•  The Minnesota Crookston women's basketball team opens up NSIC play Sat., Dec. 1 at 2 p.m. against Bemidji State University. The Golden Eagles split last season's meetings with the Beavers as they each won games on their home court. Minnesota Crookston has had the number of Bemidji State of late, as they have earned victories in six of the last eight meetings. The Golden Eagles lead the all-time serie 20-18 over Bemidji State.

•  Mike Roysland has won five of six meetings when pitted up against Chelsea DeVille on the other sideline. DeVille is in her fourth season with the Beavers, while Roysland is in his 13th season with the Golden Eagles. The Minnesota Crookston boss is a former Bemidji State men's basketball player, earning a place in the BSU Hall of Fame following a great career.

•  GREAT START. The Minnesota Crookston women's basketball team has opened up the 2018-19 season with a 5-1 mark, their best start to a campaign since the 2004-05 season. Minnesota Crookston is looking to continue their hot start as they open NSIC play against Bemidji State. The best record the Golden Eagles have ever posted on a season came in the 2015-16 season with an 18-10 mark. Minnesota Crookston won 14 conference games during the 2015-16 season. The Golden Eagles are looking to get back to the NSIC/Sanford Health quarterfinals for the fourth time in five years. 

•  DOUBLE DOUBLE MACHINE. Isieoma Odor has been off to an outstanding start to her senior season. Odor is averaging a double-double of 16.8 points and 10.8 rebounds per game. Odor is sixth in the NSIC in scoring and is first in the league in rebounding. She has already been named NSIC North Player of the Week twice this season. Odor is currently eighth all-time in scoring at Minnesota Crookston with 1,101 career points. She needs just six points to move past her former teammate Micaela Noga in seventh place. In addition, Odor has also moved to third all-time in career rebounds. She needs 94 boards to surpass Laurie Tyson for second all-time.

• THE LAST I IS SILENT. The last I might be silent in Caitlin Michaelis' last name, but she has been anything but silent as a senior for the Golden Eagles. The Marshfield, Wis., native is off to her best start for the Golden Eagles as she is averaging 16.5 points, 2.8 rebounds, and 2.5 assists per game. Michaelis is shooting 90.0 percent from the charity stripe, and 32.4 percent from beyond the arc. She has scored 641 career points in her four years with the Golden Eagles. Michaelis is coming off a great week in Washington as she tallied 18.5 points per game and shot 38.5 percent from behind the three-point line.

• POST GAME. Her name is Kylie Post, she not play in the post, but it has become important to get the ball to her in her inaugural campaign for the Golden Eagles. Post leads the team with 3.0 assists per game and has helped get the rest of the offense involved for Minnesota Crookston. In addition, Post is phenomenal at generating her own offense, especially when it involves getting to the hoop. Post is notching 13.7 points per game. She will be a major factor this weekend against Bemidji State.

• DEAR ABBY. Abby Guidinger has continued to come into her own as a sophomore. Guidinger started to show signs of what was to come at the conclusion of her freshman season. She is averaging 11.2 points and 5.2 rebounds per game. Guidinger currently leads the team by shooting 92.9 percent from the charity stripe.

• RETURN TO THE COURT. Stephanie McWilliams missed about eight months with an injury prior to her return this season. She continues to return to form as the Golden Eagles continue along this season. McWilliams is averaging 6.7 points per game for Minnesota Crookston in the last three games. She scored seven of the final 13 points for the Golden Eagles in a win over Saint Martin's last week.

• VOTE GETTER. The Golden Eagles have received votes in the D2SIDA Central Region poll the last two weeks. Minnesota Crookston was just one vote shy of breaking the Top 10 of the region. The Golden Eagles are looking to continue their strong start in order to continue to get attention in the Central Region.

• THREE BALL. Minnesota Crookston junior Paige Weakley has been strong from beyond the arc this season. Weakley is averaging 4.8 points per game. Weakley is shooting 35.3 percent from behind the three-point line for Minnesota Crookston. Weakley's best game came with 13 points versus Northwest Missouri State in the second game of the season. She was 4-of-5 from beyond the arc against Northwest Missouri State. 

• TURN THE PAIGE. Golden Eagle freshman Paige Cornale had her best game of her young career last week against Saint Martin's. The native of Oak Creek, Wis., secured a career-high 11 points on 3-of-3 from beyond the arc versus the Saints. Cornale will look to continue to find playing time and improve as a freshman heading into this weekend's game against Bemidji State.

• STARTING FIVE. Minnesota Crookston's starting five has been instrumental through the first six games. The Golden Eagles have accounted for 63 points per game of their 73.2 points per tilt. The starting five will continue to be an important factor for the Golden Eagles heading into this weekend against Bemidji State.

BEMIDJI STATE PREVIEW. The Beavers come into the matchup with the Golden Eagles with a 2-2 record in the non-conference portion of their schedule. Bemidji State fell to Valley City State University, a team Minnesota Crookston beat 79-64 at Lysaker Gymnasium. In addition, the Beavers were defeated 58-50 to Wisconsin-Superior Monday. The last time these two teams met in Bemidji, Bemidji State upended Minnesota Crookston 76-64 on December 16, 2017.

