shooting 44.4 percent from beyond the arc on the season. 

#AHelpingHand
Minnesota Crookston senior Micaela Noga has been a crucial part of the team's offense this season with 13.1 points per game. She is also averaging 4.6 rebounds per game. Noga was also crucial in ball movement this last weekend, notching 6.0 assists per game to just two turnovers on the entire weekend. She has also started to find her shot, as she was 7-of-14 for 50.0 percent from beyond the arc. Noga will be crucial for the Golden Eagles in all aspects of the game this weekend.

#GetHerTheBall
Sophomore Paige Weakley was huge off of the bench last weekend against Winona State and Upper Iowa as the Kearney, Mo. native was on fire from beyond the arc. Weakley tallied 10.5 points per game and shot 7-of-10 for 70.0 percent from beyond the arc. Weakley is averaging 8.3 points per game over the last four games after just tallying 1.6 points per game over the first seven contests for the Golden Eagles. If she remains confident from beyond the arc, Minnesota Crookston should continue to find success from behind the three-point line.