MY MARIA. Winona, Minn., native Maria Appicelli leads the Beavers in points this season, averaging 16.5 points per game, including a 23 point scoring output against VCSU. Appicelli also leading the team in shooting from beyond the arc, knocking down eight threes through four contests.

IS DUBOIS FRENCH FOR STAT STUFFER? Sophomore Forward Gabby Dubois is a Junior from West Fargo, N.D., but so far, she's liking her time in Northern Minnesota. Dubois is averaging 6.8 rebounds per game, which leads the Beavers, while scoring 8.5 points per game on the offensive side. Dubois went for a double-double in the season opening win at home against Northland College.

RAPPE FOR 500 PLEASE ALEX. Emma Rappe, a senior Forward from Fox Lake, Ill., is second on the team in scoring at 9.3 points per game, and has been efficient while scoring the basketball. Rappe is 11 of 25 from the field, 5 of 16 from the three point line and is converting 10 of 15 chances from the charity stripe. One of two Beaver Seniors, Rappe enjoyed a nice start to her final campaign in Bemidji, scoring 19 points in the season opener against Northland College.

Minnesota Crookston Golden Eagles
Head Coach: Mike Roysland
Record at UMC: 118-214 Season at UMC: 13th Season

Bemidji State Beavers
Head Coach: Chelsea DeVille
Record at BSU: 20-65 Season at BSU: Fourth Season

Minnesota Crookston at Bemidji State
Date: Dec. 1, 2018
Time: 2 p.m.
Site: Bemidji, Minn. (BSU Gymnasium)
Live Stats: http://stats.statbroadcast.com/broadcast/?id=222532
Video: https://portal.stretchinternet.com/bsu/
Officials: Jim Erzar, Tim Gilbertson, Rob Nudell
Last: Minnesota Crookston won 73-48 in Crookston, Minn., Jan. 16, 2018
Trends: Minnesota Crookston has won six of the last eight
Series: Minnesota Crookston leads 20-18
Radio: 1260 KROX AM/105.7 FM, on the app, www.kroxam.com, or on 
Amazon Alexa

#5StoryLines
1. Can the Golden Eagles limit Appicelli and Bachmann for Bemidji State?

2. Can Odor continue her great start to her senior season?

3. Can the Golden Eagles knock down three-pointers against Bemidji State?

4. Who will step up for Minnesota Crookston off the bench?

5. Can Minnesota Crookston be strong on the boards against Bemidji State?


Statistical Leaders
Minnesota Crookston
Projected Starters
Fr. PG 5 Kylie Post, 5-7, Corcoran, Minn. 13.7 PPG, 3.8 RPG, 3.0 APG
Sr. SG 3 Caitlin Michaelis, 5-8, Marshfield, Wis. 16.5 PPG, 2.8 RPG, 2.5 APG
Jr. 3G 32 Paige Weakley, 5-9, Kearney, Mo. 4.8 PPG, 2.7 RPG
So. SF 12 Abby Guidinger, 5-10, Waukesha, Wis. 11.2 PPG, 5.2 RPG
R-Sr. PF 15 Isieoma Odor, 6-0, Bloomington, Minn. 16.8 PPG, 10.8 RPG
Top Bench Players
Jr. G 4 Stephanie McWilliams, 5-8, Grand Forks, N.D. 3.3 PPG, 1.7 RPG
Fr. G 11 Kylea Praska, 5-8, Thief River Falls, Minn. 2.0 PPG, 1.8 RPG
Fr. G 24 Paige Cornale, 5-10, Oak Creek, Wis. 2.8 PPG, 0.8 RPG

The Facts
Field Goal Pct. - 42.8 percent
Three-Point Pct. - 29.5 percent
Free Throw Pct. - 78.9 percent
Points Per Game - 73.2 ppg
Rebounds Per Game - 37.0 rpg
Turnovers Per Game - 13.2 tpg

Bemidji State Beavers
Projected Starters
So. PG 20 Sydney Zerr, 5-6, Shakopee, Minn. 5.5 PPG, 2.0 APG
So. SG 15 Maria Appicelli, 5-8, Winona, Minn. 16.5 PPG, 2.3 APG
So. 3G 12 Brooklyn Bachmann, 5-9, Minooka, Ill. 8.7 PPG, 3.0 RPG
So. SF 23 Gabby Dubois, 5-10, West Fargo, N.D. 8.5 PPG, 6.8 RPG
So. PF 42 Taylor Bray, 6-1, Anoka, Minn. 7.5 PPG, 4.8 RPG
Top Bench Players
Fr. F 24 Claire Wolhowe, 6-0, Staples, Minn. 4.0 PPG, 4.3 RPG
Fr. G 14 Trinity Myer, 5-9, Hayward, Wis. 3.0 PPG, 3.3 RPG
Jr. G 3 Erica Gartner, 5-7, Altamont, Kan. 3.3 PPG, 1.3 RPG
Fr. G 13 Shea Oman, 5-7, Spicer, Minn. 3.0 PPG, 3.0 RPG

The Facts
Field Goal Pct. - 41.2 percent
Three-Point Pct. - 25.3 percent
Free Throw Pct. - 68.5 percent
Points Per Game - 68.0 ppg
Rebounds Per Game - 35.8 rpg